Hundreds of horses from across the country compete in charity horse show this month

"There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man," said Winston Churchill.

That said, the crowds will have plenty to feel good about as some of the finest horses in the nation will strut their stuff at the oldest horse show west of the Mississippi.

The multi-week St. Louis National Charity Horse Show takes place at The National Equestrian Center, a St. Charles County park, located at 6880 Lake Saint Louis Blvd., Lake Saint Louis, MO, 63367. Parking and admission are free. Events are open to the public.

Hunter/Jumper Week runs Sept. 10-14, featuring 300 horses cantering around two outdoor and two indoor rings. Horses and riders compete for prizes of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,500. Hunters glide over a course of open flats and obstacle jumps, hoping to exhibit manners, accuracy and control. Jumpers bound over a series of fences up to 4-feet high, trying not to knock off the fence rails. The hunter/jumper events begin at 8 a.m. and last into the evening.

The Saddlebred Show is set for Sept. 24-27, featuring 600 Saddlebred horses demonstrating their beauty, poise and power, jogging, trotting and racing around a high-speed track. Proud ponies pulling carts and buggies will also entertain the crowds. The Saddlebred Show starts at 10 a.m. with an afternoon break, then starts up again at 6 p.m. and lasts into the evening.

The St. Louis National Charity Horse Show dates back to the 1850s and has been held at various locations around the region over its long history. Over the past four years, the event has raised more than $200,000 for area charities, according to the group's website.

This year's featured charity recipient is Therapeutic Horsemanship at TREE House of Greater St. Louis, which offers horse-assisted therapy services for local children, adults and veterans with disabilities and their families.

For more information, visit stccparks.org