FEI World Equestrian Games Hires Chief Administrative Officer
Sunday, March 12, 2006
(Frankfort, KY) - Rob Hinkle has been hired as the Chief Administrative Officer by the World Games 2010 Foundation, Inc., the entity in charge of putting on the FEI World Equestrian Games. His primary duty will be to handle the day to day planning and operations of the 2010 FEI Games.
“It is a thrill to be a part of something as prestigious as the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games,” said Rob Hinkle. “I think my experiences at the Kentucky Horse Park and Walt Disney World give me the background to make this event a success in Kentucky and for the United States. I look forward to working with the Foundation, the United States Equestrian Federation and other groups that will help make the event a success.”
The 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games will mark the first time the event has ever been held outside of Europe. The event is seven world championships held together at the same time. The 2010 Games also will be the first time all seven championships have been held at the same location. More than 500,000 tickets are expected to be sold. The 2010 Games are expected to have an economic impact of more than $200 million.
Rob Hinkle has served as Director of Operations for Kentucky’s hallmark equine facility, the Kentucky Horse Park, since 1999. Hinkle’s scope of activities has encompassed both day to day administration as well as the future planning for this internationally renowned 1200 acre facility that hosts over 65 high-profile equine-related events including the Rolex Three Day Event.
Hinkle was uniquely prepared for his duties at the Kentucky Horse Park by his previous position, that of Director of Equine Operations for Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, which he held from 1995 to 1999. A key member of the team that opened Animal Kingdom, he was ultimately responsible for all equine-related activities in the Disney theme parks: entertainment, shows, movies, commercials and the dispatching of teams to participate in events nationwide, notably the premiere of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and parades like the Citrus Bowl and the Chicago Christmas Parade.
”I can’t think of anybody better suited for this position than Rob,” said World Games 2010 Foundation Chairman Jim Host. “This event has never been held in America before and has never been held all in one location before. Rob can not only help pull it all together he can help make it a success for all of America”.
Hinkle was an integral part of the core team that researched, strategized, planned, wrote and presented Kentucky’s successful bid to the Fédération Equestre Internationale in Bahrain in 2005.
Hinkle’s association with the Kentucky Horse Park dates back to 1991, when as a Senior Special Events Coordinator he gained invaluable ground-level experience in staging events at that venue, ranging from equine shows, to large outdoor concerts, to fundraising galas.
He has always been actively involved with organizations promoting the welfare of the equine industry. He is currently serving a second term on the board of the Bluegrass Hospitality Association, an organization representing regional tourism and hospitality related entities. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Horse Council, and during his tenure at Walt Disney World, was one of the area notables named to the Orange County Florida Public School Agricultural Board.
Rob Hinkle holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Equine Administration Degree from the University of Louisville and a BS in Business with an Accounting Degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he also rode as a member of the Miami University Equestrian Team. He lives in Lexington, with his wife and two daughters.
The Foundation will hire a chief executive officer at a later date to oversee all aspects of the games.
For more information regarding the 2010 FEI Games, contact Maria Partlow at the United States Equestrian Federation (859) 258-2472 or call the Foundation office at (859) 225-2051
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