Largest National Horse Exposition Returns to W. Springfield , MA
Wednesday, September 6, 2006
Equine Affaire, the established leader among American horse expositions, returns to the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, MA, November 9-12, 2006. For the ninth year in a row, Equine Affaire will present educational clinics, demonstrations, and seminars addressing a full spectrum of equine management, care, and training topics. The schedule, filled with experts from through the horse industry, has something for every horse enthusiast. Other event highlights include an exceptional Breed Pavilion, Youth Pavilion, Celebrity Horse Showcase, and a world-class trade show.
More than 100,000 people from all over the Northeast and beyond are expected to take advantage of the largest horse-related trade show in the country as well as clinics presented by highly renowned general horsemanship trainers as well as discipline-specific competitors and coaches.
2006 presenters in the Equine.com Coliseum, Mallary Arena, and Young Building include: Craig Cameron ( general training & horsemanship ); Jeff Cook ( hunters & jumpers ); Leslie Desmond ( general training & horsemanship ); Denny Emerson ( eventing ); Cesar Parra, DDS ( dressage ); Muffy Seaton ( driving ); Donna Snyder-Smith ( Centered Riding® & distance competition ); Cindy Sydnor ( dressage ); Sharon Camarillo ( barrel racing & horsemanship); Kenny Harlow ( general training and horsemanship ); Linda Tellington-Jones ( TTouch® ); Mary Trowbridge ( English pleasure ); Stacy Westfall ( reining ); Dana Hokana ( western pleasure ); Charles Wilhelm ( training & horsemanship ).Eitan Beth-Halachmy ( cowboy dressage ); Clay Maier ( long lining ); Nicole Carswell ( easy gaited horses ); and Scot Hansen ( trail riding & mounted police training techniques ).
Hobbyists and professionals alike will choose from more than 100 outstanding demonstrations and seminars in the Wahl Clipper Seminar Stage, GLC 5500 Demo Ring, and the Arabian Horse Association Youth Pavilion demo ring. Interesting topics range from scientific advances in veterinary medicine to horse management practices. Expert presenters at this year’s event will include: Mary Midkiff; Nancy Loving, DVM; Dana Boyd-Miller; Sherry Busch; Tony Chichester; Scot Hansen; Joyce Harman; DVM, MRCVS; Lydia Hiby, Terri Jenkins; Nancy Loes, DVM; Holly Mason; Brian McNeil; Erica Mevoli; Peter Moon; Wendy Murdoch; Jennifer Nadeau, PhD; Dawn Samuelson; Jochen Schleese; Jan Sharp; Susan Sheridan; Sandy Siegrist; Amy Stegall; Kristyn Sturken; and the American Farriers Association.
The trade show, with more than 450 vendors, will showcase the hottest industry trends. Equine art, home décor, and other luxury items can be found among the more traditional tack, supplements, and health product exhibits. Specialists in horse trailers, barn construction, and nutrition, as well as colleges, associations, and horse rescue agencies will be on hand to answer inquiries.
The Breed Pavilion and Horse and Farm Exhibits will feature popular and rare breeds from around the world. Breed associations and color registries will have a rotating selection of stallions, geldings, and mares that exemplify their breeds available for review. At the same time knowledgeable representatives will be on hand to educate and answer questions. Attendees will learn even more through regularly-scheduled breed demonstrations and spotlights. Stallion and farm owner exhibits will also provide local information, highlighting the strength and diversity of the regional horse industry.
Young equestrians will find exactly what they need at the Arabian Horse Association Youth Pavilion. Along with the opportunity to attend clinics designed specifically for young horse enthusiasts, the pavilion will offer a variety of youth events, including a trivia quest with prizes. Face painting is available as well as the chance to create a stick horse and compete in the Stick Horse Rodeo.
Located within the Youth Pavilion, the Stone Horse® Celebrity Horse Showcase will host three famous equines - Gallo Blue Chip, Rich In Dallas, and Haligonian Mercy Bo Cool. Although they won’t be able to sign autographs, they will be available for pictures throughout the event. Gallo Blue Chip, a 9-year-old Standardbred, remains the richest pacing horse in harness racing history, winning 53 races and over 4 million dollars. Rich In Dallas, a 10-year-old Thoroughbred, depicted Seabiscuit in the 2003 movie of the same name. Adopted by the Exceller Fund, he exemplifies the organization’s mission of adopting and rehabilitating ex-racehorses. Haligonian Mercy Bo Cool, a 12-year-old Miniature Horse, is a champion performance horse, television star, and a certified therapy horse that has inspired numerous articles as well as an Animal Plant documentary.
Sponsors, such as the Barn Yard & Great Country Garages, Exiss Universal Trailers, Farnam Companies, Inc., Hillman Enterprises, and Orchard Trailers, Inc., as well as those previously listed, are an integral part of bringing this Equine Affaire to the New England horse community. Equine Affaire thanks the more than 55 sponsors who will participate in the 2006 event and help make it an affordable as well as exceptional educational opportunity.
The Pfizer Fantasia, a musical celebration of the horse, will be presented on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. The Pfizer Fantasia will demonstrate the power, athleticism, humor, teamwork, and daring of equines and equestrians from throughout the United States. Highly-trained performers and competitors will show off their equine partners in drill team, freestyle dressage and reining, trick roping, vaulting, and comedy routines.
Equine Affaire will again hold a free raffle offering exceptional prizes. In the past, prizes have included English saddles, western saddles, show outfits, and event tickets, and this year’s prizes will be equally attractive. Prizes will be showcased at the Raffle Center in the Mallary Arena where attendees may enter the free raffle during the event.
Special discount rates have been negotiated with 27 area Equine Affaire host hotels. Camping with electrical hookups will be available on the Eastern States Exposition grounds.
For more information about the event and advance tickets, contact the Equine Affaire office at (740) 845-0085 weekdays from 9:00am - 5:00pm Eastern.
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