Equine Affaire Press Room

02 15

CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE OF HORSES WITH FANTASIA

LONDON, OH, February 15, 2024 – Set your hearts and your imaginations free this April by attending Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse. Whether your love of horses is a new discovery or a lifelong affair, that love is worth celebrating with a show like Fantasia. With just three performances, happening April 11-13, you simply can’t miss this musical celebration, which will feature a curated collection of performances by some of the nation’s most talented equine and equestrian entertainers. Tickets are on sale now, but don’t wait. Get yours today!

Sponsored by Equine Medical and Surgical Associates, Fantasia is unlike any show you’ve ever seen – and that’s because every performance features a wide array of disciplines and styles of riding as well as a variety of breeds of horses. Whether you love the precision and elegance of dressage, the seemingly effortless high-speed turns and stops of reining, the excitement of mounted archery, or the thrill of trick riding, there’s a performance guaranteed to inspire you in this year’s show. Are draft horse hitches, flaming whips, bridleless jumping, liberty, or drill teams more your speed? We’ve got all that, too… and more!

Ready for a glimpse of the talented array of riders and horses you’ll see in the spotlight in this spring’s Fantasia? The riders of the Young Guns 4-H Equestrian Drill Team may be young, but their skills at the art of the drill speak for themselves. Enjoy patriotic, fast-paced, and rousing rides from this herd of talented youth and their stalwart mounts, lovingly coached and mentored by Joyce Voet. Lauren Sammis, a two-time US team medalist at the 2007 Pan Am Games and an aspiring Olympian, will take command of the coliseum with an elegant dressage freestyle. Liberty lovers will adore Kaleigh Marie’s Braveheart Beasts and marvel at her connection with her gorgeous black-and-white mounts. Expertly driven by Sam and Kellie Rettinger, the Whispery Pines Percherons will bring the “big” — while Jonathan Squibbs, driving a set of miniature horses, will bring the “little”! Reining fans, prepare to be amazed by 2022 Quarter Horse Congress Freestyle Reining Champion, Kevin Raber, as he brings his award-winning reining freestyle to adorn our Fantasia. Seasoned bridleless riders Brendan and Melanie Wise of Unbridled Wings will take your breath away as they crisscross the arena, leaping lighted obstacles that move from place to place and change heights between every jump. Equestrian Chaos, a stunt team that demonstrates the bond between women, horses, and their bows, will perform astounding gymnastic feats on horseback – all while manipulating their bows, tossing arrows to one another, and shooting at targets!  Rider and Bethany Kiesner are bringing their own unique brand of Western style entertainment to Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse. This incredible duo combines trick riding, trick roping, trick shooting, and whip tricks into a performance that has stunned audiences across the nation and the world and won countless awards, including the 2020 PRCA Dress Act of the Year. With so many incredible performances, all choreographed to music, Fantasia is the kind of show you must see to believe – and that’s why you’re invited!

Fantasia will take place in the coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH, at 7:30 pm on Thursday, April 11; Friday, April 12; and Saturday, April 13. Doors will open at 6:45 pm each evening to expedite seating. Tickets are available now and range in price from $16 to $25, depending on seat location. You can purchase tickets online or by calling our office at (740) 845-0085, M-F, 9:00am to 5:00pm ET. Group, organization, and association discounts are available for Thursday night’s Fantasia. Call our office to secure your 30% discount on group tickets! Please note that Fantasia tickets are separate from Equine Affaire general admission tickets.

Equine Affaire, North America’s premier equine expo and equestrian gathering, is celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of its event in Ohio! Join tens of thousands of horse lovers at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH, on April 11-14, 2024. Attendees will enjoy hundreds of educational clinics, seminars, and demonstrations; exciting competitions; a massive trade show; themed pavilions; interactive activities; and lots more! General admission tickets for Equine Affaire are available for purchase online or by calling our office. General admission tickets are $16 in advance for adults or $10 for children, ages 7-10. Four-day passes are $52. Children (ages 6 & under) get in for free. Elevate the equestrian experience of your whole family with Equine Affaire! For an event schedule, hotel accommodation information, and other details, visit https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/.

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship and support of Equine Medical and Surgical Associates, official sponsor of Fantasia; Rod’s, official sponsor of the Rod’s arena; US Equestrian, official sponsor of the US Equestrian Arena; GGT Footing, official sponsor of the arena footing; Pro Earth Animal Health, the official supplement of Equine Affaire; Boot Barn, official sponsor of the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge; and Western Life Today, official sponsor of Cowtown in Cooper. For more information about Equine Affaire, please visit equineaffaire.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire!

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02 06

GET READY TO JUMP FOR JOY

LONDON, OH, February 6, 2024 – Are you searching for fresh inspiration for your riding journey? Looking for answers to questions about horse behavior or training? Maybe you’re interested in connecting with other horse owners, learning about new products, or searching for the perfect piece of gear to complement your new riding goals. Or if you’re brand new to horses, you might be eager to learn all about your new passion and meet other people who share in it. Whatever you’re looking for in the horse world, you can find it at Equine Affaire in Ohio! 

Now proudly celebrating the thirtieth year of our event in Ohio, North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering will be returning to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH, on April 11-14, 2024. Since its inception, Equine Affaire has been crafted by equestrians for equestrians – which means it’s an event tailor-made for horse lovers of all skill levels, disciplines, and backgrounds to come together and share their passion for horses. That’s exactly what our founder, Eugenia Snyder, had in mind when she launched the first Equine Affaire in 1994. Three decades later, our team is excited and proud to carry on an event that has become a beloved family tradition for tens of thousands of horse lovers. 

Come to Columbus this April and enjoy hundreds of educational clinics, seminars, and demonstrations; exciting competitions; a sprawling trade show; interactive activities; themed pavilions; breed demonstrations; and lots more, including Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse! Sponsored by Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, Fantasia is a nighttime theatrical extravaganza that features exciting performances by gorgeous horses and talented equestrians, all choreographed to music. Enjoy a stunning dressage freestyle by Lauren Sammis, an exciting and patriotic drill performance by the Young Guns Equestrian Drill Team, a reining freestyle by Kevin Raber, a spectacular driving act with the Whispery Pines Percherons, and a heart-stopping trick riding, trick roping, and gun spinning act by seven-time NFR performers and 2020 PRCA Dress Act of the Year Rider and Bethany Kiesner, plus many more! Spend the whole day at Equine Affaire, and then enjoy an evening of spectacular entertainment by attending Fantasia: it’s the best way to fill your day to the max with all things horse. 

Tickets for Equine Affaire and Fantasia are both available for purchase now at equineaffaire.com — and they make great Valentine’s Day gifts for the horse lover in your life! Advance general admission tickets are $16 for adults or $10 for children, ages 7-10. Four-day passes are $52. General admission tickets will also be available at the gate at $18 per single day adult, $55 per four-day adult ticket, and $10 single-day child. General admission is free for children, ages 6 & under, whether in advance or at the gate. Gate sales are cash only, so please plan accordingly. Tickets for Fantasia range from $16 to $25, depending on seating location. Fantasia show dates are Thursday, April 11; Friday, April 12; and Saturday, April 13; at 7:30 pm ET in the Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. Club, organization, and association discounts are available for Thursday night’s Fantasia only – to receive this discount, call our office at (740) 845-0085. If you’re eager to attend Fantasia on a particular night or sit in a particular section, buy your Fantasia tickets early! Seats sell quickly, and you don’t want to miss this year’s show. 

Elevating the equestrian experience since 1994, Equine Affaire is the ultimate field trip for horse lovers. Plan now to spend a day – or four! — at the event and enjoy unparalleled learning opportunities at clinics, seminars, and demonstrations presented by the nation’s most elite equestrian educators. This spring, Equine Affaire is proud to present general horsemanship clinicians Mike Major, Ken McNabb, Pat Parelli, Steve Lantvit, and Chelsea Canedy, as well as discipline-specific clinicians Phillip Dutton (eventing), Kevin Raber (reining), Daniel Stewart (jumping, fitness, and sports psychology); Dave Treharne (roping), Tanner Keith (ranch sorting), Mark Bolender (mountain trail), Cynthia Hankins (hunter/jumper), Kristine May (barrel racing), Lauren Sammis (dressage), Stacey Giere (driving), Solange (stable riding system), Lynn Newton (Western dressage), Duane Esser (English pleasure), Matt McHugh (trailer driving), Kellie & Sam Rettinger (Draft horses), Jerry Paulsen (equine assisted activities), Mid-Ohio Marauders (mounted shooting), the Young Guns 4H Drill Team (drill teams), and more.  

Many of these clinicians are also looking for riders to participate in their clinics. You can find more details on how to “Ride with a Pro” by visiting https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-ride-in-clinics/ohio-ride-with-a-pro-2/! Applications are due by February 15. Apply today for your opportunity to ride with – or have your horse trained by – some of the industry’s top-notch coaches, clinicians, trainers, and instructors, and enjoy the opportunity to enhance your skills in the saddle and engage with new perspectives on horsemanship and training.  

Brand new this year at Equine Affaire, Cowtown in Cooper is an exciting educational feature designed to showcase an assortment of cattle-oriented Western events through clinics and demos. Sponsored by Western Life Today, this two-day event will feature opportunities for applicants to ride in clinics with – and for attendees to learn from – such experts as Steve Lantvit, Tanner Keith, Ken McNabb, Dave Treharne, and others. Topics will include roping, boxing, ranch sorting, reining, and cutting. Wear your cowboy hats and cowboy boots and take part in an authentic Western experience on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 in Cooper Arena.  

Although the clinics are geared to educate attendees of all skill levels and backgrounds, there are a variety of learning opportunities specifically for people who are new to the industry or families with children who are interested in horses. The Equine Fundamentals Forum in the Celeste Center is the ideal place to start, featuring exhibits and activities about the basics of horsemanship and management as well as educational sessions in the EFF Demo Ring. The EFF also features crafts and activities for kids like a Stick Horse Rodeo (daily at 3 pm), where they can win fun prizes. Students, young adults, and adults in search of equine career or college opportunities are also invited to attend the College and Career Fair presentations by Dr. Karin Bump, which will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 2 pm in the EFF. The College and Career Fair is the perfect way to explore new opportunities in the industry and network with other professionals. On Sunday, April 14, young equestrians will enjoy watching the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Western 5S Finals Show from 9 am-5 pm in the Cooper Arena. Enjoy watching young equestrians compete in reining and horsemanship, and then seize your chance to learn about the IEA, which provides equestrian competition and instruction opportunities to middle and secondary school students. 

Next, visit the Voinovich Center and tour the Breed Pavilion, where you can interact with horses from a variety of breed organizations and associations and ask questions of knowledgeable representatives. You might even meet a live Breyer Horse! Then head over to the Gilligan Complex to tour the Horse & Farm Exhibits, where you can connect with horse owners and horse business owners and learn all about opportunities to visit local riding establishments, boarding facilities, or other businesses. The Horse & Farm Exhibits are also home to the Sale Stalls and the Adoption Affaire. Presented in partnership with the ASPCA Right Horse, the Adoption Affaire invites horse rescues and sanctuaries to bring healthy, adoptable horses to the event in hopes of finding new, forever homes among our attendees. Attendees can look for their next horse at the Adoption Affaire or by visiting horses in Sale Stalls, and even go on test rides (with the proper release forms).  

And speaking of shopping, Equine Affaire is home to the nation’s largest horse-related trade show, which sprawls across four buildings at the Ohio Expo Center. The trade show is the place to shop for all your horse and rider needs. Whether you’re outfitting one horse or several, need equipment for your farm or footing for your arena, want to purchase the perfect souvenir or need new boots and show clothes, you’ll find it in our trade show! Check out our list of exhibitors here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-trade-show/ohio-exhibitors/. More exhibitors will be added in the weeks and months to come, so keep checking back!  

Do you have used tack, riding apparel, or horse equipment that you no longer use, and you’d like to turn it into cash? Consign those items to the Marketplace Consignment Shop and allow our staff to sell your items while you tour the event. You might even earn back your admission and souvenir money! Featured in the northwest corner of the Voinovich Center, the Marketplace is a popular place to shop throughout the weekend for attendees who love to hunt for bargains on used goods. Our consignment fees are lower than other venues’ fees and consigning is easy. Sign up in advance to save $5 on your registration fee and expedite your consignment process when you arrive. Learn more on our website: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-sell/ohio-the-marketplace-consignment/ 

Love watching – or participating in – competitions? Then check out the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition and the brand-new Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge! First, the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition features the opportunity for 25 pre-selected horse-and-rider pairs to traverse a challenging obstacle course and demonstrate their horsemanship skills in front of judge and featured clinician, Steve Lantvit. Cash and other prizes will be awarded to the top four riders, and the top ten riders will receive ribbons. Whether you want to ride in it or just watch, the VHRC is guaranteed to thrill! Apply to ride by February 15. Application materials are available here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-compete/ohio-versatile-horse-rider-competition/. The VHRC will take place at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 12, in the Coliseum.  

Or if you’re interested in competing on foot, the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge is making its Ohio debut! Sponsored by Boot Barn, this fun new competition features three barnyard Olympic events. Participants can break a sweat in the Barn Chores Marathon, race their friends in the Bouncy Pony Race, or team up with a buddy in the Horse Nugget Relay, all in the name of good fun and the chance to win prizes and bragging rights. The GEFC will take place on Saturday, April 13, at 3 pm in the Voinovich Center. If you’d like to participate, visit the Information Booth in the Bricker Building prior to the competition to sign up.  

And speaking of interactive opportunities, there are even more! Draft horse fans will enjoy driving a draft horse or a pair of draft horses with the Whispery Pines Percherons on Friday, April 12, or Saturday, April 13. Sign up on site by visiting the Whispery Pines Percherons stalls in the Gilligan Complex near the green wall. If you’re a veteran, active duty, or a first responder, bring the whole family and sign up to participate in A Horse for Heroes with Operation Horses and Heroes. These activities offer our everyday heroes and their families a chance to experience the effects of equine-assisted activities and therapies and connect with an organization dedicated to helping veterans. To sign up, submit a Ride with a Pro application, or you can visit the OHH booth in the Voinovich on site. A Horse for Heroes will take place on Friday, April 12, and Sunday, April 14.  

Need help planning your trip? Check out our list of host hotels by visiting https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-general-information/ohio-host-hotels/, and make sure to mention Equine Affaire when you book to receive special discounted rates. Camping spaces with electrical, water, and sewer hookups are available on the Ohio Expo Center grounds. Visit our website for more details on how to camp. Hours for the event are from 9 am to 7 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Please note that the Ohio Expo Center charges for parking: $10/entry or $20/four day pass. For event maps and other details, visit equineaffaire.com today!  

Want to earn free admission to Equine Affaire? We’re looking for volunteers! Volunteers who work a certain number of hours can earn free admission, free four-day passes, and fun souvenirs, all while getting a backstage pass to one of the industry’s most well-run and expansive horse expos! Apply by February 26, 2024, by filling out our application form, available online: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-help/ohio-volunteer/. 

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges the sponsors that help make this event possible: Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, Rod’s, GGT Footing, US Equestrian, Western Life Today, and Boot Barn. For more information about Equine Affaire, please visit equineaffaire.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire! 

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01 25

FIND YOUR STRIDE AT EQUINE AFFAIRE

LONDON, OH, January 23, 2024 – Depending on where you live, January weather may not be prime riding weather – but it can be prime planning weather! It’s time to get excited about going riding again. While you’re stuck inside and thawing out from your morning barn chore regimen, start working on your riding applications for Equine Affaire in Ohio. Application materials are now available online for Equine Affaire’s ever-popular Ride with a Pro clinic program as well as the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. Bring your horses and get the best seat in the house – literally – by riding in a clinic or competition at North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering, happening April 11-14, 2024, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH. This year’s event promises to be extra special, as it will mark the thirtieth anniversary of Equine Affaire in Ohio. Don’t miss your chance to participate in an extraordinary event as we celebrate both our history and our future on horseback.

This year’s schedule features multiple unique opportunities to participate in clinics, seminars, and demonstrations presented by clinicians hailing from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines, including dressage, driving, English pleasure, eventing, hunter/jumpers, mountain trail, Western dressage, and others. Equestrians from all corners of the industry will enjoy the opportunity to learn something new in a clinic, whether it’s an eventing clinic by seven-time Olympian Phillip Dutton, a dressage intensive by two-time US team medalist Lauren Sammis, or a colt-starting demo by modern-day cowboy Mike Major. Riding, training, or participation slots are available with the following presenters:

Operation Horses & Heroes…Interactive activities for veterans

Kristine May…Barrel racing

Daniel Stewart…Biomechanics and sports psychology

Brendan & Melanie Wise…Classical horsemanship and bridleless riding

Mike Major…Colt starting

Lauren Sammis…Dressage

Stacey Giere…Driving

Duane Esser…English Pleasure

Phillip Dutton…Eventing

Ken McNabb…General training and horsemanship

Pat Parelli…General training and horsemanship

Chelsea Canedy…General training and horsemanship

Steve Lantvit…General training and horsemanship

Cynthia Hankins…Hunters/jumpers

Mark Bolender…Mountain trail

Tanner Keith…Ranch sorting

Dave Treharne…Roping

Solange…Stable riding system

Lynn Newton…Western dressage

Equine Affaire is also proud to announce the debut of a brand-new educational feature this year in Ohio: Cowtown in Cooper, sponsored by Western Life Today! Embark on a two-day tour of cattle-oriented Western events, which will also feature opportunities for applicants to ride in clinics and learn firsthand about roping, boxing, ranch sorting, reining, cutting, and more from Steve Lantvit, Tanner Keith, Ken McNabb, Dave Treharne, and others. Wear your cowboy hats and cowboy boots and take part in an authentic Western experience. Cowtown in Cooper will take place on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 in Cooper Arena.

Application materials and clinic summaries are available online at https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-ride-in-clinics/ohio-ride-with-a-pro-2/. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2024. Clinic fees are $105 and include clinic participation, event admission, 24 hours of stabling for your horse, and a T-shirt. Clinicians will make their selections based on applications and videos from applicants, so make sure to read up on all the details on our website so you can put your best foot forward for this year’s Ride with a Pro.

Or if you’re looking for something to bring out your competitive side, applications are also open for the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. This beloved mainstay will take place on Friday, April 12, during Equine Affaire. Competitors must navigate a challenging obstacle course under the watchful eye of an expert judge and the pressure of a ticking clock. Riders don’t know what the course will consist of until they check in on site, but past obstacles have included jumping, backing through patterns, pole bending, roll backs, gymkhana games, and other creative exploits. With a field capped at 25 pre-selected horse and rider teams, don’t miss your opportunity to vie for $5,500 in cash and other prizes, as well as the honor of being named the 2024 Versatile Horse & Rider Champion! Application materials are available online at https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-compete/ohio-versatile-horse-rider-competition/. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2024.

If you’re interested in participating in Equine Affaire in a non-riding capacity, we’ve got an exciting opportunity or two available for you! Consider competing in the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge, sponsored by Boot Barn! This fun new venture is arriving just in time to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of Equine Affaire in Ohio. The GEFC will feature three events: a barn chores marathon, a bouncy pony race, and a horse nugget relay. You can sign up for the event of your choice on site – no horses needed and no entry fee required, besides general admission! Prizes will be awarded to the top ten participants in each event, as applicable. Whether you decide to compete or just want to watch, you’re guaranteed to have a fabulous time at the GEFC! Flex your barn rat muscles, bring your work boots and gloves, and get ready to compete.

Attendees are also invited to apply to work as volunteers at this year’s event. Volunteers who work a certain number of hours can earn free admission, free four-day passes, and fun souvenirs, all while getting a backstage pass to one of the industry’s most well-run and expansive horse expos! Apply by February 26, 2024, by filling out our application form, available online: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-help/ohio-volunteer/.

Tickets for Equine Affaire and Fantasia, the musical celebration of the horse, are available for purchase online any time (https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-general-information/tickets/) or by calling our office at 740-845-0085, M-F, 9 am to 5 pm EST. General admission tickets are $16 in advance for adults or $10 for children, ages 7-10. Four-day passes are $52. Children (ages 6 & under) get in for free! Tickets to Fantasia, sponsored by Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, are also available online or by phone. Tickets for Fantasia range from $16 to $25. Show dates are Thursday, April 11; Friday, April 12; and Saturday, April 13; at 7:30 pm ET in the Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. Club, organization, and association discounts are available for Thursday night’s Fantasia only – to receive this discount, call our office at (740) 845-0085.

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges the sponsors that help make this event possible: Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, Rod’s, GGT Footing, US Equestrian, Western Life Today, and Boot Barn. For more information about Equine Affaire, please visit equineaffaire.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire!

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01 08

CELEBRATE 30 YEARS OF HORSES WITH EQUINE AFFAIRE IN OHIO

LONDON, OH, January 8, 2024 – Equine Affaire invites horse lovers everywhere to join in an extra-special milestone celebration on April 11-14, 2024! This spring, make the pilgrimage to North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering and celebrate thirty spectacular years of Equine Affaire in Ohio. This landmark event will take place at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH, and include four days of everything the horse industry has come to know and love about Equine Affaire – plus a wealth of exciting new features, fun giveaways, and special guests. Elevate your equestrian experience this spring and saddle up for the equine event of the year. 

Like all great movements, Equine Affaire first began as an idea. In 1993, founder Eugenia Snyder set out to create a first-class, education-oriented horsemen’s exposition, where horse people from all breeds and all disciplines could convene in a non-competitive environment and share their passion for horses with each other. The very next year, Eugenia and her staff produced the first Equine Affaire at the Hara Arena Complex in Dayton. Just three years later, the expo outgrew the Dayton facility and relocated to the Ohio Expo Center, where it has been produced annually ever since. In 2024, Equine Affaire is proud to continue celebrating its traditions by uplifting and uniting the horse industry. With a little over three months to go until the first horses set foot into the arenas of the Ohio Expo Center, now is the perfect time to begin exploring your options for joining the celebrations! Whether you’d like to attend, ride, participate, compete, volunteer, or exhibit, there’s a way for you to become part of Equine Affaire. 

For three decades, equestrians have traveled from all over the globe to attend Equine Affaire and give themselves – and their horses – the gift of better horsemanship through education. This spring, attendees will enjoy clinics, seminars, and demonstrations by such spectacular horsemen and horsewomen as Mike Major, Ken McNabb, Pat Parelli, Steve Lantvit, and Chelsea Canedy, who will present on topics relating to general horsemanship and training. The event’s discipline-specific educators will include Daniel Stewart (jumping, fitness & sport psychology), Phillip Dutton (eventing), Mark Bolender (mountain trail), Cynthia Hankins (hunter/jumper), Lauren Sammis (dressage), Stacey Giere (driving), Solange (stable riding system), Lynn Newton (Western dressage), Duane Esser (English pleasure), Matt McHugh (trailer driving), Karin Bump, PhD (college/career fair), Jerry Paulsen (equine-assisted activities), and the Mid-Ohio Marauders (mounted shooting), plus many more to be announced in the months to come.  

Many of these clinicians will be searching for horses and riders to participate in their clinics and demos at the event. Interested riders are welcome to apply to Equine Affaire’s clinic participation program, Ride with a Pro! Application materials and clinic titles and topics will be available online in mid-January. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2024. Clinic fees range from $85 to $350 and include clinic participation, event admission, and 24 hours of stabling for your horse. Clinicians will review applications and videos from applicants. Whether you’re hoping to improve your dressage scores, tackle a new discipline, fine-tune your communication skills with your horse, or something else, there is a spectacular learning opportunity waiting for you at Equine Affaire! 

And speaking of learning opportunities, Equine Affaire is pleased to introduce a brand-new educational feature this year, focused on highlighting the Western way of life: Cowtown in Cooper. Get ready to embark on a two-day tour of Western cattle-oriented disciplines in the Cooper Arena on Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13. Attendees will enjoy learning from – or riding with – some of the industry’s finest clinicians in roping, boxing, ranch sorting, reining, cutting, and more. Wear your cowboy hats and cowboy boots and take part in an authentic Western experience. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for more information about Cowtown in Cooper, including our featured Western clinicians and clinic titles, in the weeks to come.  

Looking for something to bring out your competitive side? The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition may be right up your alley! This hugely popular feature will take place on Friday, April 12, during Equine Affaire. Competitors must navigate a challenging obstacle course under the watchful eye of an expert judge and the pressure of a ticking clock. Competitors don’t know what the course will consist of until they check in on site, but past obstacles have included jumping, backing through patterns, pole bending, roll backs, gymkhana games, and other creative exploits. With a field capped at 25 pre-selected horse and rider teams, don’t miss your opportunity to vie for $5,500 in cash and other prizes, as well as the honor of being named the 2024 Versatile Horse & Rider Champion! Application materials are available online at https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-compete/ohio-versatile-horse-rider-competition/. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2024. 

Attendees are also invited to apply to work as volunteers at this year’s event. Volunteers who work a certain number of hours can earn free admission, free four-day passes, and fun souvenirs, all while getting a backstage pass to one of the industry’s most well-run and expansive horse expos! Apply by February 26, 2024, by filling out our application form, available online: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-help/ohio-volunteer/ 

Equine Affaire is also proud to announce the return of Fantasia, the musical celebration of the horse. With just three performances, Fantasia is can’t-miss entertainment that serves as the perfect bookend for a day spent at Equine Affaire. Sponsored by Equine Medical and Surgical Associates, this two-hour extravaganza is bursting at the seams with gorgeous horses, talented riders and performers, and great music. This spring, enjoy performances by 2020 PRCA Dress Act of the Year and 7-time NFR performers Rider Kiesner and Bethany Iles; Brendan and Melanie Wise’s fantastical bridleless jumping; a touch of Pony Magic from the Pegasus Riders; a fast-paced, patriotic drill team routine by the Young Guns; a dressage freestyle by Lauren Sammis, and more! Tickets for this special show are available online at https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-general-information/tickets/. Buy your Fantasia tickets early because seats are selling fast! 

In addition to riding and educational opportunities, the 2024 Equine Affaire in Ohio will showcase a sprawling trade show; a Breed Pavilion and Horse and Farm Exhibits; an Adoption Affaire; a college & career fair; an Interscholastic Equestrian Association Horse Show; and lots more. Booth spaces on the trade show floor are going quickly, so if you would like to exhibit and share your products, company, and brand with the tens of thousands of attendees who will be coming to Equine Affaire, act today! Application materials for the trade show are available here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/exhibit/trade-show/ohio-exhibitor-information/ 

If you own a farm, specialize in a particular breed of horse, or provide industry services, we welcome you to exhibit with us in the Breed Pavilion or the Horse & Farm Exhibits! These features are beloved elements of Equine Affaire and allow attendees to meet and greet with you and your horses in order to learn more about you, your horses, and the service and value you provide to the industry. Breed and Horse and Farm exhibitors are welcome to visit https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/exhibit/breed-exhibits/breed-pavilion/ or https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-breed-exhibits/ohio-horses-and-farm-exhibits/ to learn more about these fantastic opportunities.

Part of this year’s anniversary celebrations will also include the debut of the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge in Ohio. If you’re the king or queen of the barn chore list, a master stall mucker, or a true barnyard athlete, you’ll want to come to Equine Affaire ready to compete in the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge. This fun new competition will feature three events: a barn chores marathon, a bouncy pony race, and a horse nugget relay. You can sign up for the event of your choice on site – no horses needed and no entry fee required, besides general admission! Prizes will be awarded to the top ten participants in each event, as applicable. Whether you decide to compete or just want to watch, you’re guaranteed to have a fabulous time at the GEFC! 

And that’s not all. In the days and weeks to come, stay tuned to our website and to our social media channels for announcements of new features, special guests, and schedule details for Equine Affaire in Ohio.  

Tickets for Equine Affaire and Fantasia, the musical celebration of the horse, are available for purchase online any time (https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-general-information/tickets/) or by calling our office at 740-845-0085, M-F, 9 am to 5 pm EST. General admission tickets are $16 in advance for adults or $10 for children, ages 7-10. Four-day passes are $52. Children (ages 6 & under) get in for free! Tickets to Fantasia, sponsored by Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, are also available online or by phone. Tickets for Fantasia range from $16 to $25. Show dates are Thursday, April 11; Friday, April 12; and Saturday, April 13; at 7:30 pm ET in the Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. Club, organization, and association discounts are available for Thursday night’s Fantasia only – to receive this discount, call our office at (740) 845-0085. 

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges the sponsors that help make this event possible: Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, Rod’s, GGT Footing, and US Equestrian. For more information about Equine Affaire, please visit equineaffaire.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire! 

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12 01

HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU MISSED AT EQUINE AFFAIRE

W. SPRINGFIELD, MA, December 1, 2023 — Last month, Equine Affaire in Massachusetts celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Eastern States Exposition – and what a celebration it was! Filled with endless opportunities to celebrate the horse, North America’s premier equine expo and equestrian gathering drew tens of thousands of eager equine enthusiasts from all over the globe to the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, MA, on November 9-12, 2023. Attendance at the 2023 event increased compared to last year’s event, in large part due to the excitement of celebrating the expo’s milestone achievement.

Attendees brought their families, friends, and horses to Equine Affaire to commemorate the expo’s silver anniversary in style. They attended hundreds of educational clinics, shopped an extensive trade show, participated in exciting interactive workshops and activities, savored thrilling competitions, and engaged with horse lovers from across the industry. Visitors also enjoyed extra-special surprises, such as fun new competitions like the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge, sponsored by Boot Barn, and the Best Booth Award Contest; screenings of HorseWeek.TV, courtesy of the Equine Network; signings from Olympians Steffen Peters and Phillip Dutton; and sold-out performances of Fantasia, sponsored by Absorbine!

“This year’s event in Massachusetts was a true celebration,” said Coagi Long, president and owner of Equine Affaire. “We’re proud to have reached the twenty-five-year mark of our event in New England, and we simply couldn’t have done it without the support of all the people who help make Equine Affaire great. Many volunteers and contracted staff have been working with us since the beginning, not to mention all the attendees who have faithfully attended every event over the years, and of course, the incredible staff of the Eastern States Exposition. It was wonderful to get to celebrate with all our friends, both old and new.”

Equine Affaire was incorporated in 1993 by Eugenia Snyder, a keen horsewoman with experience in both marketing and event production. She wanted to create a first-class, education-oriented horsemen’s exposition, where horse people from all breeds and disciplines could convene in a non-competitive environment and share their passion for horses with each other. The very next year, Eugenia and her staff produced the first Equine Affaire at the Hara Arena Complex in Dayton, OH. In 1997, the expo relocated to the Ohio Expo Center. Then, in 1998, a second Equine Affaire debuted at the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, MA. Twenty-five years later, attending North America’s premier equine expo and equestrian gathering has become a beloved tradition in New England, uniting horse lovers of all ages and from all corners of the equine industry.

“It doesn’t matter which event we’re talking about – Massachusetts, Ohio, or California – people attend Equine Affaire because they want to learn more about what they love,” says Cheryl McLeod, who has been working at Equine Affaire events since 1997. “I think gaining knowledge about horses transcends anything that might make people different from one another.”

This year’s Equine Affaire featured a wealth of educational clinics presented by Mike Major, Julie Goodnight, Jason Irwin, Brandi Lyons, and Chelsea Canedy, plus Phillip Dutton, Steffen Peters, Greg Robinson, Jeanne McDonald, Mark Bolender, Bronwyn Irwin, and many more of the industry’s best and brightest instructors, coaches, experts, and practitioners. In between clinics, attendees browsed acres of shopping on sold-out trade show floors and enjoyed networking and connecting with representatives from hundreds of equestrian companies, including Absorbine, US Equestrian, GGT Footing, Horizon Structures, Fair Hill Saddlery, LRP Matting, Triple Crown, Tribute Nutrition, Espana Silk All Natural Grooming Products, Sentinel, Saddle Up Clothing Company, Equine Network, and others. The ever-popular Breed Pavilion and the Horse and Farm Exhibits presented opportunities to engage with breeds as familiar as the Morgan and the Haflinger and as exotic as the Dales Pony, the Gypsy Vanner, the Irish Draught, the Icelandic pony, and the Swiss Freiberger.

The event also produced a slew of winners through mounted and unmounted competitions as well as a Best Booth award contest for trade show exhibitors, the annual Equine Affaire raffle, and a special award for clinicians.

  • On Friday, Nov 10, the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition, sponsored by Chewy, took place in the US Equestrian Coliseum as twenty-five pre-selected horse-and rider pairs raced the clock and each other to conquer a challenging obstacle course. Brittany Mayer of Cumberland, Rhode Island, won first place aboard My Sharoana’s Time to Shine with a score of 70. She also took second with her second mount, Copy That, with a score of 60. Rob West won third aboard Moonshine Lady, and Scott Keyes took home fourth aboard KC. Congratulations to all VHRC competitors! For full results, and to learn more about all the competitors and their mounts, please visit https://equineaffaire.com/press/.
  • On Saturday, Nov 11, attendees enjoyed the chance to compete in the inaugural Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge, sponsored by Boot Barn! The GEFC featured three fun events: the Barn Chores Marathon, the Bouncy Pony Race, and the Horse Nugget Relay. Winners included Lydia Bajus; Elsa Lately; Dylan McCoskery; Nicole & Kasey Czarnecki; and Miriam and Sarah Slate. The event’s master of ceremonies was equestrian fitness coach Ifa Simmonds, owner and creator of the Equestrian Fitness Academy. For a full list of competitors and scores, visit https://equineaffaire.com/press/.
  • In honor of the 25th anniversary, Equine Affaire also hosted the first-ever Best Booth Award contest for exhibitors and vendors. On Thursday, November 9, the staff of Equine Affaire selected and submitted five finalists to our social media audiences to vote for their favorite. The out-and-out winner was EquestriYUM Bakery, owned and operated by Katie Friesema! Congratulations to EquestriYUM Bakery and the other finalists: The Impeccable Equerry, Horizon Structures, Erreplus, and Dubarry of Ireland. The Equine Affaire staff would also like to award Honorable Mentions to the New England Equine Rescue, Sarah Lynn Richards Art, Purina Animal Nutrition, ABI Attachments, and Taborton Equine Books.
  • During the final performance of Fantasia on Saturday, November 11, Jason Irwin of Jason & Bronwyn Irwin Horsemanship received the Exceptional Equestrian Educator Award in a special awards presentation ceremony. The Equine Affaire Exceptional Equestrian Educator Award was created in 2001 to recognize an individual within the horse industry who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to the education and training of horsepeople. Mr. Irwin is a lifelong equestrian and horse trainer from Ontario, Canada, who works with both western and English riders of all skill levels and ages. Congratulations to Jason Irwin!
  • The official Equine Affaire raffle also produced twenty-four lucky winners! The raffle, which was hosted online through November 13, 2023, offered prizes from Dubarry of Ireland, Back On Track USA, October Design Equestrian Décor, Blue Seal-Sentinel, US Equestrian, and Equine Affaire. A full list of winners is available on our website at https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-other-features/mass-free-raffle/. Review the list to see if you won, and then check your email for a winner notification. Special thanks to all of the incredible companies who donated to this year’s raffle!

Attendees also enjoyed plenty of hands-on and interactive educational activities. The Whispery Pines Percherons team offered three chances for visitors to learn how to “Drive a Draft” on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the event. With supervision from Sam and Kellie Rettinger, owners of Whispery Pines, participants took the reins – literally – and learned how to drive either a pair of draft horses or a single draft horse around the ring. Ifa Simmonds partnered with Equine Affaire to offer Equestrians in Motion, sponsored by Blue Seal-Sentinel. These three special interactive workshops provided participants with the chance to learn about different exercises to increase their balance and mobility from Mr. Simmonds, who offers special coaching and workout programs designed for equestrians through Equestrian Fitness Academy.

Sponsored by Absorbine, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse, Fantasia, returned for three spectacular performances, November 9-11, in the US Equestrian Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition. The Friday and Saturday evening performances both sold out. Attendees were treated to a fabulous and varied display of equestrian performances, including bridleless dressage and jumping by Brendan Wise and Melanie Ferrior-Wise; drill team exercises by the Friesian Heritage Drill Team and the Young Guns Drill Team; a drive-off between the Whispery Pines Percherons and the Morrisville College Belgians; liberty and trick-riding by the Pegasus Riders; a liberty performance by Melissa Barnett; and an incredible Wild West trick-roping finale by Loop Rawlins. Loop Rawlins’ performance was sponsored by Espana Silk Natural Grooming Products. Each evening also included a solemn tribute to American veterans, POWs, and MIAs by Jerry Paulsen of Operation Horses and Heroes, who presented the audience with a special reading and a Remembrance Table display.

The staff of Equine Affaire are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate twenty-five great years in Massachusetts and look forward to celebrating twenty-five more – at least! Save the dates for the 2024 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts, happening November 7-10, 2024, at the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield.

Equine Affaire is also looking ahead to celebrating the 30th anniversary of its event in Ohio, which is happening April 11-14, 2024, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH. Tickets for that event – and for Fantasia in Ohio, sponsored by Equine Medical and Surgical Associates – will go on sale December 6, 2023, at equineaffaire.com.

To learn more about our event, visit our website (www.equineaffaire.com) or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X @equineaffaire. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire!

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ELEVATING THE EQUESTRIAN EXPERIENCE SINCE 1994 TM