Production Team of Equine Affaire®

Professional Management by Experienced Horse People

The Equine Affaire production team is comprised of avid horse people with diverse backgrounds in the horse industry and many years of experience in producing and promoting equestrian events and trade shows. We recognize the important role that every participant plays within a large event and take pride in treating our attendees, presenters, exhibitors, participants, volunteers, and sponsors, as we ourselves like to be treated—courteously, promptly, and equitably. We love the events we produce, are responsive to all suggestions we receive about the shows, and are dedicated to maintaining the highest possible ethical standards in our work.

Jessica Anderson

Horse Exhibits Coordinator

As Horse Exhibits Coordinator, Jessica coordinates the many moving pieces of Equine Affaire’s Breed Pavilion, Horse & Farm Exhibits, Horses for Sale, Adoption Affaire, and stabling. Jessica has a rich history in the show pen. Growing up, she competed in 4-H competitions on a variety of horses, from Arabians to Quarter Horses, and finished her final year on a Thoroughbred, who is now enjoying his retirement years on Jessica’s farm in Ostrander, Ohio. As an adult, Jessica continued to compete on Thoroughbreds in the hunter division in local and rated events and plans to begin a new competitive journey on a young Warmblood gelding soon. When she’s not at the barn, Jessica enjoys spending time with her dogs and her fiancé on the farm.

Alyssa Garringer

Trade Show Associate

Alyssa began employment with Equine Affaire in the Trade Show Department in 2016. She works closely with Hannah Helsel in developing each trade show and assisting exhibitors. She has strong customer service skills and especially enjoys meeting and interacting with individuals representing companies from all facets of the horse industry. Alyssa is a 2015 graduate of Wilmington College where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural business. Prior to joining Equine Affaire, Alyssa gained valuable event production experience working for the Ohio Quarter Horse Association both before and during Congress. She has been involved with quarter horses all of her life—having started riding at the age of two—and is currently a member of OQHA, AQHA, and the NSBA. While she shows in a variety of classes, Alyssa most enjoys competing in western pleasure and western riding and believes that there is no better feeling than riding a great horse around the show pen. When not on the back of a horse or at a show, she can most likely be found at the barn spending time with the broodmares and equine babies.

Lori Helsel

Human Resources & Business Manager

Lori serves as Equine Affaire’s Human Resources & Business Manager handling all personnel matters, staffing for the events, and general business matters for the company including the contracting of equipment and service providers for the shows. Lori is also responsible for ticket sales, arrangements with host hotels, and Equine Affaire’s important volunteer program. Prior to Equine Affaire, Lori was with Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, OH, where her responsibilities included supporting multi-million dollar programs. She brought to Equine Affaire decades of professional experience in providing administrative support on various government and commercial projects. She is a life-long horse lover and enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and multiple canine companions.

Chad Long

New Business Development

Chad Long joined Equine Affaire in the summer of 2018 and strives to establish new business opportunities and relationships with companies throughout the equine industry. A native of Hilliard, Ohio, Chad obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from The Ohio State University. While attending Ohio State Chad worked for New Vocations Racehorse Adoption where he assisted in rehabilitating, transitional training, and placing horses into approved homes. After graduating Chad joined his family's protection and risk mitigation firm, BelayUSA Corporation, where he worked as the Operations Manager. When BelayUSA merged with its sister company Chad pursued a career in real estate. He is an agent for Coldwell Banker King-Thompson where hard work, ethics, and the client are of upmost importance. Chad is an avid equestrian who enjoys competing in show jumping and breeding warmbloods. Chad, his wife Coagi, and their son Michael also enjoy raising and showing their beloved mastiffs.

Coagi Long

President

Coagi Long, President and owner of Equine Affaire, Inc. has more than 18 years of experience with the company in a variety of areas. She joined Equine Affaire in 2003 as a member of the Marketing Department, where she facilitated numerous promotional projects. She also served as Program Director, and Vice President & Executive Producer between 2006-2018. Coagi manages the extensive program of clinics, seminars, and demonstrations and coordinates the Fantasia performers and production for each Equine Affaire. She also oversees the company’s Web site, manages the production elements of each event, and supervises the day-to-day operations of Equine Affaire, Inc. Coagi graduated summa cum laude from The University of Findlay, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major in marketing and equestrian studies and a minor in operations and logistics management. With a love for riding and training since her early childhood, she has primarily concentrated on dressage and hunt seat. While at Findlay she earned several awards including three consecutive Intercollegiate Hunt Seat National Championship titles and was the 2003 Intercollegiate Dressage Association Reserve National Champion. Coagi is a member of the United States Dressage Federation and the United States Equestrian Federation. She continues to pursue her competitive career in dressage, and trains and breeds Warmbloods at her farm in West Mansfield, OH.

Linda Maharrey

Production Assistant

Since 2003 Linda Maharrey has been an invaluable member of the Equine Affaire production team working part time in a multitude of capacities. Hers is often the first voice that customers hear when they call the office, and the odds are good that flyers and advance tickets received in the mail have passed through her hands. Linda retired from Madison County Hospital after 31 years working in the business office in various public-related positions. Since joining the Equine Affaire team, she has played an integral role in assisting the staff in all departments and handling a wide variety of pre-event projects and details that make each event a success. She has also been a tireless source of information and assistance working at the Information Booth at countless events in both Ohio and Massachusetts.

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Allison Rehnborg

Marketing Coordinator

Allison Rehnborg started her journey with Equine Affaire in 2018 as a freelancer, providing a variety of services including copywriting, videography, and hosting the official Equine Affaire podcast. In 2022, she moved into a full-time position as the company’s marketing coordinator. In that role, she manages Equine Affaire’s social media presence, coordinates advertising, produces, edits and hosts the podcast, writes press releases and copy, creates promotional videos for both events, and more. A lifelong horse lover, Allison earned her master’s degree in equine science with a concentration in industry management from Middle Tennessee State University in 2012. Today, she is an award-winning equine journalist and enjoys writing and taking photographs for a variety of equine industry publications. As a member of Equine Affaire’s remote staff, Allison lives near Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and daughter, and enjoys caring for several pets, including her senior horse, Ginger.

Hannah Stickles

Trade Show & Sponsorship Manager

Hannah Stickles serves as Equine Affaire’s Trade Show & Sponsorship Manager and has the huge responsibility of coordinating the sale of the exhibit space in Equine Affaire’s impressive trade shows, managing the on-site production of the trade show at each event, and overseeing Equine Affaire’s sponsorship program. Hannah has been involved in Equine Affaire since childhood; her first experience with the event began more than 10 years ago when she volunteered at a show in Columbus, OH, with her 4-H group. Over the years Hannah’s participation evolved from serving as a volunteer to working as a contracted staff member assisting in the Volunteer Office. She officially joined the Equine Affaire team as a full-time staff member in 2013 as a Trade Show Assistant, and her career blossomed from there. After years of participating in 4-H and open horse shows with her quarter horse gelding, she now enjoys trail riding with family and friends and spending spare time with her equine friend.

Eugenia Snyder

Founder

Eugenia Snyder is the founder of Equine Affaire, Inc. and was the creative force behind the development of both the company and the events from 1993 to 2018. She received her Bachelor of Science in psychology from St. Lawrence University in 1974 where she graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She subsequently pursued her doctorate in psychology at the University of Maryland while conducting research at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park in Washington, DC. Eugenia's professional career was quite diverse and included working for many years as a paralegal and statistical analyst for Steptoe & Johnson in Washington, DC, writing as a freelance journalist, providing marketing services for a variety of clients, serving as a band agent in the music industry, and assisting in the production of a major traditional music festival. She has had a passion for and been involved with horses all of her life and had the privilege of enjoying a wide variety of horse breeds and equestrian disciplines. During her competitive career, Eugenia trained and showed Arabian horses to multiple regional and national titles including two AHA Legion of Honor awards and one Legion of Supreme Honor. Eugenia retired in June of 2018 and transitioned ownership and management of the company and events to the company’s long-time employee and former Vice President and Program Director, Coagi Long.

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