LONDON, OH, February 1, 2023 – Did you know that “horse heaven” comes to Columbus once a year? You do now! Elevate your equestrian experience to heavenly heights with Equine Affaire, happening April 13-16, 2023, at the Ohio Expo Center. For more than twenty years, Equine Affaire has reigned supreme as North America’s premier equine expo and equestrian gathering. Whether you’re new to the horse world or a lifelong horse enthusiast, this exciting horse expo can help you explore and expand your horizons in the horse industry.

Join tens of thousands of fellow horse lovers at Equine Affaire for four days of learning, sharing, networking, competing, riding, and shopping. Located at the Ohio Expo Center, this sprawling event features the nation’s largest horse-related trade show, a full schedule of educational clinics, seminars, and demonstrations, two riding competitions, activities for kids, educational exhibits, interactive activities with horses, and more! With our family-friendly ticket pricing, there’s no reason not to bring the whole family to spend a day – or two – exploring the horse world.

General admission tickets and tickets to Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s exciting nighttime performance, are available now. General admission tickets for adults are $16/person. Tickets for children, ages 7-10, are $10, and children, ages six and under, get free admission. Adult four-day passes are also available for $52! General admission includes all clinics, seminars, and demonstrations, access to the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, the International Liberty Horse Association Freestyle Invitational, interactive activities, and all educational exhibits and pavilions.

Separate tickets are required to attend Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse. Sponsored by Absorbine, this exciting and unique performance will return for three nights only on April 13, 14, and 15. Tickets for Fantasia range from $14-$25 and seats go quickly, so buy yours online today! Visit equineaffaire.com to purchase your tickets in advance.

Ready to learn more about everything you’ll see, enjoy, and experience at this spring’s phenomenal event?

COME LEARN, GROW, AND SHARE

Regardless of your learning style, if you want to learn more about horses, there’s an educational pathway open for you at Equine Affaire. Love watching demonstrations while an expert talks you through what they’re doing, thinking, and working through with a horse? Learn in person from some of the nation’s top horse trainers and instructors during more than 150 educational sessions, clinics, and demonstrations. This year’s clinician class is led by such industry standouts as Guy McLean, Julie Goodnight, Jonathan Field, and Jason Irwin, and includes a slew of discipline-specific clinicians who can offer you new ways to enhance your riding, handling, or driving skills. The preliminary schedule is available online today!

Prefer learning by doing? Equine Affaire is proud to present the “Ride with a Pro” initiative, which provides riders like you the chance to ride in a clinic at Equine Affaire. Clinic fees range in price from $85 to $350 and include clinic participation, event admission, and 24 hours of stabling, all for the opportunity to ride with or have your horse trained by a professional! You could ride with Rita Timpanaro (hunter/jumpers), Bronwyn Irwin (pole bending), Brad Barkemeyer (reined cow horse), Bryan Penquite (reining), JJ Tate (dressage), Ali Kermeen (working equitation), Carl Bledsoe (easy gaited horses), Julie Goodnight (general horsemanship), and so many more. Applications to Ride with a Pro are due by February 15.

Like to study over visual displays, chat with experts, and network with people one-on-one? There’s a way to do that, too! Visit our clinicians at their booths in the trade show to ask questions or delve deeper into topics. Stroll through the various educational exhibits in the Equine Fundamentals Forum, a corner of our event dedicated to novice horse lovers, and watch educational sessions in the EFF demo ring. If you want to learn more about a particular breed or type of horse, visit the Breed Pavilion! Located in its own building, the Breed Pavilion features stall-and-booth displays where real, live horses and their owners are waiting to chat with you about horses of a variety of different breeds, types, and disciplines. This year, you might even meet a real live Breyer horse celebrity! Head out to the barn to visit even more horses and displays in the Horse & Farms Exhibits, where equine business owners and service providers are set up to answer your questions and network with you.

LOVE THE THRILL OF COMPETITION?

Riders, it’s not too late to saddle up! Equine Affaire’s crowd-favorite competition, the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, returns on Friday, April 14. Apply today for your opportunity to compete for $5,500 in cash and other prizes. A maximum of 25 pre-selected horse/rider teams will participate in the competition, which will consist of one round through the course. As the horse and rider teams race through the course and work through each obstacle, they will be judged on several horsemanship criteria as well as overall performance.

And if watching’s more your style, attend on Friday and watch a herd of talented riders and their horses tackle Equine Affaire’s unique and challenging obstacle course. Past obstacles have included pushing objects with mallets from horseback, crossing bridges, leaping through colorful balloon arches, ground-tying, pole bending, and more. You never know what you might see!

In conjunction with the International Liberty Horse Association, Equine Affaire is also proud to present the ILHA Freestyle Invitational, sponsored by EspanaSilk. This two-part invitational will feature horses and their handlers working at liberty. If you’ve never seen liberty before, you’ll want to attend this exciting competition and enjoy seeing horses and their people working in beautiful harmony together as they show off all they’ve accomplished.

SHOP OR SELL!

It wouldn’t be Equine Affaire without an opportunity to buy and sell! Our trade show floor is busy, diverse, and brimming with vendors from all across the industry. Shop for tack, grooming supplies, jewelry, décor, clothing, children’s goods, toys, books, and much more, all while meeting shop owners, artisans, authors, service providers, and other purveyors of goods related to the horse industry. With more than 300 vendors spread out across multiple venues, you’re guaranteed to find something you want, something you need, and maybe even a gift or two for family back home!

Got something of your own you’d like to sell? Bring your gently-used tack and other horsey items with you to consign through the Marketplace. Our friendly staff will sell your items for you while you shop and enjoy the event; then you can come back at the end of the day (or the end of the event) to pick up your cash and any leftover items. Our fees are lower than those of other venues, and the process to consign is easy! Register in advance through our website to save $5 on your consignment fees. It’s that easy! And if you love finding a good bargain, make sure to browse the goods on sale at The Marketplace.

Are you searching for a horse of your own to buy or adopt? Whether you’re looking to add to your herd or sell a horse, you can do that at Equine Affaire! Our “For Sale” stalls are a great way to advertise your sale horses in the Horse & Farm exhibits. You can also sign up to participate in our Sale Horse Showcases in order to ride, drive, or lead your sale horses through the coliseum in front of the crowd while our announcer reads their details. Equine Affaire is also partnering with the ASPCA’s Right Horse Initiative this year to offer the Adoption Affaire, where rescues and organizations can bring their horses for adoption to meet and greet with prospective adopters. No matter what kind of horse you’re looking for, you’re likely to find “the right horse” at Equine Affaire!

EXPERIENCE A SHOW UNLIKE ANY OTHER

Sponsored by Absorbine, Fantasia is Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse. This fabulous show features unforgettable performances from equine and equestrian entertainers from across the world. This year’s show will feature a moving performance by Guy McLean, exciting drill team routines from the Diamond D Cowgirls and the Amish Friesians Drill Team, and a fiery Roman riding exhibition by Dusti Dickerson, plus a stellar showcase by the Knights of Iceland, liberty routines, trick riding, and more! Don’t miss Fantasia this spring. Buy your tickets early and reserve your seats for the show of the year, happening April 13, 14, and 15, at 7:30 pm in the coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. Doors will open at 6:45 pm each evening.

BRING YOUR KIDS, TOO

Kids of all ages can enjoy everything Equine Affaire has to offer – but there are also plenty of activities designed especially for them! First, make sure your kids visit the Equine Fundamentals Forum to enjoy hands-on learning opportunities, such as braiding manes and tails, wrapping legs, identifying bones, and more. Kids can also participate in a Stick Horse Rodeo (happening daily at 3 pm) and win prizes, or make unicorn masks at our special craft station. For older youth, make sure to take time to participate in the Equine Affaire College and Career Fair, also stationed in the EFF, where they can learn all about different college and career paths related to the equine industry.

Equine Affaire is proud to partner with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association to present an intensive clinic on Sunday, April 16. This two hour clinic is formatted to review items from the judge’s perspective and will cover hunt seat and dressage disciplines in the IEA show format. If your child attends middle or secondary school and wants to compete, but doesn’t own a horse, IEA is the organization for you! Come attend the clinic and learn more about this awesome organization that works to make equestrian competition more accessible.

WANT TO HELP?

Volunteer your time and talents with Equine Affaire, and you could earn free admission to the event as well as fun souvenirs. While most of our volunteer positions require volunteers to be aged 18 years or older, volunteers ages 12-17 can volunteer to clean stalls, assist with youth activities, or hand out programs. If you’re interested, please sign up by February 24 and join our family of volunteers! We’d love to have you.

GOT QUESTIONS?

To learn more about this event, including details about our host hotels and other accommodations, visit www.equineaffaire.com or call our office at (740) 845-0085, 9:00am-5:00pm EST (M-F). For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @equineaffaire. We’d love to hear from you!

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges the generous sponsors who are making this year’s event possible: Absorbine, Rod’s, US Equestrian, Espana Silk, and GGT Footing. See you at Equine Affaire in Ohio!

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA, November 30, 2022 – For years, horse enthusiasts and equestrians from all across North America have lovingly referred to Equine Affaire as “horse heaven.”  After all, where else can you spend sunup to sundown being surrounded by all things horse, with some of the country’s best equine-related education, entertainment, and shopping available at every turn? North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering earned its heavenly moniker once again on November 10-13, 2022, when it returned to the Eastern States Exposition with record numbers of attendees. In terms of attendance, 2021 served as a banner year for Equine Affaire, especially since it marked the first time in two years that the expo was held in person. The 2022 event attracted even more people, with attendance increasing by 3.5% overall.

“We have always been thankful for the support of our horse community, but in the wake of the pandemic and the way it interrupted live events like ours, our community is even more important to us now,” said Coagi Long, president of Equine Affaire. “We continue to be especially grateful for the chance to see our supporters and fans live and in person at our events, where we can all come together to celebrate the horse.”

The 63^rd Equine Affaire featured horses of all shapes, sizes, ages, breeds, and disciplines in a four-day extravaganza of competitions, entertaining shows, educational clinics, a huge trade show, interactive breed pavilions, and lots more. The event’s educational program featured clinics by Canadian horseman Jonathan Field; natural horsemanship trainer Pat Parelli; ranch horse aficionado Steve Lantvit; Canadian equestrienne Lorie Duff; and general horsemanship coach and trainer Scott Purdum, along with many other discipline-specific clinicians. More than a dozen clinicians also participated in the “Ride with a Pro” initiative, which enables riders to participate in clinics and demos during the event and benefit from one-on-one instruction with the country’s best and brightest horsemen and horsewomen. Scores of interested equestrians applied, including Jessica Knapp, who was selected to ride with internationally-respected show jumping Olympian and hunter competitor Nona Garson.

“Nona Garson’s clinic was so much fun and one of the best clinics in which I’ve ever participated,” said Jessica Knapp, who rode her 11-year-old Holsteiner/Welsh gelding, River of Dreams. “It was well run in all areas, and she gave me some awesome tips on how to improve my jumps with ‘Riv.’ I truly believe that it is a tremendous privilege to be chosen to participate in any of the clinics that are offered at EA, and I treasure the memories made throughout it all.”

Jessica Knapp was also one of the lucky 24 horse-and-rider pairs who was selected to compete in this year’s Massachusetts Versatile Horse and Rider Competition.

“The Versatile Horse and Rider Competition is one of the things I look forward to most every year,” Knapp said. “My horse, Riv, was a little awed by some of the creative obstacles this year, but he gave his best try, which is everything. I have some great ideas regarding what to work on for next year, when I am determined to better our round!”

The VHRC is a signature event for Equine Affaire, featuring a judged race through a timed obstacle course. Every obstacle was specially designed to test the communication between horse and rider as well as each competitor’s horsemanship skills and athletic prowess. This year’s event was judged by Scott Purdum, while Steve Lantvit served as the master of ceremonies. The course was especially challenging for many of the competitors, featuring a longlining obstacle, a feed sack drag, serpentines, and using a lance to spear a ring, among others.

Regardless of the challenges, one pair rose supreme: Franny Galvin-Hynes and her 6-year-old Fjord/Quarter Horse cross mare, Super Nova.

“I was so proud of Nova,” Galvin-Hynes said during her winner’s interview on the Equine Affaire Purple Carpet at the event. “We ran second in the arena, so I did not get to see anybody else’s go at all. She did everything I asked! I was super proud of her for the way she handled all the obstacles. The counter canter? She did it the moment I asked. The roping? She stood perfectly. The weave? She cantered the whole thing. The spear? Even though I didn’t get the ring right away, she stood like a champ! Jumping? She’s a really good girl with that stuff. She was perfect in my eyes.”

The pair first competed in the 2022 Ohio VHRC, which took place in April. During that event, Franny and Nova took sixth place with 56 points – and they were determined to do even better during their go-round in Massachusetts. Galvin-Hynes, who’s from Bethany, Ontario, said they spent every weekend at shows and practicing in anticipation of this fall’s competition.

“I told Nova that I didn’t care if she got dead last, because in my heart, she did her best,” Galvin-Hynes said. “After our ride, did I think we did as well as we did? No! Am I incredibly proud of her and our goal was top 5? Yes!”

Galvin-Hynes won $2,500 in cash and a champion rosette. Danelle Osinchuk and Slip Me A Dual Pep claimed second place honors with $1,750 and a reserve champion rosette, while Karli Knapp & Meadowbrook’s Sir Prize placed third and won $1,000.00 and a rosette. The last cash prize of $250 and a rosette went to fourth place winners Jackie Rappel & Beckett’s Hickory Doc. Fifth through tenth place also received rosettes.

To hear Galvin-Hynes’ full interview from the Purple Carpet, check out the latest episode of the Equine Affaire podcast on Horses in the Morning via the Horse Radio Network. Horses in the Morning is available everywhere you download your podcasts, and the Equine Affaire HITM episodes are also accessible via equineaffaire.com/podcast.

Another highlight of an incredibly horsy weekend included a special Veterans Day activity, as presented by the Equine Immersion Project in partnership with Equine Affaire. The “A Horse for Heroes” session on the afternoon of Veterans Day had full bleachers and a crowded fence line showing tremendous support for service members and first responders. The Equine Immersion Project (EIP), leaders in the field of equine assisted services nationwide, facilitated a groundwork session with their team of veterans, Blue Star family members, and equine specialists. Eleven participants ranged in age from 26 to 79 years and in service, including active duty, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Vietnam era, EMT/Paramedics, and a K-9 police officer.

“There is a desire and demand for alternative healing modalities among service members with invisible wounds of war, such as post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Tara Mahoney, CEO of EIP and a licensed clinical mental health counselor. “Grooming a horse encourages mindfulness and connection while leading a horse through obstacles builds confidence to handle challenges. The Equine Immersion Project team was honored to provide a demonstration at Equine Affaire for this deserving population on Veterans Day.”

According to Mahoney, one participant in the activity stated, “My friend is really the horse person. I just came for a fun day at Equine Affaire. But doing this with EIP… I had no idea the healing impact that 30 minutes would have on me. I definitely recommend this program.”

Equine Affaire wouldn’t be complete without a bustling trade show that filled three buildings with vendors, tons of breed demonstrations, educational activities for kids, and a thriving sale horse pavilion, along with the annual Adoption Affaire. Multiple rescues, including Rising Starr Horse Rescue and New England Equine Rescue, brought horses to participate in the Adoption Affaire and in Equine Affaire’s new Sale Horse Showcase activity. In the showcase, which took place twice during the weekend, horses for sale and available for adoption made their debut in the US Equestrian Coliseum, enabling potential buyers and adopters to watch their prospects in action.

And finally, Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse and beloved nighttime show, sold out two nights of its three-night run. This beloved equine variety show has become a family tradition over the years for generations of horse lovers, and this year’s show did not disappoint. The Canadian Cowgirls performed multiple rousing drill team routines, including a salute to veterans of both the American and Canadian armed forces. The Knights of Iceland lit the arena on fire and got fans’ blood pumping with their fantastical costumes, fabulous music, and indefatigable energy, while Jane Karol and Hot Chocolate W presented a beautiful dressage freestyle set to Kate Bush’s nostalgic 80s anthem, “Running Up That Hill.” Elliot Holtzman and his wife, Caitie, performed a tribute to Aladdin. Sterling Graburn and his fellow driving team members sped through the arena in an exciting combined driving demonstration. Audiences cheered for power couple Dusti Dickerson & Justin Dickerson as they showed off their trick-riding abilities at top speed. The finale, Wild West Skills & Thrills, featured seven-time National Finals Rodeo performer Rider Kiesner and his trick-riding partner, Bethany Illes, who wowed fans with a combo performance of incredible trick riding and trick roping.

If you didn’t make it to either of this year’s Equine Affaires, here’s your chance to ward off the dreaded FOMO for 2023. Equine Affaire (and Fantasia!) will return on April 13-16, 2023, to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, and on November 9-12, 2023, to the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Tickets for the 2023 Ohio event go on sale December 7, 2022 and will be available for purchase online at equineaffaire.com.

Want to learn more about Equine Affaire or start planning your visit? Bookmark our website (www.equineaffaire.com), follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @equineaffaire, or call our office at (740) 845-0085, 9:00am-5:00pm EST (M-F). We can’t wait to see you at Equine Affaire!

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA, November 17, 2022 (updated: November 21, 2022) — We are delighted to announce the winners and results of the 2022 Versatile Horse and Rider Competition! Sponsored by Nutrena, the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition took place in the US Equestrian Arena in the coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition on Friday, November 11. Twenty-four horse and riders tackled a challenging obstacle course, which included a rollback, serpentine, jumps, a feed-sack drag, and a bridge, as well as a roping obstacle and a long-lining obstacle. Every obstacle was especially designed to test communication between horse and rider as well as each competitor’s horsemanship skills and athletic prowess. The judge for the event was Scott Purdum of Advantage Horsemanship, and the emcee was the always-entertaining Steve Lantvit of Steve Lantvit Horsemanship.

With no further ado, we proudly present to you the winners: Franny Galvin-Hynes and her 6-year old Fjord-Quarter Horse cross mare, Super Nova! Franny and Super Nova took home $2,500 in cash and a champion rosette.

Pictured, L to R: Scott Purdum, Steve Lantvit, Coagi Long, Super Nova, and Franny Galvin-Hynes.

Franny Galvin-Hynes has been riding since she could walk, training horses since she was twelve, and has won multiple championships in Ontario Extreme Cowboy and at Kentucky’s Retired Racehorse Project in competitive trail, show jumper, and ranch work. She’s competed successfully in several TIP Mustang Challenges, loves to ride in local hunter/jumper shows and Western games, enjoys trail riding with friends, and this summer, started learning team penning and ranch roping.

Super Nova is a 6-year-old Fjord-Quarter Horse who came to Franny as a somewhat scruffy yearling – but Franny saw her potential and they’ve been a dynamic duo ever since. Last summer, they hit the Ontario Extreme Cowboy circuit for their first full season and finished the year as Maturity Champions. This summer, they decided to give Ranch Roping a try and found it’s a very good fit – they have wins in the open class and teamed up to win a Cowboy Relay Challenge Buckle!

Franny first made the trip from Canada to Equine Affaire over five years ago and knew immediately she had to compete in the Versatile Horse and Rider competition one day. She made that dream come true earlier this year in Ohio, placing 6th overall with her beloved Super Nova, and came back this fall to move their names up the leaderboard — all the way to 1st place!

Congratulations, Franny & Super Nova, and to all our amazing competitors. Final scores for the top ten finishers are below, plus the rest of the scores were added as of 11/21/2022:

1. Franny Galvin-Hynes & Super Nova, 66.5
2. Danelle Osinchuk & Slip Me a Dual Pep, 63.5
3. Karli Knapp & Meadowbrook’s Sir Prize, 59.5
4. Jackie Rappel & Beckett’s Hickory Doc, 58
5. Anya Emmons & High Stylin’ Bobcat, 57.5
6. Melanie Davidson & Willow, 52
7. Amanda Malone & Ironwood Turbo, 49
8. Carolyn Weeks & Mr. Spoc, 47.5
9. April Baronas & I Can’t Even, 46
10. Franny Galvin-Hynes & Aspen’s Wild Grove, 35.5
11. Danielle Gauvin & Put a Little Pep In Your Step, 32.5
12. Logan DeCourcey & Cletus, 32
13. Megan Harmon & Doc Highbrow Dually, DNP
14. Kendra Gorham & Drummers Tango, DNP
15. Olivia Giuffrida & Tiny, DNP
16. Nichole Grunet & Passing In Style, DNP
17. Rob West & Moonshine Lady, DNP
18. Lisa Doyle & Daggers L.S.F., DNP
19. Kayla O’Leary & Wildfire, DNP
20. Brittany Mayer & Copperhead Koad, DNP
21. Jessica Knapp & River of Dreams, DNP
22. Susan Johnson & NR Bada Bling, DNP
23. Jessica Hogan & Cannoli Bandit, DNP
24. Jordan White & Two Socks, DNP

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA, November 7, 2022 — The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition is coming back to Equine Affaire in Massachusetts and we can’t wait! As part of our preparations, we’re introducing you to all 25 horse and rider pairs that will be competing in this year’s competition. If you missed the first four posts, click here and check them out! Then come back to meet our final five.

Sponsored by Nutrena, the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition will take place in the US Equestrian Arena in the coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition on Friday, November 11, from 1 to 5 pm. Riders will traverse our obstacle course and race the clock to see who will win the title of the 2022 Massachusetts Versatile Horse & Rider champions.

Every obstacle is designed to test communication between horse and rider as well as each competitor’s horsemanship skills and athletic prowess. Their efforts will be evaluated by our celebrity judge, Scott Purdum; narrated by our emcee, Steve Lantvit; and applauded by an audience of excited fans.

The champions will win $2,500 in cash and a champion rosette, while reserve, third, and fourth will take home rosettes and cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000, and $500, respectively. Fifth through tenth will take home rosettes.

Ready to meet the final five competitors for this year?

Jessica Knapp and River of Dreams, 11 year old Holsteiner/Welsh gelding

Jessica and “Riv” have won champion awards in both hunter and equitation divisions of their local show circuit. Recently, they switched over to jumpers and have had many great rounds this season at both A and C rated shows. They also love to participate in obstacle and versatility classes. Jessica intentionally changes things up with Riv in order to maintain his focus and sharpen his interest. The pair competed in the 2019 and 2021 Massachusetts VHRCs and are hoping to have another go at the course to improve upon their previous rides.

“Riv is a brave and curious horse who likes new challenges and different venues. He definitely has a mind of his own but the trust between us grows in leaps and bounds with every new experience that we have together,” Jessica says.

Susan Johnson and NR Bada Bling, 8 year old Morgan gelding

Susan began riding when she was just nine years old. At twelve, she fell in love with trail riding. She purchased “Bling” in early 2020 after falling in love with his goofy personality. Although her original intention was to turn him into her new trail partner, she quickly realized that he lacked a few important things, like brakes and steering.  When COVID hit in March 2020 and Susan found herself confined to the ring, she began to focus on dressage to give Bling a solid foundation before venturing out on trail rides.  To keep ring riding interesting and fun, she started incorporating some versatility obstacles into their riding routine.  In 2021, she began trail riding with Bling. They now split their time between the woods and the ring, with occasional trips to the beach!

Jessica Hogan and Cannoli Bandit, 18 year old Pinto gelding

Jessica inherited her love of horses from her mother, who has been her best friend and support throughout her horse journey. Jessi and “Bandit” have been together for about two years, ever since her grandparents gave him to Jessi’s family as a gift. Jessi quickly learned that Bandit was like an anxious toddler who needed lots of attention to help overcome his trust issues. By working with him and learning his likes and dislikes, Jessi helped Bandit and now the pair are a great team. Bandit is Jessi’s gymkhana and English equitation partner. He also loves trail courses and his favorite treat is Gatorade. Jessi says that competing at Equine Affaire has always been a dream of hers, and she’s excited for the chance to bring Bandit with her to the VHRC.

“It is important for me to set an example for my equestrian students and to encourage them to work hard, take chances, and believe in yourself! So here I am, giving this a shot, knowing I will always be proud of my boy and no matter what, I’ll always have the people who love me behind me,” Jessi says.

Danelle Osinchuk and Slip Me A Dual Pep, 22 year old American Quarter Horse gelding

Danelle and Magic are VHRC veterans with multiple wins and second place finishes under their belts. They’ve spent the last two years competing in extreme cowboy racing and have become quite fond of the sport because it helps them improve and enhance their horsemanship and communication. Magic and Danelle reside in Vermont with Danelle’s husband and three children, two other horses, and a handful of cows. Danelle works as a business partner for a large animal veterinary practice and handles domestic and international Wagyu cattle registrations for Vermont Wagyu. Magic is the “everything” horse for the Osinchuks. In addition to being Danelle’s competition partner, he helps children learn to ride at a local summer AirBnB and serves as a heading horse for Danelle’s 13 year old son, who wants to be a team roper.

“We cherish every minute we get together, and it has been an absolute honor to call Magic my horse,” Danelle says.

Jordan White and Two Socks, 19 year old American Quarter Horse mare

Jordan and her former reiner, “Socks,” are excited to compete this fall in the VHRC. Socks is a happy trail horse who also dabbles in dressage and jumping. He shares a special bond with Jordan. The duo has been together for seven years. Jordan is dedicating their ride to Kathy, her “second mom” and Socks’ former owner, who passed away in 2021 after a long hard battle with cancer. Jordan says she’s thankful for all that Kathy did and all that Kathy’s husband, Robert Tobey, continues to do for Jordan and Socks.

Now that you’ve met all the competitors in this year’s competition, it’s time to make your plans to attend the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on November 11^th, from 1-5 pm in the US Equestrian Arena in the coliseum, to see who will win.

 

 

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA, November 5, 2022 — Within the past few weeks, we asked our Facebook audience to submit their favorite tips and tricks for making the most out of a visit to Equine Affaire. Whether this is your first visit or your fifth visit, you’ll want to check out this list of tips about shopping, learning, eating, attending Fantasia, and lots more! You might just learn something new that you can put to good use in just a few days when Equine Affaire returns to the Eastern States Exposition, November 10-13th, 2022!

1. Plan to come multiple days, especially Thursday! Thursdays are typically less crowded and vendors are fully stocked because it’s the start of the trade show. Many vendors are also happy to hold purchases for later pickup; just ask.

2. Make a list of your must-gets, your wants, and your wish-list before you start shopping.

3. Study the program. You’ll get a paper copy at the event, and a digital copy is available here!

4. Talk to the exhibitors and vendors. Ask questions! Find out what people have to offer and learn their stories.

5. Look at the schedule, plan your educational experiences, and take notes.

6. Ask the clinicians and presenters lots of questions. This is your chance to gain insights and knowledge from the best in the industry.

7. Look for the distribution tables at the entrances to the trade show buildings. The materials are free to take home.

8. Dress warmly and in layers. The buildings can be warm, but it may be cold, snowy, or rainy outside and you’ll need to go from building to building outdoors.

9. If you stay for Fantasia, take handwarmers and extra layers to keep from getting too chilly.

10. Bring a wheelie bag or an empty rolling suitcase and pack it with your souvenirs and purchases as you go.

11. Want to enter raffles or sign up for email lists? Bring address labels with your information already pre-printed. Easy peasy raffle entry! (And don’t forget to enter the free Equine Affaire raffle — online!)

12. Eat at “non-peak” times to avoid long lines at the food booths. Pick easy grab-and-go snacks and meals so you can walk and eat, or so you can carry it to a clinic and eat while you watch. You can also pack your lunch and eat in your car.

13. Use the event map to mark what booths you liked or want to return to later.

14. Hate carrying a purse? Use a zippered pocket to stash your wallet on your person.

15. Pack hand sanitizer, Kleenex, chapstick, and other necessities in a backpack or fanny pack so you always have what you need close at hand!

16. Want a delicious breakfast? Try Memo’s Restaurant.

17. Planning to purchase a pitchfork, salt block, or other heavy or awkward item? Buy your bulky items at the end of your visit.

18. Bring a raincoat or poncho in case of rain.

19. Make multiple passes through the trade shows – you never know what you might have missed the first time around.

20. Shop with family and friends so you can help each other look for items on everyone’s list.

21. Don’t miss the Consignment Shop. The Marketplace Consignment Shop is located in the Mallary South this year. Look for great deals on gently used horsey tack and items and check back throughout the weekend – people can drop off new items at any time.

22. Lose something or find something you think someone else lost? Stop by the Equine Affaire Information Booth in the Better Living Center and ask to check the Lost and Found log. And if you’ve got questions, our friendly EA staff will be in the booth all weekend and happy to help you. While you’re there, buy your Affaire Wear and rep your love for the event all weekend long.

Got a hot Equine Affaire tip you want to submit? Email arehnborg@equineaffaire.com!

 

 

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA, November 4, 2022 — The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition happens one week from today! We are so thrilled for another round of this fabulous competition. As part of our preparations, we’re introducing you to all 25 horse and rider pairs that will be competing in this year’s competition. If you missed the first three posts, click here and check them out! Then come back to meet our last five riders.

Sponsored by Nutrena, the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition will take place in the US Equestrian Arena in the coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition on Friday, November 11, from 1 to 5 pm. Riders will traverse our obstacle course and race the clock to see who will win the title of the 2022 Massachusetts Versatile Horse & Rider champions.

Every obstacle is designed to test communication between horse and rider as well as each competitor’s horsemanship skills and athletic prowess. Their efforts will be evaluated by our celebrity judge, Scott Purdum; narrated by our emcee, Steve Lantvit; and applauded by an audience of excited fans.

The champions will win $2,500 in cash and a champion rosette, while reserve, third, and fourth will take home rosettes and cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000, and $500, respectively. Fifth through tenth will take home rosettes.

Ready to meet the next five competitors for this year?

Jackie Rappel and Beckett’s Hickory Doc, 20 year old American Quarter Horse gelding

Jackie and “Roanie” are VHRC veterans and have competed six times. It’s safe to say they love versatility work! Jackie, now a practicing attorney, first met Roanie seven years ago when she was between jobs and earning money riding horses. She started riding Roanie, who was a sale horse at the time, and fell in love. She has taught the senior gelding to perform flying lead changes. They’ve also competed in reined cow horse. These days, Roanie is semi-retired, but Jackie says that as long as he has the ability and desire to compete, she’s going to keep chasing a top 3 finish in the VHRC.

Kayla O’Leary and Wildfire, 12 year old Mustang mare

Together for seven years, Kayla and Wildfire are jills-of-all-trades. They’ve competed in local Western and ranch pleasure shows as well as English shows. They’ve done mounted shooting and cow work, revolutionary war re-enactments, and trail riding. They’ve even performed in multiple parades as members of Teddy Roosevelt’s rough riders from the Spanish American wars, demonstrating various cavalry techniques such as mounted shooting, drill formations, saber work, and other skills. This year marks their fourth time competing in the VHRC.

Brittany Mayer and Copperhead Road, 7 year old Mustang mare

Brittany is a trainer and riding instructor from Cumberland, Rhode Island, and has competed in the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition twice before. This is the first year she will be competing with “Copper”. Brittany and Copper have known each other for just over two years, but have been a consistent team for about 6 months — ever since Copper officially joined the family this summer. In the last several months, they’ve gotten to know each other quite well in a variety of ways including trail riding, ranch sorting, showing, and plenty of obstacles. They have lots of showing goals for next year in the ranch horse events and are hoping to become an even stronger team as they continue to learn about each other.

Amanda Malone and Ironwood Turbo, 17 year old Fjord gelding

Amanda and “Turbo” have been partners for four years. Amanda says, “This little horse has made me proud of who [he is] and what he has accomplished. Turbo is a one-of-a-kind horse.” Hailing from Mathias, West Virginia, Amanda and Turbo have competed in eventing, trail, games, parades, jousting, and lots more, plus many expos and demos as representatives of the Fjord breed. They also participated in the Apple Blossom Parade in Winchester, Virginia, this year. Turbo loves people and learning new things. Turbo has been helping train young horses and being a solid horse for new people to experience the Fjord horse. This will be Amanda and Turbo’s third time competing in the VHRC.

Karli Knapp and Meadowbrook’s Sir Prize, 14 year old Gypsy Vanner gelding

Karli and Meadowbrook’s Sir Prize competed in the VHRC last year for the first time and took eleventh place. Karli and her Gypsy Vanner compete in English, Western, dressage, reining, and driving. This year, they entered many more obstacle clinics and competitions in order to improve their skills in time for this year’s competition. Karli is excited for the chance to be back and work on her precision over obstacles.

Are you excited yet? We’ve got five more competitors to introduce to you before November 11^th gets here. Watch this page for all the updates, then plan on attending the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on November 11^th, from 1-5 pm in the US Equestrian Arena in the coliseum, to see who will win!