12 17

2021 EQUINE AFFAIRE IN OHIO TRANSITIONS TO A VIRTUAL EVENT

To Equine Affaire’s Supporters and Participants,

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect each and every one of us, our surroundings, and our businesses. Infection numbers continue to increase and while there is hope that the pandemic will begin to subside in 2021, we sadly share that Equine Affaire in Ohio on April 8-11, 2021, will not take place as an “in-person” event. The Ohio Expo Center is currently being utilized by Columbus Health and will continue to serve as a COVID-19 testing site in the coming months. It is also slated to be a location for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines once they become available for distribution. With the inability to produce the event at the Ohio Expo Center coupled with current health guidelines and regulations beyond our control, the 2021 “in-person” Equine Affaire in Ohio originally scheduled for April 8-11, will not take place at the Ohio Expo Center next spring and will instead be held as a virtual event.

The virtual Equine Affaire will occur online on April 8-11, 2020, complete with education, shopping, competition and more! Stay tuned to our web site, equineaffaire.com, and social media platforms as we connect attendees with exhibitors and other virtual content, plus exciting updates about upcoming events and special features.

Equine Affaire will reach out directly to attendees who had exchanged tickets for the 2021 Ohio event as well as exhibitors regarding their exhibit arrangements.

Equine Affaire highly values the health, safety, and well-being of all who enthusiastically support Equine Affaire from year to year, and we are committed to producing our signature in-person events again in the future. Mark your calendars for November 11-14, 2021, as we return to W. Springfield, MA, and April 7-10, 2022 in Columbus, OH, bringing you the nation’s premiere equine expositions and equestrian gatherings!

We wish the best of health and well-being to all and look forward to celebrating the horse and the equine industry with you at the next Equine Affaire!

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10 02

EQUINE AFFAIRE GOES VIRTUAL: Access Equine Affaire’s free virtual event online, Nov 12-15, 2020

Log on with Equine Affaire for a new and exciting virtual equine event! Equine Affaire in Massachusetts is going entirely online at www.equineaffaire.com on November 12-15, 2020. You can also join the fun by following @equineaffaire on Facebook and Instagram. This virtual show will be a free online experience filled with videos, photos and presentations from North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering. Access links and other details will become active on November 12, so bookmark our social media pages and website today!

This exciting virtual event will feature shopping guides, educational video presentations and editorial content by select clinicians, interviews with clinicians and performers, a virtual Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, highlights of signature event features and much more! By visiting us online at https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-attend/2020-virtual-event/, you’ll get a front-row seat to your favorite equine show without ever leaving your home. We’ll also be showcasing a special behind-the-scenes view of the Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse, with fun facts from some of our favorite performers!

We know our attendees traditionally love to do their Christmas shopping at Equine Affaire in Massachusetts, which is why we’ve put together comprehensive shopping guides to connect you with your favorite exhibitors and vendors. Find what you need – and what you want! – by shopping by category or exhibitor listings. We’ll also be using enhanced advertisements with product videos and pop out photos to give you the opportunity to learn all about new products. It’s the next best thing to browsing our trade show in person!

Equine Affaire has been elevating the equestrian experience since 1994, which includes providing top-notch educational opportunities for equestrians of all skill levels and disciplines. This year, we’ll be featuring video presentations by select presenters, educational articles and exclusive interviews with clinicians. Our Breed Pavilion and is also going online this year, so you’ll get to see your favorite breeds and learn about their respective associations through our virtual event

We’re also proud to launch the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition “Home Edition,” sponsored by Nutrena! Similar to the traditional competition, this new format allows competitors to video their performances from their home arena. The top ten performers will be featured in the virtual event, and we’ll announce the winners via social media on Friday, November 13! If you’re interested in competing, check out https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-compete/mass-versatile-horse-rider-competition/ for entry details. Entries are due October 15.

And just for kids, we’re offering a Stick Horse Coloring Contest. The contest will be divided into age groups and top entries will be highlighted during the virtual event. Let your kids showcase their creativity! Visit https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-compete/mass-stick-horse-coloring-contest/ to download your stick horse head and entry form. Stick Horse entries are due October 15.

We hope you’ll join us for our virtual Equine Affaire event, and we look forward to seeing you online at www.equineaffaire.com on November 12-15, 2020!

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06 30

Cancellation of 2020 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts

Equine Affaire Supporters and Participants,

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and we are unable to predict exactly where things will be in November. With ongoing concerns regarding the pandemic as well as the inability to produce the event under current guidelines and regulations, the 2020 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts will be postponed to November 11-14, 2021.

The staff and management of Equine Affaire highly value the health, safety, and well-being of all who wholeheartedly support Equine Affaire from year to year, and we are committed to producing our signature in-person events again in the future. Mark your calendars for 2021 as we return to Columbus, OH, on April 8-11, 2021, and to W. Springfield, MA, on November 11-14, 2021, bringing you the nation’s premiere equine expositions and equestrian gatherings!

And stay tuned to our web site, equineaffaire.com, and social media platforms as we connect attendees with exhibitors and other virtual interactive content this fall, plus exciting updates about next year’s events and special features.

We wish the best of health and well-being to all in the coming months and look forward to celebrating the horse and the equine industry with you in a brilliant way in 2021!

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06 02

Equine Affaire Podcast Season 2, Episode 1

Season 2 of the Equine Affaire podcast is here! In this episode, special guest Misha Duvernoy discusses the fun and educational opportunities available for visitors in the Breed Pavilion at Equine Affaire. Misha Duvernoy is a member of the board of the directors and the secretary for the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society. Every year, members of GVHS play an active role in the Breed Pavilion and participate in breed demonstrations with their beautiful feathered draft horses.

To learn more about the Gypsy Vanner Horse Society, visit vanners.org. And be sure to check out equineaffaire.com for more information on the Breed Pavilion as well as the upcoming Equine Affaire in Massachusetts, scheduled for November 12-15, 2020, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield.

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05 18

2020 Ohio Equine Affaire Raffle Winners

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2020 Ohio Equine Affaire raffle!
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Winners of a $100 gift certificate to SmartPak:
Leandra Grasso
Susan Bauer
Petra Chumbley
Michele Rizco
Katlyn Hommel
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Winners of a $175 gift certificate to Muck Booth Company

Carrie Ball
Terri Thomas
Christine Heffelbower
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Winners of a $100 gift certificate to The Wire Horse

Tabitha Kelley
Kim Marchand
Michelle Welshans
Anita Olin
Elizabeth Higgins
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Winners of a $500 gift certificate to Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies

Jess Sudvary
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Winners of a pair of single-day admission tickets to the 2021 Equine Affaire in Ohio

Sarah Lodwick
Laura Townsend
Kerry Maddocks
Olivia Lang
Noelle Worm
Holly Propst
Kris Medley
Emily Billups
Carrie Sell
Teri Boyd

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03 25

Refunds, Exchanges, and Credits for the 2020 Equine Affaire in Ohio

Dear Equine Affaire Attendees, Exhibitors, Sponsors and Participants,

We are all deeply disappointed by the cancellations of the 2020 Equine Affaire and Fantasia in Columbus. We were truly heartbroken to have had to cancel these productions, but ultimately the health and safety of all of our valued participants is of the utmost importance.

The educational program developed for this year’s Equine Affaire was a fabulous one, and we are already working towards trying to replicate it—to the extent possible—for the 2021 Equine Affaire that will take place April 8-11. We are also hoping to recreate the 2020 Fantasia in 2021…as the show we had developed for this year was destined to delight horse enthusiasts of all ages.

The COVID-19 virus has created unimaginable changes in all our lives and is wreaking havoc with our personal finances and the economy worldwide. As you are well aware, event cancellations have had a devastating impact on the travel industry and event production organizations everywhere. Equine Affaire is no exception. With the cancellation of the Ohio event, the company has lost half of its revenue for the year…revenue that usually covers the payroll for our seven full-time employees and a wide range of operating and event production expenses. The company will endure, but it has taken a huge hit from which it will take careful planning and time to recover.

Equine Affaire has extensive obligations to exhibitors, sponsors, participants, and ticket holders and our team has given great thought to how to manage and balance these obligations while keeping the company viable.

Refund and credit options have been issued to all event participants directly via email. All refund or credit request forms must be received by Equine Affaire no later than May 1st. Please do not provide any credit card or bank account information on request forms.

It is with immense gratitude that we thank our Equine Affaire participants for their unwavering enthusiasm each April. You inspire our team to plan and produce first class events serving horse people and the horse industry. We look forward to seeing you again next April 8-11 in Columbus and sharing our passion for horses together.

We wish you, your family, and your horses good health.

Kindest regards,

Coagi Long

President                                            


Mark your calendar for our future dates!
November 12-15, 2020 in W. Springfield, MA  | April 8-11, 2021 in Columbus, OH

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03 16

Cancellation of 2020 Equine Affaire in Ohio

Equine Affaire Attendees, Exhibitors, Sponsors, and Participants,

It is with great sadness and disappointment that we announce the Equine Affaire scheduled to take place April 2-5 at the Ohio Expo Center has been cancelled. This cancellation is based upon the evolving COVID-19 virus threat that is sweeping not only our state and nation, but the globe. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health have issued an executive order prohibiting mass gatherings and events from taking place within the State of Ohio until further notice as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19.

The staff and management of Equine Affaire highly value the health and well-being of all who enthusiastically support Equine Affaire from year to year, and this cancellation is not something that we take lightly. Details will be forthcoming regarding refunds, exchanges and plans for moving forward. Updates will be posted on equineaffaire.com by March 25th. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to finalize plans for our patrons.

Looking forward, we encourage you to mark your calendars as we will be returning to the Ohio Expo Center April 8-11, 2021 and to W. Springfield, MA, on November 12-15, 2020, bringing you the nation’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering. We are all in this together and wish the best of health and well-being to all as we navigate the unique and challenging times before us.

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03 02

Embrace the Equestrian Experience

Share the magic of Equine Affaire with your family and friends!

This spring, pamper the horse lover in your family with tickets to North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering. On April 2-5, 2020, tens of thousands of horse enthusiasts will gather at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, for four days of horse-filled activities at Equine Affaire. With tickets at just $15/day per adult and discount and free tickets available for kids, there’s no better place to bring the whole family to discover the magical world of the horse. At Equine Affaire, you can experience the joy of riding horses for the first time with special ride-a-horse events, learn all about horses from the industry’s top experts and trainers, and shop for your perfect horse accessories at the largest horse-themed trade show in the Midwest.

To purchase tickets, visit equineaffaire.com or call the Equine Affaire office at (740) 845-0085. General admission tickets for adults are $15/day or $50/four-day pass. Tickets for children, ages 7-10, are $8/day, and children ages 6 and under receive free admission. With Equine Affaire’s new digital ticket delivery methods, entry at the event is hassle-free! After purchase, electronic tickets will be delivered to you via email. Store electronic tickets on your mobile device for scanning upon arrival at the event or print your own at home. Hours for the event are 9 am to 7 pm, Thursday through Saturday, and 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Please note the Ohio Expo Center charges for parking.

For the price of general admission, you can attend all clinics, seminars and demonstrations, visit dozens of specially themed pavilions and exhibits, browse acres of vendors at the Equine Affaire trade show, and cheer on horses and riders in multiple competitions throughout the weekend. Special hands-on activities, such as Ride A Haflinger, are also included. Be sure to visit the Ohio Haflinger Association booth in the Breed Pavilion to sign up for your chance to ride a unique breed of horse known as the Haflinger. Veterans, active-duty soldiers and first responders, visit the Operation Horses & Heroes, Inc. booth in the Breed Pavilion to sign up for A Horse for Heroes, a special opportunity for you to experience the benefits of equine-assisted activities for the first time.

Equine Affaire also presents two brand-new events this year. In addition to the annual Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, Equine Affaire will host the International Liberty Horse Association Freestyle Invitational and the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Trainer Incentive Program Challenge. First, don’t miss the excitement of the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, which will take place Friday, April 3 in the Coliseum. More than two dozen horse-and-rider pairs will compete to see who can complete a timed obstacle course with the fewest penalties in the shortest amount of time. Then explore the ILHA Freestyle Invitational, which showcases the special performances of liberty trainers and their horses, and the Mustang TIP Challenge, which features a two-part event where trainers will gentle untamed mustangs right before your eyes. Catch the prelims of the ILHA Freestyle Invitational and the Mustang TIP Challenge on Friday, April 3, and then stay for the finals for both events on Saturday, April 4.

When you purchase your tickets for Equine Affaire, be sure to buy separate digital tickets for Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse! Performances of Fantasia will take place in the Coliseum at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of the event. No day at Equine Affaire is complete without experiencing the Fantasia, an evening filled with incredible equine performances set to various types of popular music. Sponsored by Absorbine, the Fantasia will feature liberty routines, freestyles, comedic performances, thrilling drill team demonstrations, and a breathtaking display of speed and fire by the exotic Icelandic ponies and their riders. Tickets for Fantasia range from $14-$25 and are available online at equineaffaire.com or by calling the Equine Affaire office at (740) 845-0085. Like your Equine Affaire general admission tickets, Fantasia tickets will be delivered to your email after purchase.

Make your hotel reservations for Equine Affaire early by visiting our list of host hotels, available online at equineaffaire.com. Mention Equine Affaire when you make the reservation to get special discounted rates. For more information about the event, including a full schedule, call the Equine Affaire office at (740) 845-0085 between 9 am and 5 pm EST, Monday through Friday, or go online to equineaffaire.com. We’ll see you in Columbus!

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02 20

Never Stop Learning at Equine Affaire

Hone your horsemanship skills by learning from the best at Equine Affaire in Ohio.

With education at its heart and the equine industry as its canvas, there’s no better place to learn more about horses than Equine Affaire. In addition to educational forums and interactive exhibits designed to educate youth and beginners, Equine Affaire offers a robust schedule of educational clinics, demonstrations and seminars for equestrians from every discipline and skill level. Plan your trip to Columbus, Ohio, today to visit the Ohio Expo Center on April 2-5, 2020, for the opportunity to learn firsthand from some of the industry’s best and brightest clinicians during Equine Affaire.

This year’s event showcases the knowledge and talents of Jonathan Field, Craig Cameron, Warwick Schiller, Tik Maynard, Lynn Palm, Jonath Robles and Jim Thomas, plus dozens of other discipline-specific clinicians. With clinics covering everything from general training and horsemanship to core strengthening and yoga for horses, there’s a session for everyone. Best of all, attendance for all clinics is included in the price of general admission – just $15/day for adults or $50 for a four-day pass, while tickets for children (7-10) are $8/day and children six-and-under attend for free. Purchase your tickets today by visiting equineaffaire.com and enjoy the added convenience of new digital ticket delivery.

At Equine Affaire in Ohio, make sure to attend one of Jonathan Field’s sessions on general training and horsemanship. When he isn’t at home on his ranch north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Jonathan Field travels throughout North America sharing his “Inspired by Horses” horsemanship program and working with students of all riding levels. Though his initial equestrian pursuits were within the English realm, he transitioned years ago to become a working cowboy. Following an industrial accident at the age of only 19, horses played a crucial role in Field’s recovery—both physically and mentally. This tragedy cemented his dedication to horses and his desire to “give back to the world of horses” by building his career around them and sharing what he has learned.

Craig Cameron’s motivational and entertaining speaking style focuses on the training principles of patience and understanding. A life-long rancher, working cowboy and horse trainer, Craig Cameron has developed a keen understanding of the Western lifestyle and discipline. After years of bull riding on the professional rodeo circuit and successfully operating his cattle business, Cameron decided to give something back to the horse by devoting his time and talents to training horses. By honing his horsemanship skills and conducting clinics throughout North America and beyond, Cameron has become a household name in the horse industry. His work has earned him the prestigious American Cowboy Culture Working Cowboy of the Year award. Currently Cameron can be found hosting a horse training program as well as his Extreme Cowboy Races on RFD-TV and at equine venues throughout the country and working on his Double Horn Ranches in Bluff Dale, TX, and Lincoln, NM.

Although Warwick Schiller grew up riding Quarter Horses in Australia, he has called the United States home for almost thirty years. An accomplished reining competitor, Schiller has multiple championship titles in the United States and Australia, including being a member of the 2010 and 2018 Australian Reining Teams at the World Equestrian Games. In addition to training his own horses, Schiller is passionate about working with riders from all disciplines to help them improve their communication and relationship with their horse. In 2012, he began to record his training methods for everything from starting young horses to retraining problem horses. Originally started on a YouTube channel, the Warwick Schiller Performance Horsemanship Online Video Library now hosts more than 500 videos and 300 hours of training footage with more than 20 million views. Though his home base is in Hollister, CA, Schiller spends a lot of time on the road conducting clinics throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

Eventer and natural horsemanship advocate Tik Maynard is a fifth generation equestrian from Vancouver, Canada. He spent his youth riding in Pony Club, where he got involved in Tetrathlon, a sport that incorporates running, swimming, shooting, and riding. He eventually found his way to Modern Pentathlon competitions, which include all of the sports that make up Tetrathlons, plus fencing. Maynard spent six years competing in the Modern Pentathlon on the Canadian National Team and was a member of the Canadian team at the 2007 Pan American Games, three World Championships, and eleven World Cups before focusing his competitive sights on eventing. He was long-listed for the Canadian eventing team for the 2012 London Olympics and is currently long-listed for the national eventing team. Maynard conducts eventing and natural horsemanship clinics throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

For 50 years, Lynn Palm has championed the partnership of horse and rider. An international clinician, she travels extensively from her facilities at Fox Grove Farm in Ocala, FL, where she and her husband, Cyril Pittion-Rossillon, teach the fundamentals of their Palm Equestrian Academy. Palm is an American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) judge and holds her USEF R Western Dressage judges license. Continuing to compete in both United States Dressage Federation and Western Dressage Association of America shows, her competition record is second to none. Palm was a special guest performer at the 1996 Olympics and was named 2000 AQHA Female Equestrian of the Year by the Women’s Sports Foundation. In 2003, she was the recipient of Equine Affaire’s Exceptional Equestrian Educator Award, and she was titled Horsewoman of the year in 2007 by the American Quarter Horse Association. Palm presented as a clinician and entertainer at the 2010 World Equestrian Games and the 2017 FEI World Cup Finals.

Like many trainers, Jonath Robles grew up with a passion for horses. Though he put his passion on hold to attend the University of Oregon and earn a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, his education ultimately influenced his training methods. Robles researched why certain people were more successful in life than others — namely due to opportunity, education, and having the right connections — and implemented those ideas into the world of horses. Out of his J. R. Horse Training in Newberg, OR, Robles specializes in colt starting, western dressage, reining, and working with “problem” horses. After being exposed to horse trainers that used a lot of old school cowboy training methods, which seemed more cruel than effective in his eyes, Robles became fascinated with natural horsemanship, and now uses it as the driving teaching method in his training. When he’s not training or teaching clinics, Robles enjoys competing in colt starting competitions. Robles was named the Colt Starting Reserve Champion during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in 2016.

Jim Thomas has spent his entire life surrounded by horses, but it wasn’t until his retirement from the U.S. Army in 2007 that he began training horses full-time. That same year, he competed in his first Extreme Mustang Makeover, which became a pivotal point in his horsemanship journey. After training that mustang, Thomas earned a reputation for being able to work with wild or difficult horses. He has trained almost 100 mustangs since then and continues to compete in the Extreme Mustang Makeover every year. Outside of working with horses and riders of all disciplines on his ranch in Pittsboro, NC, Thomas conducts clinics, writes articles for Southeast Equine and Carolina Hoofbeats, and is currently working on a book. He has also served in various positions as a North Carolina Horse Council Executive Board Member and is a member of the Chatham County Equine Advisory Board.

Attendees at the 2020 Equine Affaire in Ohio will also have the opportunity to learn from:

  • Jonathon Millar, hunter/jumper
  • Jeremy Steinberg, dressage
  • Kevin Oliver, reining & trail
  • Tik Maynard, eventing
  • Kristin Weaver-Brown, barrel racing
  • Liz Austin, dressage
  • Heidi Potter, Centered Riding®
  • Lynn Palm, western dressage
  • Rick Christy, Western horsemanship & hunter under saddle
  • Suzy Stafford, driving
  • Simon Cocozza, core strengthening & yoga for horses
  • Gary Lane, easy gaited horses
  • Sarah Track, saddleseat
  • Jerry Paulsen, veteran equine assisted activities
  • Paul Garrison, mules
  • Heidi McLaughlin, overcoming fear
  • The Young Guns Equestrian Drill Team, drill teams
  • The 6th Ohio Mounted Buglers and 2nd Cavalry Brigade, mounted cavalry

Tickets for Equine Affaire in Ohio are on sale now at equineaffaire.com. After purchase, electronic tickets will be delivered via email. Store your electronic ticket on your phone for scanning upon arrival or print at home and present your printed tickets at the gate. For additional information about Equine Affaire, including demo schedules, host hotels, and more, visit equineaffaire.com or call the Equine Affaire office at (740) 845-0085 between 9 am and 5 pm EST, Monday through Friday.

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02 13

Equine Affaire Podcast #7

In this episode, we talk to Loretta Weber, who has participated in the Ride with a Pro clinic program at Equine Affaire many times. Loretta lives in Burlington, New Jersey, and raises and trains American Paint Horses and American Quarter Horses. Loretta enjoys trail rides, trail challenges, ranch riding, ranch pleasure, dressage, hunters, and gymkhanas. Through Ride with a Pro, Loretta has ridden with Julie Goodnight, Steve Lantvit and Lynn Palm.

Interested in participating in the Ride With A Pro clinic program at Equine Affaire? Hurry! Applications are due on Friday, February 14. Application materials are available online here.

General admission tickets to Equine Affaire (available online here) include auditing of hundreds of clinics, seminars, and demonstrations scheduled for April 2-5, 2020 at the Ohio Expo Center!

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ELEVATING THE EQUESTRIAN EXPERIENCE SINCE 1994 TM