Meet the Faces of the 2022 Versatile Horse and Rider Competition

The excitement is building for the 2022 Versatile Horse and Rider Competition! The competition will take place on Friday, April 8, 2022, in the Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center during Equine Affaire in Ohio. With $5,500 cash and other prizes at stake, including special prize packages from Farnam, it’s going to be one exciting race as 25 competitors and their mounts vie for the honor of becoming the 2022 Versatile Horse and Rider Champions! In this post, meet five of the talented competitors that will join the race at Equine Affaire.

Rachel Dicken

Horse: Rowdy, 7 year old Appaloosa gelding

Rachel Dicken hails from Kingston, Ohio. She brought Rowdy home as a weanling and trained him herself from the ground up, teaching him everything from cow work to sliding stops to loping up and down steep trails. Thanks to their shared history, Rachel and Rowdy enjoy a special partnership built on trust, and they look forward to showing as a team at the 2022 Versatile Horse and Rider Competition in Ohio.

Miranda Roesel

Horse: Shamrock, 8 year old American Quarter Horse gelding

Miranda and Shamrock are from Amelia, Ohio, and have been together ever since Shamrock was just three years old. The pair enjoy competing in ranch classes at open shows. They placed third in the ranch trail and fifth in the ranch riding at the 2021 NOHSA World Championship Show, and they also competed in the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition in 2019. When they’re not showing, they love going on trail rides together.

Miranda and Shamrock

Lindsey Partridge

Horse: Thunderous Affair, 5 year old Thoroughbred mare

Lindsey Partridge is from Pontypool, Ontario, and has been riding Thunderous Affair for two years. Thunderous Affair is America’s Most Wanted Thoroughbred from the 2020 class at the 2021 Thoroughbred Makeover. Lindsey and Thunderous Affair won championships in both Freestyle and Trail at the Mustang Makeover in Kentucky. They also won the reserve championship at the Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Expo in 2021. Lindsey and Thunderous Affair love riding bridleless and playing at liberty.

Julia Mazzarella

Horse: Nine Lives, 16 year old Thoroughbred mare

Julia Mazzarella grew up training in the hunters, jumpers, and equitation, and competed through the Intercollegiate level, culminating with a national championship in the Intercollegiate Open Over Fences in 2013. Julia began riding Nine Lives, aka Kitten, in 2014 and purchased her in 2015. Kitten was a green OTTB and Julia initially trained her for the jumpers, in which they have competed up to 3’ in both schooling and A-rated competitions. Upon moving to Ohio, Julia and Kitten tried their hand at eventing, and competed at several schooling competitions at the beginner novice level. Following several injuries for Kitten, including a fractured leg, the duo switched gears to dressage. Since 2020, the pair has competed through First Level at USDF rated shows. When not training for a competition, Julia and Kitten spend most sunny afternoons trail riding with Julia’s dogs. Julia and Kitten have stepped up to many challenges during their 8 years together and are excited to put their training to the test in the 2022 Versatile Horse and Rider Competition!

Amanda Malone

Horse: Ironwood Turbo, 16 year old Norwegian Fjord gelding

Hailing from Mathias, West Virginia, Turbo and Amanda have been a team for three years. Together, they’ve ridden in trail competitions, hunter paces, foxhunting, cattle drives, parades, and more. Amanda says Turbo is an inquisitive horse who loves to learn and try new things. The pair competed in the 2021 Massachusetts Versatile Horse & Rider Competition and have spent the winter training for this spring’s VHRC in Ohio. Amanda and Turbo are excited for the opportunity to compete in the Ohio Expo Center’s coliseum and put their training to the test!

Excited for this year’s Versatile Horse and Rider Competition? Plan to attend Equine Affaire on Friday, April 8, and watch the competition unfold in the coliseum, starting at 1 pm Eastern Time. Learn more about the competitors for this exciting event by following along on our social media channels leading up to the event, and stay tuned after the event for results!

LONDON, OH, February 16, 2022 – Say goodbye to virtual learning and hello to an in-person equine educational experience with Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio! After two years’ hiatus, Equine Affaire will return to the Ohio Expo Center on April 7-10, 2022, with a full schedule of educational clinics, sessions and demonstrations. Whether you’re a new rider anxious to learn the ropes or an experienced equestrian hoping to hone your skills, there’s a session available for you at Equine Affaire. This year, Equine Affaire is delighted to feature Craig Cameron (general training & horsemanship), Warwick Schiller (general training & horsemanship), Lynn Palm (general training & horsemanship), J.R. Robles (colt starting & reined cow horse) and Jim Thomas (general training & horsemanship), along with a multitude of discipline-specific clinicians.

Seize your opportunity to join North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering and learn all you can about everything to do with horses, from better riding and handling to improved ground control and manners to health and management. Tickets are on sale now at equineaffaire.com. General admission covers all clinics, sessions and demonstrations, plus entry to the trade show, all themed pavilions, multiple competitions and tons of interactive exhibits and immersive experiences. Tickets are just $15 per day for adults or $50 for a four-day pass. Tickets for children, ages 7-10, are $8 per day. Children six and under are admitted for free. Bring your whole family or friend group and get ready to learn!

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.

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.

Like many trainers, J.R. 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 who 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.

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 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.

Though he grew up riding Quarter Horses in Australia, Warwick Schiller has called the United States home for almost thirty years. An accomplished reining competitor, Mr. 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, Mr. Schiller is passionate about working with riders from all disciplines to help them improve their communication with their horse and create deep, authentic relationships that result in relaxed, connected and present horses and humans. He does this through his online video library, his YouTube videos and his Journey On Podcast. Since beginning his YouTube channel in 2011, Mr. Schiller has become a worldwide horse training educator. 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, Mr. Schiller spends a lot of time on the road, as he conducts clinics throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

In addition to these featured clinicians, look for sessions from:

• Jeff Cook (hunter/jumper)
• Liz Austin (dressage)
• Stephen Hayes (dressage)
• Kevin Oliver (reining and trail)
• Kristin Weaver-Brown (barrel racing)
• Lynn Palm (Western dressage)
• Bob Giles (driving)
• Luke Gingerich (liberty and bridleless riding)
• Simon Cocozza (core strengthening & yoga for horses)
• Gary Lane (easy gaited horses)
• Stephanie Lockhart-Hayes (working equitation)
• Jerry Paulsen (equine-assisted activities)
• Jenny Vidbel (liberty)
• Maggie Herlensky (sidesaddle)
• Fred Win (para equestrian)
• Paul Garrison (mules)
• 6^th Ohio Mounted Buglers & 2^nd Cavalry Brigade (mounted cavalry)
• Mini Doves (miniature horse drill team)
• The Young Guns Drill Team (drill team)
• And many others…

For additional information about Equine Affaire, including a full schedule for the weekend, 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. You can also follow Equine Affaire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram via @equineaffaire. We’ll see you in Ohio!

LONDON, OH, February 7, 2022 – If there’s one thing better than attending Equine Affaire, it’s participating in Equine Affaire! Elevate the equestrian experience for tens of thousands of your fellow horse lovers by bringing your own horses to act as living Horse & Farm Exhibits at Equine Affaire in Ohio. This year’s event will take place in-person at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, on April 7-10, 2022. As the nation’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering, Equine Affaire is the perfect place to display your horses, feature your farm or showcase your sale horses. Many attendees cite the Horse & Farm Exhibits as one of their favorite places to visit, especially for viewing horses of different breeds and looking for horses for sale, stallions or trainers. There’s no better place to network with potential customers in the horse industry than Equine Affaire. If you’d like to participate, act now – stalls are selling fast!

Participating in the Horse & Farm Exhibits is easy and affordable. A Horse & Farm Exhibit consists of a 10×10 stall in the Gilligan complex. Inline stalls are $150; end stalls on a center aisle of the barn are $175; and end stalls on an outer aisle of the barn are $200. Every stall includes a one-line listing of stall number, farm name, horse breed and phone number (or website) before the event on equineaffaire.com and at the event in the official event program. Applications and payment are due by 2/28. Exhibiting in the Horse & Farm Exhibits requires a minimum commitment of three days. If you are interested, you can also participate in the Breed Pavilion, which is an educational exhibit designed to showcase breeds of horses.

If you have horses for sale, consider purchasing a For Sale stall! For Sale stalls are just $150 for a 10×10 inline stall in the Gilligan Complex. Each stall comes with a “For Sale” sign to post and a free listing before the event on equineaffaire.com. Owners must commit to exhibiting sale horses for at least two days of the event; if the horse is sold, another horse may be substituted. Potential buyers, age 18 and over, may test ride at the event with the proper releases.

Both sale stalls and Horse & Farm stalls come with one 4-day adult ticket ($50 value). Tack stalls may be purchased for $100 each. For more information and to apply for your stalls, contact Karin Brennan at (740) 840-0085, ext. 112, or kbrennan@equineaffaire.com. You can also visit equineaffaire.com for more information.

Ready to plan your trip to Equine Affaire? Tickets are on sale now at equineaffaire.com for both Equine Affaire and for Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse. Check out our list of host hotels on equineaffaire.com (select the Ohio event, then “Attend” and “Host Hotels”) to find the perfect hotel room for you. When making reservations, make sure to mention that you’re attending Equine Affaire to receive a special discounted rate. To learn more about Equine Affaire, visit our website, www.equineaffaire.com. You can also call our main office at (740) 845-0085, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday, and follow Equine Affaire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram via @equineaffaire.

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges its generous sponsors, including Absorbine, sponsor of Fantasia; Farnam, sponsor of the Courtesy Shopping Bag; Rod’s Western Palace, sponsor of the Rod’s Arena; US Equestrian, sponsor of the US Equestrian Arena; and Wahl, sponsor of the Wahl demo ring.

SPRINGFIELD, MA, February 3, 2022 – Equine Affaire proudly announces the winners of the 2021 Equine Affaire Raffle. Prior to the 2021 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts, attendees and fans had the opportunity to enter a raffle via equineaffaire.com to win prizes from Smartpak, Kong, Farnam and Equine Affaire. When the raffle ended, twenty-eight lucky horse lovers won a variety of fun prizes, including gift certificates from Smartpak, equine hanging kits from Kong, product buckets from Farnam and pairs of single-day tickets to the 2022 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts! If you missed your opportunity to win in Massachusetts, keep reading for details about how to enter the 2022 raffle at Equine Affaire in Ohio.

Elevating the equestrian experience since 1994, Equine Affaire is known as the nation’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering. On November 11-14, 2021, tens of thousands of horse lovers converged on the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, to celebrate the horse and everything that it represents. The event was special in more ways than one because it was the first live and in-person event for Equine Affaire since the fall of 2019. More than 1,200 attendees also entered the raffle in the hopes of winning one of 28 prizes.

Five $100 gift certificates from Smartpak went to Penny Blomgren of Brimfield, MA; Lisa Byers of Winslow, ME; Emma Patcyk of Lockport, NY; Teale Brown-Moore of Plymouth, NH; and Donna Lofink of Johnsonville, NY. Leah Brodie of Maynard, MA; Sara Rietsch of Grand Blanc, MI; and Lisabeth Goodheart of Seekonk, MA, were the lucky recipients of a Kong Equine Hanging Kits! Farnam presented ten winners with Farnam Product Buckets, each filled with $75 of Farnam horse care products. The winners were Karen Allen of West Gardiner, ME; Norma House of Hartford, ME; Amanda Mount of Moodus, CT; Jennifer Sandberg of Fairfield, CT; Alice Brown of Tolland, CT; Nancy Partridge of Windham, NY; Madlyn Waskiewicz of Bristol, RI; Lauren Higham of LaGrangeville, NY; Deb Bailey of New York, NY; and Julianna Deuschle of Columbus, OH. Finally, ten winners received a pair of single-day tickets to the 2022 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts: Cathy Gluck of Moosup, CT; Glen Foley of Barre, MA; Rachel Terrill of Prattsville, NY; Nichole Rebelo of Pawtucket, RI; Justin Obremski of Granby, MA; Andrew James of Lewiston, ME; Ellen Roosen of East Falmouth, MA; Holly Scribner of Newfield, ME; Sara Keating of Westport, CT; and Elizabeth Newman of Walton, NY.

Would you like to be a winner in 2022? Equine Affaire will return to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, on April 7-10. Prizes for the 2022 raffle will include gift certificates from Smartpak, prize packages from Outback Survival Gear, equine hanging kits from Kong Equine and pairs of single-day tickets to the 2023 Equine Affaires. Enter now at equineaffaire.com (Select the “Ohio” event, click “Participate,” then “Ohio Free Raffle.”) Bookmark equineaffaire.com today to learn about everything you need to know to go to Equine Affaire.

LONDON, OH, February 2, 2022 – After two years away, the excitement is building for the return of Fantasia, sponsored by Absorbine®! As Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse, Fantasia will run for three magical evening performances on Thursday, April 7; Friday, April 8; and Saturday, April 9, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. For more than 20 years, Fantasia has reigned supreme as the pinnacle of equine entertainment, and that trend will continue with this year’s performances. With the nation’s top equine entertainers slated to perform, each show will pay homage to the beauty, grace, strength and versatility of the horse. Tickets for Fantasia are on sale now at equineaffaire.com. Reserve your seats today so you don’t miss out on the most exciting equine show of the year!

Always filled with a variety of thrilling equine performances set to exciting and popular music, no two Fantasias are ever alike. This year’s event will highlight the disciplines of reining, liberty, garrocha, drill teams, vaulting, long lining and more. First, Fantasia will open with a special presentation of the flag by the 6^th Ohio Mounted Buglers and 2^nd Cavalry Brigade Band, accompanied by a performance of the National Anthem. Third generation circus animal trainer Jenny Vidbell O’Donnell will demonstrate her skills at liberty with sixteen horses of various shapes and sizes, from Arabians to miniature horses. National champion para athlete Fred Win will perform a touching reining tribute to wounded soldiers everywhere. Renowned liberty practitioner and trainer Luke Gingerich of Luke Gingerich Horsemanship will perform bridleless with his palomino mare, Tinseltowns Whizard. Equestrian artist and performer Caleb Carinci-Asch of “The Greatest Showman” fame will dazzle and delight with a routine that includes vaulting, aerial skills and more. The Drentwett family of riders will perform a triple garrocha as well as a longlining performance and a special costumed finale. Other event highlights include the Mini Doves miniature team and the Young Guns Equestrian Drill Team, as well as a thrilling demonstration of Amish combined driving, including Haflingers, Friesians and mules. Beloved by horse lovers of all ages, Fantasia is sure to delight and entertain you!

Tickets are going fast, so don’t miss your opportunity to see the show! You can purchase your tickets online at equineaffaire.com or by calling the Equine Affaire office at (740) 845-0085, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday. Prices range from $14 to $25. Groups purchasing 10 or more Fantasia tickets for the show on Thursday, April 7^th, may take advantage of a 30% discount on tickets ordered online. Discounts will automatically be calculated at checkout for quantities of ten tickets or more. The doors to the Ohio Expo Center coliseum will open for Fantasia at 6:45 pm each evening, and the show will begin at 7:30 pm. Save your event program and plan to stay after the show for a special autograph and meet-and-greet session with the performers!

Ready to plan your trip to Equine Affaire? Check out our list of host hotels on equineaffaire.com (select the Ohio event, then “Attend” and “Host Hotels”) to find the perfect place for you. When making reservations, make sure to mention that you’re attending Equine Affaire in order to receive a special discounted rate.

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges its generous sponsors, including Absorbine, sponsor of Fantasia; Farnam, sponsor of the Courtesy Shopping Bag; Rod’s Western Palace, sponsor of the Rod’s Arena; US Equestrian, sponsor of the US Equestrian Arena; and Wahl, sponsor of the Wahl demo ring.

To learn more about Equine Affaire, visit our website, www.equineaffaire.com. You can also follow Equine Affaire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram via @equineaffaire. We’ll see you in Ohio!

LONDON, OH, January 26, 2022 – For equestrians, spring is a time for setting new riding goals, plotting out fresh adventures with horses and learning new skills to apply on the trail, in the show pen or in the barn aisle. And guess what? You can accomplish all that and more by attending Equine Affaire in Ohio! On April 7-10, 2022, the nation’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering will return, live and in-person, to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. Boasting a full schedule of educational clinics, a plethora of special features and immersive activities as well as multiple exciting competitions, Equine Affaire is the ultimate destination for equestrians and horse lovers of all ages. Tickets for this amazing event are on sale now at equineaffaire.com!

Advance general admission tickets for Equine Affaire are just $15 per day for adults or $50 for a four-day pass. Tickets for children, ages 7-10, are $8 per day. Children six and under are admitted for free. For the price of general admission, attendees can enjoy shopping at the nation’s largest horse-related trade show; participating in activities and events in all theme pavilions; attending all competitions, such as the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, the International Liberty Horse Association Freestyle and the Mustang TIP Challenge; and watching all clinics, seminars and demonstrations. Hours for Equine Affaire are Thursday through Saturday, 9 am to 7 pm, and Sunday, 9 am to 5 pm. Separate tickets are required for Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse, which will take place at 7:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Fantasia tickets are also on sale now and range from $14 to $25. Purchase your tickets for Equine Affaire and Fantasia online today at equineaffaire.com!

Part of Equine Affaire’s mission is to offer unparalleled learning opportunities through educational clinics, sessions and demonstrations hosted by some of the nation’s top equine professionals. This year, equestrians can look forward to learning from featured general trainers Craig Cameron, Warwick Schiller, Lynn Palm, Jim Thomas, and JR Robles (colt starting & reined cow horse). Other discipline-specific presenters include Jeff Cook and Michael Burnett (hunter/jumper), Liz Austin and Stephen Hayes (dressage), Kevin Oliver (reining and trail), Kristin Weaver-Brown (barrel racing), Lynn Palm (Western dressage), Bob Giles (driving), Luke Gingerich (liberty and bridleless riding), Simon Cocozza (core strengthening & yoga for horses), Gary Lane (easy gaited horses), Stephanie Lockhart-Hayes (working equitation), Jerry Paulsen (equine-assisted activities), Jenny Vidbel O’Donnell (liberty), Maggie Herlensky (sidesaddle), Fred Win (para equestrian), Paul Garrison (mules), Caleb Carinci-Asch (lunging), 6^th Ohio Mounted Buglers & 2^nd Cavalry Brigade (mounted cavalry), Mini Doves (miniature horse drill team) and the Young Guns Drill Team (drill team). More clinicians will be announced in the coming months, so stay tuned to equineaffaire.com or follow us on social media @EquineAffaire for updates.

In addition to education, Equine Affaire is the place to shop for all things equine. The trade show boasts more than 400 vendors across four buildings, ensuring that equestrians from all disciplines and walks of life can find the items and services they need as well as the products they want. Many clinicians will also have booths of their own in the trade show, giving attendees the opportunity to meet-and-greet, ask questions and purchase products. For a full list of vendors who will be in attendance, visit equineaffaire.com, click the “Ohio” event, click “Attend” and then “Exhibitors.” And don’t miss the Marketplace Consignment Shop! Nestled into the northwest corner of the Voinovich Livestock & Trade Center, the Marketplace Consignment Shop is the perfect place to hunt for bargains on tack, apparel, riding gear, training equipment, stable and barn equipment and more. Or if you’re looking to downsize or declutter your tack room, consider consigning! With an easy consignment process, affordable fees and friendly staff to sell your items for you, displaying your items at the Marketplace Consignment Shop is a no-stress way to clean out your barn, trailer or tack room. To learn more about signing up to consign, visit equineaffaire.com, click the “Ohio” event, “Participate” and then “Marketplace Consignment Shop.”

Equine Affaire is also home to a plethora of fun activities and immersive equine experiences. Check out the Breed Pavilion and Horse & Farm Exhibits to network with breed representatives, learn about new breeds, connect with industry professionals, watch educational demonstrations and more. Ready to find your next horse? Shop (or adopt!) a horse at Equine Affaire by visiting the For Sale stalls and the Adoption Affaire, which showcases horses for adoption from a variety of horse rescues and sanctuaries. Love cheering for talented horses and riders? On Friday, April 8, check out the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, the Mustang Heritage Foundation Trainer Incentive Program (TIP) Challenge and the International Liberty Horse Association (LHA) Freestyle Competition! With three competitions going on throughout the day, there’s no telling what kind of amazing feats you’ll witness as horses and their partners work together to accomplish their goals. The ILHA Finals and Mustang TIP Challenge Parts 2 and 3 will take place on Saturday, April 9. For those new to the horse industry, be sure to visit the Equine Fundamentals Forum in the Celeste Center. Beneficial for all ages, the EFF is filled with fun presentations and informative, hands-on interactive displays designed to educate and enthrall. And if you’re ready to ride a horse for the first time, or for the first time in a long time, sign up with the Ohio Haflinger Association in the Breed Pavilion for your chance to ride a Haflinger during Equine Affaire. Finally, Equine Affaire is partnering with A Horse for Heroes to offer veterans, active duty and first responders the opportunity to experience the effects of equine-assisted activities and therapies firsthand. To sign up, visit the Operation Horses and Heroes, Inc. booth in the Breed Pavilion, which will be in the Voinovich Complex. This free activity will take place Friday, April 8^th, and Sunday, April 9^th.

Finish off your day at Equine Affaire by attending one of just three performances of the Fantasia, sponsored by Absorbine®! Beloved by horse lovers of all ages, Fantasia is an equine extravaganza dedicated to showcasing the beauty, elegance and grace of horses of a variety of breeds and disciplines. This year’s show will feature drill teams, garrocha, reining freestyles, liberty acts, driving routines and more. Tickets are going fast, so don’t miss your opportunity to see the show! You can purchase your tickets online at equineaffaire.com or by calling the Equine Affaire office at (740) 845-0085, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday.

Ready to plan your trip? Check out our list of host hotels on equineaffaire.com (select the Ohio event, then “Attend” and “Host Hotels”) to find the perfect place for you. When making reservations, make sure to mention that you’re attending Equine Affaire to receive a special discounted rate. Please note that the Ohio Expo Center charges for parking. Interested in volunteering at Equine Affaire? Register online by 2/25/22 to volunteer, and you could earn free admission!

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges its generous sponsors, including Absorbine, sponsor of Fantasia; Farnam, sponsor of the Courtesy Shopping Bag; Rod’s Western Palace, sponsor of the Rod’s Arena; US Equestrian, sponsor of the US Equestrian Arena; and Wahl, sponsor of the Wahl demo ring. To learn more about Equine Affaire, visit our website, www.equineaffaire.com. You can also call our main office at (740) 845-0085, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Monday through Friday, and follow Equine Affaire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram via @equineaffaire. We’ll see you in Ohio!

LONDON, OH, January 10, 2022 – It’s the start of a brand-new year, and there’s no better time to invest in your equestrian education and improve your riding abilities. With Equine Affaire’s Ride with a Pro clinic program, you can do both! As North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering, Equine Affaire hosts more than 150 educational sessions, clinics and demonstrations presented by world champions, national champions, Olympians, popular equestrian TV personalities, professional equestrian performers and other top industry professionals. Ride with a Pro enables equestrians just like you to participate in these clinics and learn firsthand from some of the industry’s best teachers, trainers and coaches. Get a leg up on your riding goals and make plans now to attend and participate in Equine Affaire, which will take place April 7-10, 2022, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio. Apply by February 11, 2022, for your chance to Ride with a Pro at Equine Affaire!

This year, many of our clinicians are looking for selected horses and riders to participate in their clinics during the 2022 Equine Affaire in Ohio. This is your chance to ride with and learn from clinicians such as Craig Cameron (general training & horsemanship), Warwick Schiller (general training & horsemanship), Lynn Palm (general training & horsemanship), JR Robles (colt starting & reined cow horse) and Jim Thomas (general training & horsemanship). Other discipline-specific clinicians who are also seeking horses and riders include Jeff Cook (hunter/jumper), Liz Austin and Stephen Hayes (dressage), Kevin Oliver (reining and trail), Kristin Weaver-Brown (barrel racing), Lynn Palm (Western dressage), Bob Giles (driving), Luke Gingerich (liberty), Simon Cocozza (core strengthening & yoga for horses) and Paul Garrison (mules). More clinicians will be announced in the coming months, so stay tuned to equineaffaire.com or follow us on social media @EquineAffaire.

Ready to learn how to apply? Visit equineaffaire.com (select the Ohio event, click “Participate” and then “Ride with a Pro”) or you can contact Lori Helsel at lhelsel@equineaffaire.com or by calling (740) 845-0085, ext. 107. Fees for clinics range from $75-$225. All clinic fees include participation in the clinic, admission to Equine Affaire on the day of the clinic and twenty-four hours of stabling for your horse. All applications are due by February 11, 2022.

In addition to offering educational sessions to benefit horse and rider, Equine Affaire is home to the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition. This exciting competition gives equestrians the opportunity to demonstrate their partnerships with their horses and test their abilities by riding through an obstacle course filled with versatility-themed tasks such as crossing bridges, carrying barrels, leaping obstacles, opening gates, riding through balloon arches and more. Riders will race the clock and compete for $5,500 in prize money and other awards, not to mention the title of 2022 Versatile Horse & Rider Champion! Riders must be at least 18 years old to apply. The competition will take place on Friday, April 8, in the coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. For application materials and other details, visit equineaffaire.com and select the Ohio event, click “Participate” and then click “Versatile Horse & Rider Competition.” Apply by February 15, 2022!

Tickets for Equine Affaire and Fantasia are on sale now through equineaffaire.com, or by calling the main office. If you’re ready to plan your trip to Ohio as a participant, a competitor or an attendee, visit our website for host hotels, location and event hours, health and safety guidelines and other important information. For questions or ticket orders, call our office at (740) 845-0085 any time from 9:00 am-5:00 pm EST, Monday-Friday. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire!

SPRINGFIELD, MA, November 22, 2021 – On November 11, 2021, the doors to the Eastern States Exposition swung open wide to welcome back crowds of excited horse lovers for the 61^st annual Equine Affaire! After taking a brief hiatus from live events due to the global pandemic, North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering returned to W. Springfield, Mass., for its first in-person event since 2019. Spanning four days and featuring educational clinics, exciting competitions, a massive trade show and a plethora of networking opportunities for equine professionals, the 2021 Equine Affaire in Massachusetts was a roaring success.

“The whole staff was excited to get back to the Eastern States Exposition for Equine Affaire in Massachusetts,” said Coagi Long, president of Equine Affaire. “Everyone who attended was as enthusiastic as we were at the chance to be there in person to celebrate our love for horses with each other, especially after a year away. What’s so great about the horse is its ability to bring people together, no matter where they come from or what discipline they ride, and Equine Affaire is the perfect outlet for that togetherness.”

Since 1994, Equine Affaire’s mission has been to elevate the equestrian experience – and part of that mission includes providing continuing education to equestrians and horse lovers of all disciplines. At this year’s event, clinicians provided ample learning opportunities with a robust schedule of educational clinics, seminars and demonstrations. Headliners included American cowboy Ken McNabb, elite reining and liberty practitioner Dan James, world-class showman Lynn Palm and internationally recognized natural horseman JR Robles. Many more clinicians taught discipline-specific sessions, including Lendon Gray (dressage), Jim Wofford (eventing), Rita Timanaro (hunter/jumper), Bryan Penquite (reining and ranch horse), Stephen Hayes (dressage), Bob Giles (driving), Lynn Palm (Western dressage), Shaina Humphrey (hunter under saddle), Ed Dabney (trail and general horsemanship), Anita Howe (easy gaited horses), Karen Rohlf (biomechanics), Luke Reinbold (trail obstacles), Wendy Murdoch (Surefoot, Murdoch Method), Steven Stevens (general horsemanship), Sharon Wilsie (Horse Speak^®), Fred Win (para reining), the Diamond D Cowgirls (drill teams) and others. With sessions spanning a wealth of disciplines, there was a clinic available for riders of all skill levels and interests throughout the weekend.

On Thursday night of the event, Fantasia opened with the first of three breathtaking performances. Sponsored by Absorbine, Fantasia is Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse and a beloved tradition for many Equine Affaire attendees. Its much-anticipated return to the coliseum did not disappoint. On Thursday evening, the show began with the National Anthem, performed by Melissa Serra. Overcome with emotion, Serra paused for a moment during her performance. That’s when the entire crowd chose to lift their voices and sing with her — turning an already meaningful moment into an especially beautiful and fitting tribute for Veterans Day. Highlights from this year’s Fantasia included a tribute to wounded soldiers from para-reiner Fred Win; a beautiful long-line demonstration by Katharina Gasser with Habano the Andalusian; a drill-team routine by the Diamond D Cowgirls; Jenny Vidbel’s 16-horse liberty routine; a stunning bridleless reining and liberty routine from Luke Gingerich; and a beautiful multi-costumed performance by Shawn Drentwett and Ricco the Friesian.

On Friday, November 12, fourteen horse-and-rider pairs vied for top honors in the 2021 Versatile Horse and Rider Competition, sponsored by Nutrena. Attendees enjoyed spending the afternoon cheering on their favorite competitors with Ed Dabney as judge and Luke Reinbold as emcee. Defending their titles as the Massachusetts Versatile Horse & Rider Champions from 2019, Danelle Osinchuk and Slip Me a Dual Pep, a 21-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding, emerged as the winners with a high score of 76. There was a tie for second place between Brenda Hanson and Rob West. Rob West and Moonshine Lady won the tiebreaker and took second place. Third place went to Brenda Hanson and Ace, who won the 2019 Ohio Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. April Baronas and Que Sera Sera won fourth, and Jackie Rappel and Beckett’s Hickory Doc (Roanie) came in fifth. For full results, visit equineaffaire.com/press.

New this year, the International Liberty Horse Association hosted a two-part invitational freestyle competition during Equine Affaire. Founded by Dan and Elizabeth James, ILHA is dedicated to promoting the discipline of liberty training. In this special competition, select competitors performed freestyle liberty routines with their equine partners. Compulsories took place on Saturday, November 13, and the finals occurred on Sunday, November 14. The horses and their handlers competed in three divisions: youth, non pro and pro. Jolina Dhue and Nemo won the youth championship with a score of 58.50. The non pro championship went to Meredith Vallillo and Cricket with a score of 171.50, while the pro champions were Elliot Holtzman and Wallapeno with a score of 174.0. For full results, please visit https://ilha.allsportsequine.com/results/11909/classes/13318.html. The ILHA will also host a competition at the 2021 Equine Affaire in Ohio.

Equine Affaire is home to North America’s largest horse-related trade show, giving attendees the opportunity to shop for everything from supplements to saddles to show clothes. This year, the trade show included the Marketplace Consignment Shop. Featured in the Mallary North, the Marketplace was the perfect place for attendees to consign items they no longer needed or wanted and then browse for bargains galore. Attendees consigned items such as equestrian apparel, tack and equine apparel, riding gear and accessories, training equipment, stable equipment and more. This was the first year of the Marketplace in Massachusetts, and attendees jumped at the chance to buy and sell gently used items. The Marketplace will also take place at the 2021 Equine Affaire in Ohio.

One of the biggest draws of Equine Affaire is the opportunity to interact with horse breeds from all over the world. The Horse & Farm Exhibits and the Breed Pavilion were a popular destination throughout the weekend and included breeds as familiar as the American Quarter Horse and as exciting and diverse as the Friesian, the Fjord and the Icelandic horse. Visitors also had the opportunity to meet the very first Menorcan horses to set foot in the United States, courtesy of PR Menorcan Horses. First recognized in 1989, the Menorcan horse is a breed indigenous to the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands. These beautiful black horses are most often used to perform Menorcan dressage during traditional festivals on the island. In addition to being featured in the Breed Pavilion, the Menorcan horses performed in several breed demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Another new feature this year included the official Equine Affaire Mechanical Horse! Housed in the Equine Fundamentals Forum, this fun purple pony is part of a new initiative to raise funds for a special Equine Affaire scholarship fund. The mechanical horse was also the feature of a social media campaign via the official Equine Affaire Facebook page. For three weeks, Equine Affaire’s fans voted for their favorite name for the horse in a two-part naming contest. The Prince-inspired moniker, Purple Rein, came out on top! Be sure to visit Purple Rein at a future Equine Affaire for pony rides and contribute to the Equine Affaire scholarship fund.

Equine Affaire wouldn’t be possible without the support of our sponsors. Thank you to Absorbine®, sponsor of Fantasia; US Equestrian, sponsor of the Coliseum arena; Farnam, sponsor of the Courtesy Shopping Bag; Horizon Structures, the official barn of Equine Affaire; GGT, sponsor of the Mallary & Young Arenas; Nutrena, sponsor of the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition; Cowboy Magic, sponsor of presentations by Ken McNabb; and Mane N Tail, sponsor of presentations by Dan James.

Did you miss out on this year’s Equine Affaire? Save the dates! Join us April 7-10, 2022, at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, for the 2021 Equine Affaire in Ohio. Equine Affaire in Massachusetts will return to the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, Mass., on November 10-13, 2022. We can’t wait to see you at Equine Affaire! Visit us online at equineaffaire.com for updates. If you have questions, call our office at (740) 845-0085 any time from 9:00 am-5:00 pm EST, Monday-Friday. For fun contests, photos, videos and event updates, follow Equine Affaire on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter via @equineaffaire.

DANELLE OSINCHUK & MAGIC DEFEND THEIR TITLE AS VERSATILE HORSE & RIDER CHAMPIONS

Congratulations to the 2021 MA Versatile Horse & Rider Competition Champions, Danelle Osinchuk and Slip Me A Dual Pep! Danelle and “Magic” also won the 2019 MA Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. Danelle and Magic are long-time partners who enjoy competing in O.H.I.O EXCA events and versatility competitions. Together, they’ve earned multiple year-end championships in stock horse events and are leading the buckle series in O.H.I.O EXCA in the intermediate and non-pro divisions this year. Danelle and Magic won the 2021 MA VHRC with a high score of 76.

There was a tie for second place between Brenda Hanson and Rob West. Rob West and Moonshine Lady won the tiebreaker and took second place. Third place went to Brenda Hanson and Ace, who won the 2019 OH Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. April Baronas and Que Sera Sera won fourth, and Jackie Rappel and Beckett’s Hickory Doc (Roanie) came in fifth. Congratulations to all our amazing competitors, and special thanks to our judge, Ed Dabney, and emcee, Luke Reinbold, and our sponsor, Nutrena!

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The competition was held in the Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 1:00-5:00pm EST. For more information, visit https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-compete/mass-versatile-horse-rider-competition/.

 

THE FACES OF THE 2021 VERSATILE HORSE AND RIDER COMPETITION

In just two days, eighteen competitors will enter the coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition to participate in the 2021 Versatile Horse and Rider Competition! Sponsored by Nutrena, this year’s competition features an exciting obstacle race and $5,500 in cash and other prizes. In this post, meet the final two competitors who will join the race at Equine Affaire! (Check out Parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 to meet more of the competitors.)

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 Brenda Hanson

Horse: Ace, 10-year-old American Quarter Horse gelding

Brenda Hanson and Ace are no strangers to the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition. This power couple were the 2019 VHRC Champions. They’ve also won the reserve championship twice and placed in the top 5 three times!

Brenda and Ace

Jessica Knapp

Horse: River of Dreams, 10-year-old Holsteiner/Welsh cross gelding

Jessica and “River” have been working together for six years in the hunter/jumper discipline. In 2020, they earned championships in both the 2’3 hunter and the 2’3 equitation divisions of their local show circuit. Jessica says River is a brave and curious horse who likes new challenges and different venues. The pair competed in the 2019 VHRC and are looking forward to competing again this year.

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Don’t miss the excitement! Admission to the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition is included with every general admission ticket to Equine Affaire. The competition will be held in the Coliseum at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, on Friday, November 12, 2021, from 1:00-5:00pm EST. For more information, visit https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-compete/mass-versatile-horse-rider-competition/.