LONDON, OH, February 6, 2024 – Are you searching for fresh inspiration for your riding journey? Looking for answers to questions about horse behavior or training? Maybe you’re interested in connecting with other horse owners, learning about new products, or searching for the perfect piece of gear to complement your new riding goals. Or if you’re brand new to horses, you might be eager to learn all about your new passion and meet other people who share in it. Whatever you’re looking for in the horse world, you can find it at Equine Affaire in Ohio!
Now proudly celebrating the thirtieth year of our event in Ohio, North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering will be returning to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, OH, on April 11-14, 2024. Since its inception, Equine Affaire has been crafted by equestrians for equestrians – which means it’s an event tailor-made for horse lovers of all skill levels, disciplines, and backgrounds to come together and share their passion for horses. That’s exactly what our founder, Eugenia Snyder, had in mind when she launched the first Equine Affaire in 1994. Three decades later, our team is excited and proud to carry on an event that has become a beloved family tradition for tens of thousands of horse lovers.
Come to Columbus this April and enjoy hundreds of educational clinics, seminars, and demonstrations; exciting competitions; a sprawling trade show; interactive activities; themed pavilions; breed demonstrations; and lots more, including Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse! Sponsored by Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, Fantasia is a nighttime theatrical extravaganza that features exciting performances by gorgeous horses and talented equestrians, all choreographed to music. Enjoy a stunning dressage freestyle by Lauren Sammis, an exciting and patriotic drill performance by the Young Guns Equestrian Drill Team, a reining freestyle by Kevin Raber, a spectacular driving act with the Whispery Pines Percherons, and a heart-stopping trick riding, trick roping, and gun spinning act by seven-time NFR performers and 2020 PRCA Dress Act of the Year Rider and Bethany Kiesner, plus many more! Spend the whole day at Equine Affaire, and then enjoy an evening of spectacular entertainment by attending Fantasia: it’s the best way to fill your day to the max with all things horse.
Tickets for Equine Affaire and Fantasia are both available for purchase now at equineaffaire.com — and they make great Valentine’s Day gifts for the horse lover in your life! Advance general admission tickets are $16 for adults or $10 for children, ages 7-10. Four-day passes are $52. General admission tickets will also be available at the gate at $18 per single day adult, $55 per four-day adult ticket, and $10 single-day child. General admission is free for children, ages 6 & under, whether in advance or at the gate. Gate sales are cash only, so please plan accordingly. Tickets for Fantasia range from $16 to $25, depending on seating location. Fantasia show dates are Thursday, April 11; Friday, April 12; and Saturday, April 13; at 7:30 pm ET in the Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. Club, organization, and association discounts are available for Thursday night’s Fantasia only – to receive this discount, call our office at (740) 845-0085. If you’re eager to attend Fantasia on a particular night or sit in a particular section, buy your Fantasia tickets early! Seats sell quickly, and you don’t want to miss this year’s show.
Elevating the equestrian experience since 1994, Equine Affaire is the ultimate field trip for horse lovers. Plan now to spend a day – or four! — at the event and enjoy unparalleled learning opportunities at clinics, seminars, and demonstrations presented by the nation’s most elite equestrian educators. This spring, Equine Affaire is proud to present general horsemanship clinicians Mike Major, Ken McNabb, Pat Parelli, Steve Lantvit, and Chelsea Canedy, as well as discipline-specific clinicians Phillip Dutton (eventing), Kevin Raber (reining), Daniel Stewart (jumping, fitness, and sports psychology); Dave Treharne (roping), Tanner Keith (ranch sorting), Mark Bolender (mountain trail), Cynthia Hankins (hunter/jumper), Kristine May (barrel racing), Lauren Sammis (dressage), Stacey Giere (driving), Solange (stable riding system), Lynn Newton (Western dressage), Duane Esser (English pleasure), Matt McHugh (trailer driving), Kellie & Sam Rettinger (Draft horses), Jerry Paulsen (equine assisted activities), Mid-Ohio Marauders (mounted shooting), the Young Guns 4H Drill Team (drill teams), and more.
Many of these clinicians are also looking for riders to participate in their clinics. You can find more details on how to “Ride with a Pro” by visiting https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-ride-in-clinics/ohio-ride-with-a-pro-2/! Applications are due by February 15. Apply today for your opportunity to ride with – or have your horse trained by – some of the industry’s top-notch coaches, clinicians, trainers, and instructors, and enjoy the opportunity to enhance your skills in the saddle and engage with new perspectives on horsemanship and training.
Brand new this year at Equine Affaire, Cowtown in Cooper is an exciting educational feature designed to showcase an assortment of cattle-oriented Western events through clinics and demos. Sponsored by Western Life Today, this two-day event will feature opportunities for applicants to ride in clinics with – and for attendees to learn from – such experts as Steve Lantvit, Tanner Keith, Ken McNabb, Dave Treharne, and others. Topics will include roping, boxing, ranch sorting, reining, and cutting. Wear your cowboy hats and cowboy boots and take part in an authentic Western experience on Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13 in Cooper Arena.
Although the clinics are geared to educate attendees of all skill levels and backgrounds, there are a variety of learning opportunities specifically for people who are new to the industry or families with children who are interested in horses. The Equine Fundamentals Forum in the Celeste Center is the ideal place to start, featuring exhibits and activities about the basics of horsemanship and management as well as educational sessions in the EFF Demo Ring. The EFF also features crafts and activities for kids like a Stick Horse Rodeo (daily at 3 pm), where they can win fun prizes. Students, young adults, and adults in search of equine career or college opportunities are also invited to attend the College and Career Fair presentations by Dr. Karin Bump, which will be held Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 2 pm in the EFF. The College and Career Fair is the perfect way to explore new opportunities in the industry and network with other professionals. On Sunday, April 14, young equestrians will enjoy watching the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Western 5S Finals Show from 9 am-5 pm in the Cooper Arena. Enjoy watching young equestrians compete in reining and horsemanship, and then seize your chance to learn about the IEA, which provides equestrian competition and instruction opportunities to middle and secondary school students.
Next, visit the Voinovich Center and tour the Breed Pavilion, where you can interact with horses from a variety of breed organizations and associations and ask questions of knowledgeable representatives. You might even meet a live Breyer Horse! Then head over to the Gilligan Complex to tour the Horse & Farm Exhibits, where you can connect with horse owners and horse business owners and learn all about opportunities to visit local riding establishments, boarding facilities, or other businesses. The Horse & Farm Exhibits are also home to the Sale Stalls and the Adoption Affaire. Presented in partnership with the ASPCA Right Horse, the Adoption Affaire invites horse rescues and sanctuaries to bring healthy, adoptable horses to the event in hopes of finding new, forever homes among our attendees. Attendees can look for their next horse at the Adoption Affaire or by visiting horses in Sale Stalls, and even go on test rides (with the proper release forms).
And speaking of shopping, Equine Affaire is home to the nation’s largest horse-related trade show, which sprawls across four buildings at the Ohio Expo Center. The trade show is the place to shop for all your horse and rider needs. Whether you’re outfitting one horse or several, need equipment for your farm or footing for your arena, want to purchase the perfect souvenir or need new boots and show clothes, you’ll find it in our trade show! Check out our list of exhibitors here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-trade-show/ohio-exhibitors/. More exhibitors will be added in the weeks and months to come, so keep checking back!
Do you have used tack, riding apparel, or horse equipment that you no longer use, and you’d like to turn it into cash? Consign those items to the Marketplace Consignment Shop and allow our staff to sell your items while you tour the event. You might even earn back your admission and souvenir money! Featured in the northwest corner of the Voinovich Center, the Marketplace is a popular place to shop throughout the weekend for attendees who love to hunt for bargains on used goods. Our consignment fees are lower than other venues’ fees and consigning is easy. Sign up in advance to save $5 on your registration fee and expedite your consignment process when you arrive. Learn more on our website: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-sell/ohio-the-marketplace-consignment/.
Love watching – or participating in – competitions? Then check out the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition and the brand-new Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge! First, the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition features the opportunity for 25 pre-selected horse-and-rider pairs to traverse a challenging obstacle course and demonstrate their horsemanship skills in front of judge and featured clinician, Steve Lantvit. Cash and other prizes will be awarded to the top four riders, and the top ten riders will receive ribbons. Whether you want to ride in it or just watch, the VHRC is guaranteed to thrill! Apply to ride by February 15. Application materials are available here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-compete/ohio-versatile-horse-rider-competition/. The VHRC will take place at 1:30 pm on Friday, April 12, in the Coliseum.
Or if you’re interested in competing on foot, the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge is making its Ohio debut! Sponsored by Boot Barn, this fun new competition features three barnyard Olympic events. Participants can break a sweat in the Barn Chores Marathon, race their friends in the Bouncy Pony Race, or team up with a buddy in the Horse Nugget Relay, all in the name of good fun and the chance to win prizes and bragging rights. The GEFC will take place on Saturday, April 13, at 3 pm in the Voinovich Center. If you’d like to participate, visit the Information Booth in the Bricker Building prior to the competition to sign up.
And speaking of interactive opportunities, there are even more! Draft horse fans will enjoy driving a draft horse or a pair of draft horses with the Whispery Pines Percherons on Friday, April 12, or Saturday, April 13. Sign up on site by visiting the Whispery Pines Percherons stalls in the Gilligan Complex near the green wall. If you’re a veteran, active duty, or a first responder, bring the whole family and sign up to participate in A Horse for Heroes with Operation Horses and Heroes. These activities offer our everyday heroes and their families a chance to experience the effects of equine-assisted activities and therapies and connect with an organization dedicated to helping veterans. To sign up, submit a Ride with a Pro application, or you can visit the OHH booth in the Voinovich on site. A Horse for Heroes will take place on Friday, April 12, and Sunday, April 14.
Need help planning your trip? Check out our list of host hotels by visiting https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-attend/ohio-general-information/ohio-host-hotels/, and make sure to mention Equine Affaire when you book to receive special discounted rates. Camping spaces with electrical, water, and sewer hookups are available on the Ohio Expo Center grounds. Visit our website for more details on how to camp. Hours for the event are from 9 am to 7 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and from 9 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Please note that the Ohio Expo Center charges for parking: $10/entry or $20/four day pass. For event maps and other details, visit equineaffaire.com today!
Want to earn free admission to Equine Affaire? We’re looking for volunteers! Volunteers who work a certain number of hours can earn free admission, free four-day passes, and fun souvenirs, all while getting a backstage pass to one of the industry’s most well-run and expansive horse expos! Apply by February 26, 2024, by filling out our application form, available online: https://equineaffaire.com/events/ohio/ohio-participate/ohio-help/ohio-volunteer/.
Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges the sponsors that help make this event possible: Equine Medical & Surgical Associates, Rod’s, GGT Footing, US Equestrian, Western Life Today, and Boot Barn. For more information about Equine Affaire, please visit equineaffaire.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire!
