What is special about Equine Affaire?

It’s the one place where horse people from all walks of equestrian life get together to share their knowledge and passion for horses in a non-competitive environment!  The horse world is as diverse and complex as any other, and horse people associated with different breeds and disciplines rarely have the opportunity to interact with one another.  Horse owners and competitors attend shows and events associated with their breeds and sports and have no venue other than Equine Affaire in which to learn about each other and share their expertise, experiences, and common passion for horses.

What is also unique about Equine Affaire is that it provides top horse men from different disciplines and different countries with the opportunity to meet each other—and to share their knowledge and training philosophies with young and aspiring horse people. At Equine Affaire backyard pleasure horse people can rub shoulders with the stars of the equestrian world—people to whom they would not otherwise have access.

Equine Affaire was created in 1993 to bridge the gaps—to bring horse people from all facets of the horse world together in an event focused on education.  The 2017 event in W. Springfield will be our 56th event. It is certainly a feather in the cap of the Springfield area as avid horse enthusiasts from throughout the Northeast and well beyond travel to the show to take advantage of the unparalleled educational, shopping, and equine entertainment opportunities. Within the horse world…there is nowhere else like Equine Affaire.

The Top Eight things to do at Equine Affaire:

1. Check out the awesome horses.  There will be horses of dozens of breeds from around the world on exhibit in the Breed Pavilion in the Stroh Building and  the Horse & Farm Exhibits in C Barn. Breed associations will host demos throughout the weekend in the coliseum and Mallary arenas…showcasing the conformation, qualities, and talents of horses of each breed. Horses will also be available for up close and personal interaction in breed spotlights featured in the Equine Fundamentals Forum in the Mallary South. Affaire goers can see everything from miniatures to drafts and from stock horses to sport horses and gaited horses. Clinics throughout the weekend will also showcase a great variety of equestrian sports and horses and their riders honing their skills in those sports.

   

2. Learn about horses and horsemanship from some of the foremost competitors, trainers, and equine professionals in the business. There will be more than 120 clinics, seminars, and demos featured throughout the weekend at arenas and stages scattered throughout the Eastern States Exposition. Sessions will be conducted by some of the foremost horse men and women in the equine world including Olympians, World Equestrian Games and Pan Am Games participants, national and world champion competitors, Hall of Fame inductees, top trainers and judges, and well-known TV personalities.

   

3. Catch the action. Equine Affaire will feature their signature Versatile Horse & Rider Competition on Friday afternoon in the coliseum. Twenty-five pre-selected horse and rider teams will race through obstacle courses designed to put their horses and horsemanship skills to the test while competing for $5500 in cash.  It’s great fun to watch—and educational all the same.  Get there early to get a good seat for this popular event within an event.

   

4. Be dazzled. Equine Affaire’s Fantasia on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights is the perfect ending to a perfect day at Equine Affaire.  This legendary musical celebration of the horse will feature top equine and equestrian performers from throughout the United States performing to a wide range of musical styles.  The Fantasia showcases the beauty, intelligence, and talent of horses of many breeds—and reminds us of why we find our four-legged friends so enchanting.

   

5. Shop for all things horse and rider related. Equine Affaire’s trade show is the largest horse-related shopping opportunity in the East. Nearly 400 exhibitors will feature everything from tack, riding apparel, and the full range of horse necessities to fine equestrian art and jewelry, books, equine studies programs, and horseback riding vacations.  Shoppers can take a break from online browsing to actually see, touch, and try on items and speak to knowledgeable product representatives before investing.

   

6. Buy a Horse. Visit C Barn and peruse the many horses that will be on display and for sale at the event. Look for the “For Sale” signs on stalls to identify what might be the perfect horse for you!
7. Hone your skills. Those new to the horse world will find a wealth of basic information about horses in the Equine Fundamentals Forum—an area in the Mallary South dedicated to demos, displays, and video presentations to educate new riders and horse owners of all ages.

   

8. Share your passion. Gather with family and friends to share your passion for horses and mingle with other folks who “speak horse.” You’ll have four full days to indulge yourself in all things horse-related.