WEST SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts – Horse, horsepeople, members of horse breed and sport associations, and horse-related businesses from throughout the United States soon will be convening at Equine Affaire: The Great American Horse Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

Equine Affaire – now in its seventh year – is the nation’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering and a nationally-recognized even within the horse industry. A crowd of some 60,000 horse enthusiasts is expected to descend upon the Eastern States Exposition grounds for four days (November 9-12) of training clinics, seminars, commercial exhibits, and much more.

In fact, there will be more than 200 different clinics and more than 450 commercial exhibits. Add to that some spectacular special events like Pfizer Fantasia and it could turn into a magical weekend for horse enthusiasts.

Equine Affaire is produced with the goal of providing comprehensive introductions to the extraordinary world of horse for non-horse people and to expand the horizons of current horsemen; to promote communication and cooperation within the diverse national horse industry; to improve the horse management, training and riding skills of current horsemen; and to showcase the finest horses and competitors of a variety of breeds and equine disciplines.

What Are The Features?

Almost non-stop activities in six different venues will include . . .

+Training clinics and demonstrations by nationally- and internationally-recognized trainers and competitors in a wide range of equine sports, including reining, western pleasure, eventing, barrel racing, dressage, vaulting, horsemanship, hunters & jumpers, and distance competition. The clinicians will include numerous Olympic medalists and World and National Champion riders.

+One hundred different seminar presentations and hands-on demonstrations will be featured at the EQUUS Learning Center, Purina Educational Stage, and the EquiSearch.com Demo Ring by nationally-recognized experts on all aspects of horse health, horse behavior, and horse training and management. The seminar and demonstration topics will cover the gamut from alternative therapies (massage therapy, chiropractic therapy, acupuncture, and herbal remedies) and nutrition to sports psychology and saddle fitting.

+Demonstrations of more than 35 breeds of horses ranging from tiny miniature horses to huge draft horses. Among the more unusual breeds which will be showcased in demonstrations will be Icelandics, Friesians, Norwegian Fjords, Gypsy Vanner Horses, Bashkir Curlies, Paso Finos, and Andalusians.

+A Breed Pavilion and Horse & Farm Exhibit area featuring horses representing a wide variety of breeds – including Arabians, Appaloosas, Morgans, Paints, Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walking Horses, Miniatures, Shires, Pintos, Percherons, American & Dutch Warmbloods, Morabs, Icelandics, Paso Finos, Friesians, Norwegian Fjords, Lusitanos, Rocky Mountain Horses, Saddlebreds, Hackneys, mustangs and burros. There will be many World and National Champion animals showcased.

+The Equine Affaire Trade Show with more than 450 of the nation’s leading equine retailers and manufacturers represented within exhibits ranging from 10-by-10 booths to large tack stores. There will be tack, riding apparel, trailers, health and grooming supplies, barn equipment, jewelry, books, videotapes, publications, artwork, photography, fencing, feeds, accessories, collectibles, gifts, custom apparel, and various equine-related services.

+Pfizer Fantasia: A Musical Celebration of the Horse on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 pm. The unique musical revue will feature champion horses and riders along with several very special equestrian performers choreographed to a wide variety of musical styles. The Pfizer Fantasia will showcase the beauty and diversity of horse breeds from miniatures to drafts and the excitement of equestrian sports ranging from freestyle reining and dressage to driving, vaulting and trick riding.

Training Seminars

Well-renowned trainers like John Lyons, Anne Kursinski and Bryan Dygert will be on hand to present a wide variety of training clinics.

Such as . . .

General Training

By John Lyons

 

Hunters &_Jumpers

By Anne Kursinski

Eventing

By Jimmy Wofford

 

Dressage

By Lendon Gray

 

Dressage

By Hilda Gurney

 

Barrel Racing

By Sharon_Camarillo

 

T Team Training

By Linda Tellington-Jones

 

Reining

By Brian Dygert

 

Centered RIding

By Susan Harris

 

Performance Horsemanship

By Les Vogt

 

Driving

By Bill Long

 

Distance Competition

By Becky_Hart

 

Jumping

By Vinton Karrasch

Show Hours/Admission

The trade show at Equine Affair will be open to the public from 10 am to 8 pm on November 9; from 9 am to 8 pm on November 10 and 11; and from 9 am to 5 pm on November 12. Clinics and demonstrations in the main arenas will continue past the trade show hours.

Admission to the 2000 Equine Affaire will be $12 per day for adults and $7 per day for children ages 7-12. A four-day show ticket is $36 for adults and $21 for children. General admission to Equine Affaire includes admission to the trade show as well as all clinics, seminars and demonstrations.

General admission tickets for Pfizer Fantasia are only $10.

For further information, forms, directions, or what have you then visit the event web site at equineaffaire.com