FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
CONTACT: 
Angela Ryan, Equine Affaire
phone/fax: 740-845-0085 ext. 110
aryan@equineaffaire.com / www.equineaffaire.com 
Pictures available upon request.




Damp Weather Did Not Dampen the 2007 Equine Affaire




COLUMBUS, OH, April 12–15, 2007 – Despite unseasonably cold temperatures accompanied by heavy winds and torrential rain, tens of thousands of horse enthusiasts traveled to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus last month for the 14th annual Equine Affaire in Ohio. They came to discover the newest equine-related products; attend more than 300 clinics, seminars, and demonstrations conducted by industry professionals; learn about more than 45 horse breeds from all over the world; and connect with others who share their passion for all things equine. They journeyed to Equine Affaire—the nation’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering—from throughout the United States to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities afforded by this unique, education-oriented, celebration of the horse. 

The enthusiasm of attendees is best captured by comments emailed post event by Sue Miller who wrote, “My husband and I have been coming to Equine Affaire for all four days of the event for years and years, and it is always the highlight of our year.”  Frank Gregory reported by email that his wife and friends have gone to the Ohio Equine Affaire for 10 years. “We have horses and have always been impressed and satisfied with the Columbus event,” he wrote, “Once again, this year was exceptional, entertaining, and very educational.”

The 2007 Equine Affaire offered horse people the opportunity to attend clinics and demonstrations by highly-respected coaches, trainers, and competitors on a wide range of equestrian disciplines from hunters, jumpers, driving, and English pleasure to barrel racing, reining, cutting, western pleasure, and trail. Within the eight venues hosting clinics, demos, and seminars, devotees of virtually all equestrian disciplines rubbed elbows in the pursuit of excellent horsemanship. Whatever 

their particular interest, the nation’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering afforded horse enthusiasts the opportunity to learn from many talented professionals in one convenient location for a modest general admission fee. 




Many attendees took advantage of the chance to visit one-on-one with clinicians and seminar and demonstration presenters in their booths and left armed with new knowledge, DVDs, training aids, and renewed purpose. Monty Roberts, “the man who listens to horses,” wowed audiences, as did nationally-and internationally recognized trainers such as Craig Cameron, horsemanship; Leslie Desmond, true horsemanship through feel; Cindy Sydnor, dressage ; Sheri Sinor Estrada, barrel racing; Nona Garson, hunters & jumpers; Punk Carter, cutting; Darren Chiacchia, eventing; Cleve Wells, western pleasure; Charles Willhelm, general training; Lynn Palm, hunter under saddle & western horsemanship; Muffy Seaton, driving; and Patrick Hooks, ranch horse versatility. Additional instructors included Terry Myers, Duane Esser, Brenda Imus, Clark Bradley, Bob Jefferys & Suzanne Sheppard, Steve Edwards, and Mollie Krumlaw-Smith. 

Other nationally-recognized experts answered questions on topics as diverse as equine dental health, insurance, alternative therapies, facility design, trick training, physical workouts for horse and rider, nutrition, horse theft, and participating in equine sports. Paul June Akers, an attendee who emailed post event, reported, “I attended as many clinics as possible. The quality and the value of the clinics were immeasurable. What I have learned will make me a better horse owner.”  Wendy Duhaime, another attendee, commented, “The choice and variation of clinicians were excellent.”

  


The extraordinary shopping opportunities afforded by Equine Affaire drew many to the event and gave them the chance to comparison shop for everything from fencing and feeds to tack and trailers. Equine Affaire’s trade show is the largest horse-related trade show in the nation with hundreds of thousands of square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibits. The 2007 Equine Affaire featured more than 425 vendors located in four different buildings and adjacent areas outdoors and met the needs of bargain shoppers as well as those looking for specialty and high-end items. As the inclement weather drove people indoors to browse, numerous vendors reported enjoying record sales at the event.

As in past years at Equine Affaire, the Cashman Breed Pavilion in the Voinovich Center and the Young Rider Youth Pavilion in the Celeste Center were popular components of this year’s show. Both common and rare breeds were showcased in the Cashman Breed Pavilion where representatives of dozens of breeds of horses had the opportunity to demonstrate and promote the fine qualities of their breeds, exhibit and present horses in hand, and advertise their breed associations. The Young Rider Youth Pavilion provided a range of exhibits pertinent to young horsemen as well as demonstrations and activities designed to 

engage both the young and the young at heart. Activities included a Trivia Quest with prizes to taking a ride on an Equicizer – the real movie prop used to depict horses and ponies in Hollywood! Young horsepeople learned how to rope, discovered the trick to trick training horses, and took notes on what to look for when purchasing a horse. In addition to having their faces painted, the youngest horse enthusiasts designed stick horses and competed in the stick horse rodeo. Bonnie Bryant, author of the book series The Saddle Club, which inspired the international hit television series of the same name, made her only Ohio appearance at Equine Affaire, meeting fans and autographing books. 




Equine Affaire attendees also had the opportunity to view horses within the Youth Pavilion. Famous equines who graced the Breyer Celebrity Horse Showcase at this year’s Equine Affaire included Blanco (Gandalf the White’s horse in the Lord of the Rings movies), Sheryl Crow’s horse Lady “C,” and Steelen Show Time II (the son of legendary Remington Steele). Breeding and training farms, stallions at stud, horses for sale, and horses representing a plethora of breeds were also showcased within the Horse and Farm Exhibits in the Gilligan Complex. The extensive exhibits within the Horse & Farm Exhibits at this year’s event demonstrated the strength and diversity of the regional horse industry. Horses representing dozens of breeds were shown in breed demonstrations scheduled between the training clinics throughout the event. 

The Pfizer Fantasia—A Musical Celebration of the Horse—was presented on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings to enthusiastic crowds in the packed coliseum at Equine Affaire. This unique equine musical revue featured champion horses and riders along with several special equestrian performers, all choreographed to a wide variety of musical styles. Among the many equine performers who delighted this year’s audiences were Pam Goodrich who presented a grand prix dressage musical freestyle on her Danish Warmblood, Melville, and Colleen Siadik who performed her award-winning reining freestyle on her Quarter Horse, Gun Dandy.  Allen Pogue of Dripping Springs, TX delighted the audience with his Luso-Arabian trick horses, while Erik Martonovich,  Alethea Shelton, and Greta Shryock of Big Horse Productions presented a high-energy Roman ride and exquisite vaulting performances. Spectators also got a taste of the Wild West as presented by the phenomenal riding, roping, and gun shooting members of the Kiesner family of

Granbury, TX.  Attendees were also treated to the skill of team driving with an array of period carriages that included an authentic stagecoach (cir. 1800) and covered wagon drawn by a variety of breeds including Clydesdales, Shires, Morgans, Haflingers and Welsh Ponies. There was also an amazing display of team work by the six Percherons of the Priefert Texas Thunder Hitch. The show was rounded out with an outstanding patriotic performance by the Canadian Cowgirls drill team, the TexCelentes Paso Fino drill team,

and a touching tribute to Friesian stallion Thor, who was retired at the close of the Friesians in Lights drill performance. The 2007 Pfizer Fantasia was, once again, an impressive reminder of the beauty and diversity of horses from miniatures to drafts and an evening of extraordinary entertainment that played to sold out crowds!

  


As part of the exciting entertainment offered during the four-day event, Equine Affaire teamed with the nationally renowned horse trainer Craig Cameron to bring his signature Extreme Cowboy Race™ to central Ohio. The Extreme Cowboy Race™, currently in its third season on RFD-TV and also available on HorseCity.com, was a timed and judged race through an obstacle course that was designed not only to push horse and rider teams out of their traditional comfort zones, but also to test communication between horse and rider and the horsemanship skills and athletic abilities of each competitor. The race was held on Saturday and Sunday in the Congress Pavilion where attendees crowded along the rails and endured almost incessant rain to watch horse and rider teams compete for the title of Extreme Cowboy Race Champion and more than $4250 in cash prizes. A first prize of $2000 and the coveted title were ultimately awarded to Robin Stang of Washington, PA. Second place and $1500 went to Lori Montgomery of Crittenden, KY, 

and third place along with $750 was awarded to Jeff Lebbin of Swartz Creek, MI.




A variety of great prizes were offered in the 2007 Equine Affaire Raffle and awarded to seven lucky winners from throughout the Midwest. Congratulations go to Carrie McLaughlin of Columbus, OH, who won a week-long riding vacation for two to Elk Mountain Ranch in Colorado; John Dorka of Chardon, OH, won an original acrylic painting by Stephanie Come’-Ryker of Leafline Studio; Lori Kelsey of Lake City, MI, won a horse and rider travel package with turn-out blanket from Valley Vet Supply; Josephine Shoemaker of Renfrew, PA, won a limited edition bronze resin sculpture from Equinart Creations; and Jana Lee Waker of Reynoldsburg, OH, Kathy Beahon of Tidioute, PA, and Jenny Lance of Wellington, OH, each won a pair of four-day tickets to the 2008 Equine Affaire.

 

Sponsors are essential partners with Equine Affaire in producing exceptional and affordable educational events for the horse community. Equine Affaire would like to thank the Arabian Horse Association, sponsor of the Arabian Horse Association Demo Ring; Cashman Livestock Equipment Outlet, sponsor of the Cashman Breed Pavilion; Equine.com, sponsor of the Equine.com Arena; Farnam Companies, Inc., sponsor of the Courtesy Shopping Bag; Pfizer Animal Health, sponsor of the Pfizer Fantasia; Priefert Ranch Equipment, sponsor of the Priefert Arena; Rod's Western Palace, sponsor of Rod's Covered Paddock; Sundowner of Ohio, LLC, official trailer of Equine Affaire; Universal Trailers, sponsor of the Exiss Demo Ring; Wahl Clipper Corporation, sponsor of the Wahl Clipper Seminar Stage; Young Rider, sponsor of the Youth Pavilion and Youth Pavilion Trivia Quest; as well as everyone else who helps make the 2007 Ohio Equine Affaire an affordable event for horsepeople of all breed and sport affiliations.

Upcoming Equine Affaires are scheduled for November 8–11, 2007 in West Springfield, MA, January 31–February 3, 2008 in Pomona, CA, and April 10–13, 2008 in Columbus, OH. For more information on Equine Affaire, consult www.equineaffaire.com or call (740) 845-0085 weekdays from 9:00am to 5:00pm Eastern.


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