FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Contact:  	Katie Patrick
		(740) 845-0085 ext. 107
		kpatrick@equineaffaire.com
						
      Release also available electronically.


EQUINE AFFAIRE LEAVING LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 
      
      The inaugural Equine Affaire in Louisville, KY, was held last September at the Kentucky Fair & Expo Center and featured a fabulous program of clinics, seminars, and demonstrations; a large and diverse trade show with  hundreds of exhibitors representing all types of horse-related products; Breed and Youth Pavilions; a Celebrity Horse Showcase; and Equine Affaire’s signature evening program, the Pfizer Fantasia.  Clinton Anderson, Monty Roberts, Cleve Wells, Lynn Palm, Steffen Peters, Shawn Flarida, GaWaNi Pony Boy, Jeff Cook, Marlene McRae, and Julie Goodnight were among the many outstanding clinicians who presented more than 50 clinics in three arenas at the premiere Kentucky Equine Affaire.  The event’s educational program also offered more than 90 seminars and demonstrations by top industry professionals on a wide array of horse training and management topics.  
      According to Eugenia Snyder, President of Equine Affaire, Inc., the company was committed to producing an outstanding premiere Equine Affaire in Kentucky, when it embarked on the project.  “In many respects, we accomplished our goal,” she said.  “The event’s educational program was exceptional and designed to complement the program for the Ohio event.  The trade show floor was sold out and showcased a remarkable variety of high-quality vendors and products, and the Pfizer Fantasia on Friday and Saturday nights was viewed by many as the best one we’ve produced yet.” 
      Post-event feedback received from attendees at the Kentucky show was both positive and enthusiastic.  Lotta Dages from Louisville wrote, “Just a note to let you know how much we enjoyed the Kentucky Show.  We just planned for one day and went back Saturday and Sunday we liked it so well…the clinics were so great and informative.  We really enjoyed the event.  Please keep up all your good work.”  Many visitors raved about the educational program and trade show, and everyone has seemed excited about a return of the event to Louisville in September of 2006.  
      In spite of an outstanding lineup of presenters and extensive efforts to market the event, overall attendance at the premiere Kentucky Equine Affaire was disappointing for many exhibitors at the show as well as for the management of Equine Affaire.   “Given all that was done to produce a high-quality, attractive event and market it to horsepeople throughout the Midwest, it is somewhat of a mystery as to why the show was not better attended,” said Eugenia Snyder.  “The horse industry in the region was not strong enough to support Equitana in Louisville, and horsepeople did not respond in adequate numbers to support Equine Affaire this past year.  Because I am not confident that attendance could be increased in the future through any particular change in how the event is produced or marketed, I have had to reach the difficult decision to discontinue production of Equine Affaire in Louisville.  Unfortunately, we cannot, in good faith, ask our many loyal exhibitors to invest again in a venue and market that did not adequately support Equine Affaire in 2005.
      “On behalf of the rest of the Equine Affaire team, I would like to thank all of the enthusiastic horsepeople who attended and volunteered at the premiere Equine Affaire in Kentucky, as well as the vendors who embarked on this new endeavor with us,” Eugenia Snyder continued.  “We will continue in our commitment to produce the nation’s premiere equine expositions and equestrian gatherings in Ohio, Massachusetts, and California.”
      The next Equine Affaire will be held April 6-9, 2006, in Columbus, OH.  Among the many outstanding clinicians who will be featured at the Ohio show will be John Lyons, Monty Roberts, Chris Cox, Denny Emerson, Julie Goodnight, Bennie Sargent, Judy Richter, Brian Dygert, and Lendon Gray.  For all of the details on this exciting event—which is now in its 13th year—please visit the Equine Affaire Web site at www.equineaffaire.com or call (740) 845-0085 weekdays, 9:00am–5:00pm Eastern.
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