London, OH (August 2, 2016) –If it’s November, you’re a horse person, and you’re somewhere in the Northeast, your destination of choice is Equine Affaire. Indulge your passion for horses at the 2016 Equine Affaire on November 10-13 at the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, MA. Immerse yourself in clinics, seminars, and demonstrations by top trainers and industry experts. Explore new breeds of horses and riding disciplines. Shop for all of your equine and equestrian needs. And sit back to enjoy fabulous entertainment including Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse—the Fantasia—and the ever-popular Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. The stars of the equestrian world will be aligned at Equine Affaire, and you can meet and mingle with them while enjoying a special season-end getaway with family and friends.
Immerse Yourself in Education
Equine Affaire’s impressive smorgasbord of clinics, seminars, and demos will be presented by many of the nation’s premiere coaches, competitors, trainers, TV personalities, authors, judges, and other industry experts. Whether you’ve been in the saddle since childhood or are new to horses and equestrian activities, you’ll find sessions to help you and your horse excel and experience a winning relationship.
There will be something to satisfy almost every equestrian taste in the lineup of presenters at the 54th Equine Affaire. This year’s roster of talent includes experts who will offer a range of horse training philosophies and techniques and hail from a wide variety of competitive arenas. Sessions on general horse training and horsemanship topics of interest to all horse people will be presented by Guy McLean, Jonathan Field, Lynn Palm, Tommie Turvey, and Sandi Simons. Each of these individuals will focus on understanding and communicating with horses, building rider confidence, improving horsemanship, addressing training issues, and enhancing the horse-rider partnership.
Other accomplished equestrians will present clinics on specific equestrian disciplines. They will include Jim Wofford (eventing), Kevin Oliver (reining and ranch horse versatility), Mette Rosencrantz and Nicholas Fyffe (dressage), Doug Leasor (barrel racing and pole bending), Linda Langmeier (hunters/jumpers), Stephanie Lynn (western pleasure and hunter under saddle), Julie Winkel (hunters/jumpers), Sterling Graburn (driving), Sean Patrick (trail riding), Daniel Stewart (equestrian sport psychology over fences), Lynn Palm (western dressage), Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer (easy gaited breeds), Heidi Potter (clicker training), Sandy Croote (miniature horses), Tommie Turvey (trick training), and the Copper Hills Vaulting Team. More than 200 clinics, seminars, and demos will be presented in six venues—making a little advance planning on “what to attend when” a must!
If you’ve recently taken up riding or just bought your first horse, you’ll find plenty of helpful information at the Equine Fundamentals Forum sponsored this year by Cosequin®. The “E.F.F.” will feature a demo ring where experts will share their knowledge on a wide range of essential horsemanship topics of use to new riders and horse owners young and old. You’ll also discover informative and hands-on interactive displays about horses, horse health, and horse management as well as activities geared toward the youngest horse fans.
Shop for All Things Horse Related
Equine Affaire offers the largest equine-oriented shopping opportunity in the East and plenty of reasons to take a break from online pursuits. Explore hundreds of the nation's leading equine and equestrian retailers, manufacturers, service providers, and organizations in five exhibit halls and the outdoor areas in between. All of your equine and equestrian must-haves will be available in a trade show with literally acres of superb shopping.
Explore Horse Breeds, Stallions, Farms, and More
Visit Equine Affaire’s Breed Pavilion–sponsored by Neue Schule Bits–to experience dozens of horse breeds from ponies to drafts and stock horses to sport horses. Horse owners and breeders and representatives of various national, regional, and local breed associations will provide helpful information and answer your questions. Breed demonstrations will also take place throughout the weekend, offering you a chance to understand the conformation, movement, and temperament of different breeds as well as the many different riding disciplines at which they excel.
The nearby Horse & Farm Exhibits in C-Barn will showcase individual horse farms, stallions, stables, and training and breeding facilities from throughout New England and provide opportunities to network with horse owners, trainers, and facility managers. This exhibit area will be expanded this year to include “For Sale” stalls where individual horse owners will present horses they have for sale. If you’re in the market for a new horse, Equine Affaire will provide a great opportunity to evaluate and compare horses of a variety of breeds and types for sale in one convenient location.
And, if you have a horse to sell, the Horse & Farms Exhibits will be the best way to market your horse this fall. You can rent a “For Sale” stall for four days for just $125 and receive with your stall a free for sale ad for your horse pre-event on equineaffaire.com! For all of the details on exhibiting in the Horse & Farm Exhibits and renting a “For Sale” stall, visit equineaffaire.com, click on the Massachusetts event, and follow the “Exhibit” link to the Horse & Farm Exhibits and Sell Horses pages…or call Equine Affaire.
Experience the Fantasia . . . sponsored by Absorbine®
As the entertainment cornerstone of Equine Affaire, the Fantasia showcases the beauty, diversity, athleticism, and willing spirit of horses of a great variety of breeds and provides the perfect ending to a busy day of shopping, learning, and mingling at Equine Affaire. Outstanding equine and equestrian acts from throughout the United States will perform to a wide range of musical styles to create an evening of unforgettable equestrian entertainment for horse lovers of all ages. The Fantasia will take place at 8:00pm on November 10th to the 12th in the Eastern States Exposition coliseum and be an evening of great entertainment for horse lovers of all ages
“This year’s show will offer just the right mix of drama, comedy, fast-paced action, remarkable horses, and remarkable horsemanship,” explained Eugenia Snyder, the President of Equine Affaire. “The 2016 Fantasia will incorporate many of the elements that veteran Fantasia-goers have come to expect at the event including Grand Prix freestyle dressage, driving, horses performing at liberty, garocha, and drill team performances. We’re thrilled to be able to once again feature two of the best liberty horse trainers and performers in the world—Guy McLean and Tommie Turvey—and also introduce several very special acts and performers that will be new to the Fantasia and to the New England audience. The show will feature plenty of sensational equine entertainment provided by Icelandics, Andalusians, Morgans, Paso Finos, Percherons, Miniature Horses, Warmbloods, and Quarter Horses—and plenty of reminders of why we find horses so intoxicating.”
Ticket prices range from $12 to $24; advance tickets are available at equineaffaire.com or by calling Equine Affaire. Tickets for this popular event sell quickly, and advance ticket sales end November 2nd. Any tickets not sold in advance will be available for purchase at the Information Booth in the Better Living Center beginning at 9:00am on Thursday, November 10th at Equine Affaire.
Catch all of the Action
Up to 25 preselected horse and rider teams will compete for $5500 in cash and other prizes in Equine Affaire’s ultimate test of horsemanship, the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition. With only one round being held in the Eastern States Exposition coliseum on Friday, November 11th, this popular event promises to be more exciting than ever. The Versatile Horse & Rider Competition is open to adult riders of all disciplines and horses of all breeds and is sponsored this year by Nutrena®. It’s a true test of horsemanship for those who are willing to put their riding skills on the line tackling a tough obstacle course at top speeds—and a whole lot of fun for everyone watching in the audience. Be sure to get there early to watch great horses and talented riders tackle real riding challenges and take in all of the action.
Win a $1000 Shopping Spree or another great prize
Equine Affaire’s 2016 raffle is free, it’s easy to enter, and you need not be present to win. Visit equineaffaire.com, click on the Massachusetts event, and follow the
“Participate” link to the raffle entry page to enter to win a $1000 gift certificate for
Horseloverz.com, a western saddle package, a pair of custom English boots, grooming clippers, a supplement package, a framed official Equine Affaire limited edition print, and tickets to the 2017 Equine Affaire. And visit the Raffle Center in the Better Living Center at the show to see the prizes and enter the raffle on site. Winners will be announced at 4:30 on Sunday at Equine Affaire.
Volunteer and Earn Free Admission
Are you interested in earning free admission by helping out as a volunteer at Equine Affaire? Volunteers sign up for specific “jobs,” work two-hour shifts, and earn free admission and an event souvenir. For information on volunteering, visit equineaffaire.com or contact Lori Helsel at (740) 845-0085 ext. 107. Get your application in soon; volunteers are scheduled in the order in which their applications are received.
Everything You Need to Know to Go
Round up your horse-loving friends and barn mates and plan your getaway now.
Equineaffaire.com contains everything you need to know to make your visit a fun and successful one: show hours, admission details, directions, host hotel information, an updated listed of presenters, daily schedules, maps, facility and camping information, and tips for making the most of your Equine Affaire experience. If you’re not web-savvy or have questions, call Equine Affaire at (740) 845-0085 and speak to a member of our staff, Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Eastern.
You can enjoy all that Equine Affaire has to offer—the clinics and seminars, the shopping, the specialty pavilions, and the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition for the price of a single-day or multi-day general admission ticket. Adult admission is only $15/day (and includes a free event program) and youth (age 7-10) tickets are only $8. A four-day adult pass is just $50--a savings of $10 from the daily rate.
Advance tickets to Equine Affaire are available through October 23rd online at equineaffaire.com or by phone. Tickets will go on sale at 8:30am each show day. Be sure to make your hotel reservations soon—room blocks and special rates at our host hotels will expire in early October.
Generous Sponsors Make Equine Affaire Possible
Equine Affaire’s exceptional and affordable program of educational activities and entertainment are made possible through generous sponsorships by dozens of equine-related companies and organizations. We all extend our sincere gratitude to Absorbine®, Neue Schule Bits, Farnam, Horizon Structures, Wahl Clipper, Cosequin®, Nutrena®, Centaur Horse Fence, and the dozens of other companies who have endorsed the educational mission of Equine Affaire through their sponsorships.