Elevate your equestrian experience this spring at Equine Affaire—North America’s premiere equine exposition and equestrian gathering. The 2015 Equine Affaire will take place at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus on April 9-12 and offer horse owners not only the opportunity to attend more than 200 different clinics, seminars, and demonstrations, but also to participate in more than 50 clinic sessions on a wide range of equestrian disciplines. Through Equine Affaire’s unique “Ride With The Best” program, selected participants can ride, drive, and have their horses trained in clinics conducted by many of the nation’s foremost coaches, competitors, judges, and horse trainers—for clinic fees designed to fit almost any budget.
The Clinics and Clinicians
Whether your equestrian tastes lean toward the western disciplines or are solidly in the English realm—or you simply want to improve your riding skills or your horse’s performance–you won’t want to miss the opportunity to receive individual instruction from the outstanding clinicians who will be featured at Equine Affaire this April. Among the presenters who will be participating in the “Ride With The Best” program are general horse and horsemanship trainers Chris Cox, Guy McLean, John Lyons, Dan James and Julie Goodnight. Clinicians offering sessions in the western disciplines will include Scott McFarland (reining), Doug Leasor (barrel racing and pole bending), Kevin Oliver (ranch horse versatility), Barbra Schulte (cutting) and Tom Chown (western pleasure/horsemanship/showmanship). Those conducting clinics on English disciplines will include George Williams and Jane Savoie (dressage), Drew Emnett (hunter under saddle), Gayle Lampe (English pleasure/saddleseat), and clinicians still being confirmed as of press time for jumping. Gary Lane will also be on hand to present sessions on training and riding easy gaited horses.
If you have one or more horses that are halter broke and ready to be started under saddle, you may want to consider applying to have your horse trained in Equine Affaire’s “Foundation First” clinic series. Guy McLean and Dan James will each train one unbroke horse to be ridden, and attendees and horse owners will watch the progress these phenomenal trainers will make with their young horses through clinics
conducted over the four days of Equine Affaire. The “Foundation First” clinics will not be a race or competition. The focus will be on creating the proper foundation when training a horse to be ridden and on progressing at the rate that is appropriate for the individual horse. During sessions on Sunday, both clinicians will present their horses and discuss the specific challenges associated with the training of their horses and the techniques they used in training them. The “Foundation First” clinics will offer unique opportunities for owners of halter-broke horses to have their horses started under saddle by these two exceptional trainers.
Clinic fees and how to apply. The modest clinic fees for Equine Affaire’s “Ride With The Best” program range from $70 for a single clinic to $350 for the multi-session “Foundation First” clinics and include clinic participation, stabling, and admission to Equine Affaire. Clinicians will select the participants for their sessions from written applications and videos submitted by applicants to Equine Affaire. While some are seeking riders and horses with specific skills or problems to demonstrate and resolve during their clinics, others are seeking any riders interested in improving their general horsemanship and relationships with their horses. The 2015 Equine Affaire will offer a wide range of learning opportunities—and you and your horse may be the ideal participants for one or more sessions.
Full clinic details and a “Ride With The Best” application are available at equineaffaire.com. Click on the Ohio event and follow the “Participate” link to information on the “Ride With The Best” program. Interested riders and horse owners may also request an information packet and clinic application by contacting Kristen Gump at kgump@equineaffaire.com or by calling 740-845-0085 ext. 104. Consult equineaffaire.com for continuously updated information on additional clinicians and sessions in the “Ride With The Best” program.
Application deadline is Feb. 16. Don’t miss the unique and affordable clinic opportunities offered at Equine Affaire. Get your application materials in before the Feb. 16 deadline!
In addition to an unparalleled educational program, the 2015 Equine Affaire will feature the largest horse-related trade show in North America with more than 450 retailers and manufacturers filling four buildings at the Ohio Expo Center. Other highlights of the event will include the Rod’s Equestrian Experience Pavilion (showcasing numerous equestrian disciplines and breeds of horses); Equine Affaire’s signature musical celebration of the horse–the Fantasia sponsored by Absorbine–on Thursday-Saturday nights; an extensive Breed Pavilion and Horse & Farm Exhibits area; a fun and informative Youth Pavilion; the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition on Thursday and Friday; and the Marketplace at Equine Affaire—a consignment store in the Bricker Annex featuring quality tack, apparel, and equine equipment for horse & rider. For everything you need to know to go, visit equineaffaire.com.
