Virginia is for (Horse) Lovers! 5th Annual Equine Extravaganza Gallops into Richmond
Phone:
Email Address: www.equineextravaganza.com
Date Added: 10/22/2008
Most fall entertainment comes in the form of hayrides, foliage, pumpkins and the making of holiday plans, but for the fifth year in a row Richmond will offer some real fall horsin’ around as the Equine Extravaganza returns to the Richmond Raceway Complex, Richmond, VA, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2. The Equine Extravaganza is a three-day horse expo and trade fair designed to educate, delight and enlighten horse lovers of all ages.
With clinics, demonstrations, seminars, great shopping and all things equestrian, this event promises to offer something for the whole family.
“Whether you are a seasoned horse professional or are completely new to horses, or you are just drawn to these magnificent animals, Equine Extravaganza has plenty to see and do,” said show producer Vicki O’Hara. “The daily breed demonstrations are educational and fun for the whole family.”
Kids will love the stick horse rodeos, roping contests; free moon bounce, a Halloween costume parade, Trick or Treating, and lots of cute horses and ponies to see! In addition, kids of all ages will enjoy an up close and personal visit with Doug Sloan’s movie horses as they share their movie tricks! All for the price of admission. Kids 11 and under and in costume are admitted FREE on Friday October 31st.
If education is your goal, you won’t be disappointed. “We have more than 100 clinics, demos, and seminars during the weekend on everything from getting started as a rider, horse health and maintenance, riding styles, training, to the energy fields of horses and how horses help heal,” added Program Director Rachael O’Hara. “We even offer college round table discussions where young people interested in horse industry careers can gain insight into how they can shape their future with horses,” O’Hara said.
In the old westerns cowboys “broke” horses. Today’s cowboy is much more sophisticated, using low stress “natural horsemanship” techniques to “gentle” young horses. Horse pros and neophytes alike flock to the highly anticipated return of the “East Coast Trainer Challenge” colt starting competition, which highlights this low stress training method. In this exciting competition four regional champion trainers demonstrate their natural horsemanship skills as they work with young horses to prepare them for saddle and rider. The trainers are evaluated on their ability to advance the horses as far as the horses’ individual capabilities will allow while keeping the horse calm, attentive, and engaged. The audience participates in the judging.
This year’s trainers include regional winners from North Carolina, Arkansas and Northern Illinois: Charles Pellham of Reva, VA, Brock Griffith of Trinity, NC, Scott Purdum of Union Bridge, MD, and Aaron Thornbrugh of Winslow, AR. Each trainer will have a one-hour training sessions with their horse each of the three days of the expo (Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 and Sunday at 11:45AM). Trainers will work simultaneously and will be encouraged to explain the techniques used and what challenges and changes they see in their horses. Following the third session, trainers will bring their horses into the open arena for the final exam. They will have 10 minutes to showcase progress made by taking their mount through a series of obstacles. The competition will be emceed by our “2006 East Coast Trainer Challenge” winner and “‘Road to the Horse” competitor, Tommy Garland along with Wayne Williams.
Between the shopping, the seminars, the roundtable discussions, the demonstrations, the entertainment, and the company of thousands of people that share a passion for horses, the Equine Extravaganza is a no-brainer destination for all horse enthusiasts!
For a complete list of clinicians, horse professionals, vendors and as well as the clinic schedule and more visit the Equine Extravaganza website at www.equineextravaganza.com
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The Virginia Equine Extravaganza®, a production of Maryland-based Moonlark, Inc., is a comprehensive, all-breed, all-discipline expo, and is one of the largest of its kind on the East Coast. The fifth annual event will be held at the Richmond International Raceway Complex October 31-November 2, 2008, and will feature hundreds of the country’s top equine vendors, sponsors, clinicians, performers and professionals. More information is available at www.equineextravaganza.com.
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