Northwest Horse Fair & Expo 2012

Contributed

Dancing horses, an equine theatre production, archers on horseback, and horses by the dozens will celebrate the spirit of the horse, at the 13th annual Northwest Horse Fair and Expo, presented by Bison Coach!

This year’s event will feature the exciting new All Breed Challenge, world class trainers and riders, top-notch clinics, seminars, demonstrations, horse breeds from all over the world, shopping in a huge trade show, plus new and extraordinary equine entertainment! The Northwest Horse Fair and Expo is scheduled slightly later than in previous years, running March 22 through 25, 2012 at the Linn County Fair and Expo Center in Albany, Oregon

The New All Breed Challenge

Horsemen and horsewomen of all ages and disciplines will compete for $3,000 in cash prizes in the exciting new versatility competition, the All Breed Challenge, at the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo. Horse and rider teams from multiple riding disciplines will compete, facing obstacles from numerous riding disciplines including trail, barrel, ranch versatility, reining, jumping, and dressage – all in a timed course! Competitors will be judged on accuracy, horsemanship, equitation, and attitude of the horses. Riders 12 years of age and older are eligible to compete and may come from any riding discipline, on any breed of horse. The excitement begins Thursday evening at the Northwest Horse Fair, and continues Friday with Round One; with the Semi-Finalists competing on Saturday. The excitement will build, as the competition culminates in the Finals on Sunday, when the top scoring competitors battle it out for cash prizes. “We have just a few spots still open in the All Breed Challenge,” said John Cloe, Event Founder and Manager. “We’re excited to see just what some of these breeds can do, and who has the most competitive versatility horse in the Northwest!” For a participant application, go to www.equinepromotions.net.

The Equine Extravaganza

An impressive assortment of horses and equine performers will delight crowds with an “overture” to the three day Expo, in the Equine Extravaganza sponsored by KRKT, on Thursday evening, March 22 at 5pm. Music, equine theatre, dancing horses and more, will offer an enchanting evening of entertainment! Los Garcias and Wolfsong will present Los Caballos Friesianos, a musical performance featuring their fancy black Friesians. In contrast, a mammoth draft mule hitch from Copper Windmill Ranch will maneuver a massive wagon in the confines of the arena, for the crowd’s enjoyment.  Back by popular demand, FeatherDance Equine Entertainment will present an all new equine theater production. If Wishes Were Horses will feature special lighting and affects, as majestic horses demonstrate liberty work, Dressage, trick training and in-hand exhibitions. And the excitement will ramp up, as spectators root for their favorite contestant in the first round of the All Breed Challenge. Admission for this full evening of equine entertainment is just $10/person; cash only at the gate. Families are welcome!

Extraordinary Equine Entertainment

If Thursday night’s Equine Extravaganza provides the overture for the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo, the weekend provides the symphony! An amazing variety of equine talent will fill the Linn County Fair & Expo grounds, including elegant dancing horses that seem to waltz to the music, sliding reiners, and team penning ponies who put a whole new meaning to the “electric slide”….marching mules that haul a massive wagon, and even mounted archers that add fast-paced precision to a magical weekend of equine! The Breed Showcase and Stallion Reviews will provide a unique blend of horse breeds, highlighting the extraordinary variety in size, use and colors of horses – and even featuring a breed with a curly coat! This and much more will be make up an exciting weekend filled with education and entertainment designed to delight horse lovers young and old!

World-Class Clinicians

A dynamic group of equine experts will provide daily clinics, seminars and demos at the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo. World renowned horseman John Lyons will headline the group of clinicians, in addition to: Jan Ebeling conducting Dressage clinics; Julie Goodnight presenting Classic Skills for a Natural Ride; Linda Andrisani providing Hunter/Jumper clinics; Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer conducting Gaited Horsemanship clinics; Jochen Schleese giving SaddleFit4Life presentations; Marvin Pierce offering Cow Dog clinics and demos; and demos by Dana Boyd Miller of Andis Clippers.  More information about these outstanding clinicians includes:

John Lyons, known as America’s Most Trusted Horseman, is one of the most respected and well-known horse trainers in the world!  He is a highly sought after trainer, speaker, demonstrator and clinician, in the United States and abroad. John’s horse training concepts have influenced all levels of performance, all styles of riding and scores of horse breeds. John has inspired and helped hundreds of thousands of horse owners to achieve a better understanding of how to work with, and develop, a better relationship with their horses. John and his wife Jody live and work on Our Dream Ranch in Parachute, Colorado.

Jan Ebeling is a world-class Dressage competitor and trainer, currently showing among top international riders. He has more than 30 years of training from some of the finest Dressage instructors and riders in the world, including Harry Boldt and Wolfram Wittig. He’s also an active clinician, traveling countrywide and internationally, teaching Classical Dressage and competitive riding.  Jan and his wife, Amy, operate their own training and sales facility, The Acres, in Moorpark, CA. 

Julie Goodnight is renowned as The Horse Master on her award-winning RFD-TV television show. She has a varied background with over 25 years of horse training experience.  She has ridden and trained horses in dressage, jumping, racing, reining, colt-starting, versatility ranch work, and wilderness riding. Through her years of experience, Julie has discovered the underlying principles important to any type of riding, which she teaches in her Classic Skills for a Natural Ride. Julie resides near Salida, Colorado, at her private horse ranch with her husband, Rich Moorhead.

Linda Andrisani, a 23 year veteran of the judge’s stand in the hunter ring, is one of the most well-known and well-respected hunter judges in the country. She is a USEF “R” rated judge, and she has judged at all the major horse shows in North America! Linda ran a full-time horse show operation in Maryland for many years, and horses from her barn won numerous national championships as Linda gained a sterling reputation throughout the country. Linda’s home base is in Maryland, she spends her winters in Wellington, Florida, and her summers traveling about the country.

Larry Whitesell and Jennifer Bauer are Gaited Horse trainers and clinicians based in Cookeville TN.   Larry and Jennifer each do clinics around the US, Canada, and Europe, teaching their Classical training methods to gaited horse riders.  They teach horses to be in a better balance so they steer better, stop better, and gait better, and to be a safer, more confident horse.  This training prepares a horse for trail, show or any activity that requires an equine athlete. 

Jochen Schleese, a former member of the German young rider’s Three-day Event team, has made a lifelong study of equine development, saddle design, the bio-mechanics of horse and rider in motion, and the effects of ill-fitting saddles. A Certified Master Saddler since 1985, he established Saddlefit 4 Life® in 2005. Jochen is a guest clinician at horse shows, trade shows, veterinary colleges and international schools for trainer and equine professional certification. An accomplished ballroom dancer with a delightful sense of humor, find out why Jochen wears red stilettos to introduce his seminars! Jochen, his wife Sabine, and family, reside north of Toronto, Ontario in Canada.

Marvin Pierce has been around horses, dogs and cattle most of his life. He started raising and training cow dogs in 1998, to help him get his cattle work done faster and more easily. Through hard work and a successful breeding program of Cow Dogs, Marvin’s dogs are very successful at gathering some of the meanest cattle out of the toughest spots. Marvin conducts Cow Dog and Obedience Training Clinics to help folks get their dogs started on cattle and to work on unwanted behavioral issues that plague both the working cow dog and the family companion dog. Marvin Pierce joins the Northwest Horse Fair from Newberg, Oregon.

Shopping

Horse enthusiasts can also take in the huge trade show, with nearly 70,000 square feet of trade show booths, in two buildings. Vendors from all over the country will offer a shopping paradise for horse lovers, including trailers, feed, tack, hats, clothing for horse and rider, farm products, gifts, services and much more!

KMTR Youth Day

KMTR Youth Day is Sunday March 25 at the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo. All children 12 years and under get in free with a paid adult admission that day, plus 4-H and Pony Club members ages 13 to 18 get in free with their club ID cards. “We’re proud to offer Youth Day to support the future of the horse industry”, said Mr. Cloe. “We invite all young equine enthusiasts to join us for a full day of horse fun and education on KMTR Youth Day, Sunday at the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo.”

Food Drive to Benefit Albany Helping Hands Homeless Shelter

New this year, at the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo, Friday attendees will receive $1 off gate admission in return for their donation of non-perishable food item(s), to benefit the Albany Helping Hands Homeless Shelter. Expo attendees may bring their food donation to the entrance gate and receive their ticket price discount at that time. Limit one discount per person.

Tickets & More Info

Ticket prices are also discounted if purchased in advance for the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo.  Advance tickets are $10 per day for adults and $5 per day for children aged 6 to 12. Tickets at the gate are $12 per day for adults and $6 per day for children 6 to 12; and children 5 and under get in free. Cash only for tickets purchased at the gate. Advance tickets are available starting after January 23, at all Coastal stores, at the Linn County Fair & Expo Center and at additional retail locations throughout Oregon and Washington. A complete list of ticket sales outlets is listed at www.equinepromotions.net. Advance ticket sales will end Thursday March 22 at store closing time.

For more information on the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo, visit www.equinepromotions.net, email jjcloe@equinepromotions.net, call 765-655-2107, or follow us on Facebook.