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Ohio Equine Affaire revved up for cost-conscious audience

By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In troubled economic times, horse owners and enthusiasts are not alone in feeling the financial pinch. That’s why the organizers of the 2010 Ohio Equine Affaire are working to make the event “the nation’s best value for horse lovers.”

The 2010 edition of the country’s most enduring and successful all-breed, all-discipline equine expo will return the Ohio Exposition Center April 12-15. And for less than the price of admission to a movie with the essential tub of popcorn (just $14 for an all-access daily ticket for an adult and just $8 for kids age 7-10), visitors can learn from the world’s best trainers while immersing themselves in everything equine.

The agenda for this year’s events features world-champion riders, United States Equestrian Team members, and other renowned trainers, coaches and competitors from all walks of horse life gathered together in one location to share their trade secrets. Doors open at 9 a.m. daily and clinics and demonstrations take place throughout the four-day event.

An annual highlight of the event is the training clinics offered by renowned equestrians and trainers. Leading coaches, competitors and trainers from across the country will present a full schedule of in-depth clinics on a wide array of equestrian sports and training techniques.

Clinics will take place throughout the event featuring top names like Chris Cox, John Lyons, Craig Cameron, Tommy Garland, Richard Winters, Caroline Rider, Scott Hansen and Stacey Westfall. All-in-all, this year’s event will feature more than 230 educational sessions in eight different venues.

The non-stop gamut of education opportunities will emcompass the entire gamut of horse training, horse management and equestrian topic relevant to both amateurs and professionals alike. And new for this year, the Trail Riding Pavilion in the Voinovich Center will provide everything necessary to enhance the trail-riding experience, from shopping for equipment to researching public trails, and from joining a trail riding club to learning tips on trail safety, there’s something to interest every trail riding enthusiast.

For those who enjoy shopping for their horses and themselves, the Equine Affaire hosts the largest trade show of any horse exposition in the United States, featuring more than 450 of the nation’s leading equine-related retailers and manufacturers offering for sale everything from tack and apparel to horse-care items and trailers. And with spring right around the corner, it’s a perfect time to stock up on the essentials for the upcoming pleasure riding and competition season.

From Appaloosas to Zebras (ok, so there won’t be any Zebras), the Cashman Breed Pavilion will feature exhibit booths and stalls, where attendees will be able to see, touch and learn more about dozens of different equine breeds from around the world. And to top it off, there are plenty of friendly and knowledgeable breed association representatives on-hand to answer whatever questions attendees may have. There will also be a rotating cast of stallions, mares and geldings presented daily in showcased breed spotlights in the main arenas throughout the event.

And not to leave out the little ones, horsey kids of all ages will convene at the Youth Pavilion in the Celeste Center. In addition to educational and horse-related youth association exhibits, presentations will take place through each day by many of the horse industry’s most popular educators, demonstrations of various horse breeds as well as plenty of fun activities for kids, including the ever-popular Celebrity Horse Showcase. And returning for the fourth straight year will be Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race as seen on RFD-TV. This competition will challenge horses and riders to work through an obstacle course while being timed and judged on their abilities with top competitors receiving large cash prizes as well as Circle Y saddles.

And perhaps the biggest highlight of the event and an attraction on it’s own, the Pfizer Fantasia: A Musical Celebration of the Horse will again return on Friday and Saturday evenings in the Coliseum. The show will feature a variety of outstanding equestrian acts from across the country choreographed to musical styles ranging from country to classical to contemporary.

A separate ticket is required to attend this special event, and tickets typically sell out each year for this performance. Tickets range from $12 to $25 each, plus shipping and handling. For more information and a complete line-up of clinics and demonstrations at this year’s event, visit www.equineafaire.com

4/7/2010