Plan your visit to North America’s premier equine expo today!
It’s almost time for Equine Affaire, and that means you should start planning your visit to North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering! Whether it’s your first time or your fifteenth time to join us in Massachusetts, this handy trail guide is the perfect handbook to help you plan your trip from beginning to end. Get the most out of your visit to this year’s Equine Affaire by learning tips and tricks for enjoying your visit; links to all the latest info about the event; plenty of answers to our most frequently asked questions; and, of course, an insider’s guide to what to see, where to go, and what to do for each day of the event.
WHERE IS IT, WHEN IS IT, AND HOW DO I GET THERE?
Equine Affaire will take place at the Eastern States Exposition on November 10-13, 2022. The Eastern States Exposition is located at 1305 Memorial Ave in beautiful W. Springfield, Massachusetts. Hours for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are from 9 am-7 pm (EST), and for Sunday, from 9 am-5 pm (EST). Single day tickets and four-day passes for Equine Affaire are available for purchase here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-attend/mass-tickets/.
All attendees should access the event via Gate 9. The Eastern States Exposition charges for parking, so be prepared to pay the parking attendants promptly when you arrive. Also, please leave your pets at home! We cannot allow any pets in any of the buildings, except for service dogs wearing the appropriate service vests.
Need more information? Click here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-attend/mass-locationevent-hours/.
QUICK TIP: If you plan to come multiple days or would like to enter and leave repeatedly on the same day, purchase a parking pass from the ESE! Parking passes will be available for purchase from the parking attendants at the gate.
FAQ: When can I arrive to park on site? You can arrive and park as early as you wish, but the doors to all the exhibit buildings will remain locked until 9 am.
WHERE CAN I STAY?
Equine Affaire has negotiated room blocks and special discount rates at several hotels near the event. To receive the special rate, make sure to mention Equine Affaire when you call! Room blocks and discounted rates expire throughout October, so book early. See our list of host hotels here: https://www.equineaffaire.com/events/Massachusetts/mass-attend/host-hotels/
Want to camp? Camping is available on site at the ESE. There is no advance registration. The campgrounds will open to the public at 5:00 pm (EST) on Wednesday, November 9. You can call (413) 737-2443 for more information about camping. Learn more here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-attend/mass-campinglodging/
QUICK TIP: All our host hotels are listed in order of distance from the event here (https://www.equineaffaire.com/events/Massachusetts/mass-attend/host-hotels/) and that page also includes room block expiration dates, so make sure to bookmark it!
HEY, WHAT’S FANTASIA?
Fantasia is Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse, featuring exciting performances by some of the nation’s top equine and equestrian performers. Designed to showcase the beauty, athleticism, and grace of the horse, this extraordinary nighttime show takes place only on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights during Equine Affaire in the Coliseum. The doors open at 6:45 pm and the show starts promptly at 7:30 pm. Fantasia requires separate tickets, and tickets sell quickly, so buy yours today! You can purchase Fantasia tickets online at https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-attend/mass-tickets/ or by calling our office at (740) 845-0085, M-F, 9 am-5 pm (EST).
QUICK TIP: Make sure to stay after the event for a special autograph signing session! All the performers come back out into the arena after the show to sign postcards and programs.
FAQ: Do I need to separate purchase tickets for Equine Affaire and Fantasia? Yes, you need to purchase general admission tickets to access Equine Affaire’s daytime activities and a separate ticket to attend Fantasia. However, if you arrive after 6:30 pm EST to attend Fantasia, you will not have to purchase a general admission ticket to Equine Affaire.
HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT {INSERT DISCIPLINE HERE}?
Whether you love to ride, jump, vault, participate in drill teams, spin and stop, work cows, perform liberty, drive, learn about horse health care and husbandry, or dozens of other things, there’s a clinic, seminar, or demonstration available for you! Equine Affaire has a top-notch educational program that’s filled with speakers and presenters who are dedicated, passionate, and at the top of their game – so if information about horses is what you seek, information about horses is what you’ll get! Check out our schedule and presenters at this link to find the best clinics to attend for you and your area of interest: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/educational-program/mass-presenters/.
QUICK TIP: Many of our presenters will have booths in the trade show, and others are happy to answer quick questions or give brief tips after their clinics or seminars are over. The best questions to ask (according to our presenters) are short and sweet, with minimal background info, so try to keep your visit brief and to the point!
FAQ: How can I ride in a clinic at Equine Affaire? Equine Affaire’s Ride with a Pro clinic program is a popular and affordable way to ride with and learn from one of your idols at Equine Affaire! Applications are available online starting in July and the deadline to apply is typically in early September. Learn more about Ride with a Pro here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-ride-in-clinics/mass-ride-with-a-pro/.
WHAT IF I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HORSES?
Equine Affaire is proud to be the gateway to the horse industry for many beginners! If you don’t know anything about horses, you’ve come to the right place. Start your visit at the Equine Fundamentals Forum in the Mallary South complex. The EFF features educational exhibits about horses, horse health, horse management, equine anatomy, and lots of hands-on activities, such as a mane and tail braiding station, an educational skeleton display, and lots more. There’s also a demo ring where horse-savvy experts will be hosting demonstrations on fundamental topics all day, every day, so there’s plenty to see and do and learn. We also suggest visiting the Breed Pavilion, where you can learn about breeds of horses from breed representatives, and touring the Horse & Farm Exhibits, where you can meet horsemen and horsewomen from a variety of local businesses and horse organizations. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
QUICK TIP: Make sure to stop by the Equine Affaire Information Booth and tell our friendly staff that you’re brand new to Equine Affaire and to horses in general. They’ll have extra tips and info for you to help get you started!
WHERE DO I GO TO SHOP?
Equine Affaire is home to one of the nation’s largest horse-related trade shows. With hundreds of exhibitors spread out across multiple buildings, there are plenty of opportunities to kickstart your Christmas shopping season, fulfill wish lists for every horse lover in your family, or outfit your tack room with everything you need to train, feed, care for, or spoil every horse you own! Check out our list of vendors here (https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-trade-show/mass-exhibitors/)!
Love shopping for bargains? Located in the Mallary South, the Marketplace at Equine Affaire is a consignment shop where people just like you can drop off their gently used equestrian items for sale, or browse for bargains among quality used equestrian goods. Learn more about consigning and shopping at the Marketplace here (https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-sell/mass-marketplace/).
QUICK TIP: Many exhibitors host raffles at their booths during the show. Make sure to take business cards or little slips of paper pre-filled with your name, mailing address, and email addresses to make entering raffles quick and easy! You can find a list of all the exhibitors holding raffles in the event program, too. You never know what you might win! (And for that matter, don’t forget to enter Equine Affaire’s raffle online: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-other-features/mass-free-raffle/)
HOW CAN I SEE HORSES COMPETE?
There are two competitions taking place at Equine Affaire! First, the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, sponsored by Nutrena, will take place on Friday, November 11, 2022, in the Coliseum. This exciting competition features horses and riders riding an obstacle course created to test communication between horse and rider, as well as each competitor’s horsemanship skills and athletic prowess. Riders are competing for $5,500 in cash and other prizes. It’s one exciting race! Check it out here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-compete/mass-versatile-horse-rider-competition/ and bookmark this page for the future to learn more about applying to compete!
Next, the International Liberty Horse Association Invitational Freestyle, sponsored by EspanaSILK, is returning to Equine Affaire on Saturday, November 12th, and Sunday, November 13th. This competition showcases the amazing discipline of liberty and demonstrates all the ways horses and humans can communicate with each other with little or minimal tack. Learn more here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-other-features/ilha-freestyle-invitational/!
FAQ: Is admittance to both competitions included with my general admission ticket? That’s correct. No extra tickets are required to attend the VHRC or the ILHA.
HOW CAN I MEET SOME COOL HORSES AND PEOPLE?
Visit the Breed Pavilion in the Stroh building, of course! The Breed Pavilion will showcase dozens of horse breeds and registries with origins in North America, Europe, and beyond. You can network with horse owners, research breeds, learn about national, regional, and local breed associations and their activities, and so much more. Association representatives will be on hand to provide helpful information and answer questions about their breeds and horses, and equines from miniatures to drafts and from stock horses to sport horses will be on exhibit and presented in hand for your consideration. Under saddle demonstrations of the breeds featured in the Breed Pavilion will also be conducted throughout the weekend in the main clinic arenas, offering you a chance to understand and appreciate the conformation, characteristics, and aptitudes of horses of different breeds.
After you’re done in the Breed Pavilion, take a stroll through C-barn and visit the Horse and Farm Exhibits. You can chat with barn and equine business owners, visit with industry professionals offering horses for sale, learn about rescues and sanctuaries, meet horses up for adoption, and plenty more. You might even see performers or clinicians getting ready for a demo or clinic or preparing for their turn in Fantasia.
Are you a veteran? Check out the Equine Immersion Project at Equine Affaire. We’ve partnered with the EIP to offer A Horse for Heroes, where veterans and first responders can experience the benefits of equine-assisted therapies and activities. This activity will take place only on Friday, November 11 – Veterans Day! You can learn more here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-other-features/a-horse-for-heroes/.
QUICK TIP: Ask all the questions! Our exhibitors love to share and showcase their equestrian experiences. Make sure to ask for business cards or pamphlets, too, especially if you’re interested in taking lessons, purchasing a horse, or asking for training services.
WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS?
Equine Affaire is a great place to take kids of all ages, especially horse-crazy ones. The Equine Fundamentals Forum has lots of fun activities, including an arts and crafts project, a fun stick rodeo (3 pm daily!), and a purple mechanical pony.
For young adults prepping for college, check out the College & Career Fair Scavenger Hunt, which combines education and tips for pursuing an equine-related career with a fun scavenger hunt that encourages participants to network with equine businesses and colleges and meet new people (plus, the chance to win prizes!).
Equine Affaire has also partnered with Ebony Horsewomen, Inc., of Hartford, Connecticut, to offer youth the opportunity to interact with horses and experience the fun of equine-assisted activities and therapies. Horses That Heal will feature unmounted activities on Saturday, November 12. You can sign up on site in the barn office in C-Barn!
The Interscholastic Equestrian Association is offering an intensive dressage judge’s clinic on Thursday, November 10. Formatted to review items from a judge’s perspective, this clinic will explore the dressage discipline in the IEA show format. IEA is a nonprofit organization that promotes and improves the quality of equestrian competition and instruction for middle and secondary school students. Best of all, kids don’t have to own a horse to compete with IEA! Learn more about IEA by attending the clinic at Equine Affaire.
THIS SOUNDS GREAT! HOW CAN I VOLUNTEER/EXHIBIT/ADVERTISE/PARTICIPATE SOMEDAY?
Yes! You can learn more about how to volunteer, exhibit, advertise, or participate with Equine Affaire in the future by visiting www.equineaffaire.com.
MY QUESTION DIDN’T GET ASKED! NOW WHAT?
If you have more questions or need to get in touch with our staff, there are plenty of ways to reach out to us! Bookmark our website (www.equineaffaire.com), follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @equineaffaire, or call our office at (740) 845-0085, 9:00am-5:00pm EST (M-F). We can’t wait to see you at Equine Affaire!
CONTACT:
Allison Rehnborg, Marketing Coordinator
Equine Affaire, Inc.
Phone: (740) 845-0085 ext. 103
arehnborg@equineaffaire.com
www.equineaffaire.com
*Pictures Available Upon Request