Enjoy every horse lover’s dream this fall in Massachusetts!
With less than a hundred days to go, are you ready for the return of Equine Affaire? You’re invited to attend North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering on November 10-13, 2022, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Whether you’re a diehard horse fanatic or brand new to the horse world, you can’t afford to miss this horse expo!
Equine Affaire is filled with endless opportunities to learn, exciting competitions, immersive activities, tons of shopping, and hundreds of horses, not to mention tens of thousands of horse lovers just like you eager to share, network, and have fun together. General admission tickets are on sale now via equineaffaire.com. Tickets for adults are just $18/day or $55/four-day pass; tickets for children, ages 7-10, are just $10/day; and children, ages six and under, get in for free! General admission includes entry to the largest horse-related trade show in the East; all theme pavilions; the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition; and all clinics, seminars, and demonstrations! Read on to learn more about how to elevate your equestrian experience in Massachusetts this fall.
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EQUINE AFFAIRE EXPERIENCE
Come prepared to learn! The schedule is filled with more than 150 horse clinics, seminars, and demonstrations, all presented by passionate and dedicated equine professionals. This year’s presenters on general horsemanship include Jonathan Field, Pat Parelli, Steve Lantvit, Lorie Duff, and Scott Purdum. Discipline-specific clinicians include Gina Miles (eventing), Nona Garson (hunter/jumper), Bill Warren (dressage), Sterling Graburn (driving), Jane Karol (dressage), Chad Crider (barrel racing), Leslie Lopardo (Western dressage), Karen Black (reined cow horse), Michael Gascon (easy gaited horses), Sally Batton (The Athletic Equestrian and Equicize), Ty Evans (mules), Carrie Brandt & Laura Benson (Icelandics), Caleb Carinci Asch (lunging), Joyleen Seymour (Mounted Games), the Copper Hill Vaulters (vaulting), the Canadian Cowgirls (drill teams), and many, many more. Sessions are designed to educate and elevate, so no matter what your level of experience or skill, there’s something to learn for everyone!
Interested in participating in a clinic? Consider applying for the Ride with a Pro clinic program! More than 50 clinics will offer unique opportunities for selected riders and horses to receive individual instruction and training from nationally recognized industry professionals. Clinic fees range from $75 to $350 and include clinic participation, event admission, and 24 hours of stabling. All applications are due by September 9, 2022. Find out more details about ways to improve your horseback riding experience at https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-ride-in-clinics/mass-ride-with-a-pro/.
Love to shop? Bring your spending money and kickstart your Christmas shopping season with our four-day shopping extravaganza! Equine Affaire boasts some of the largest and most varied trade show floors in the industry, with more than 450 vendors spread out across 5 buildings. Browse offerings from the horse world’s most beloved national and regional brands, retailers, manufacturers, and organizations, as well as myriad small businesses. Many of our horse clinicians will also have booths where you can ask for autographs, buy products, or even ask one-on-one questions! Whether you’re shopping for products or services, you’re guaranteed to find what you need, what you want, and what you can’t live without. See our full list of vendors here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-trade-show/mass-exhibitors/ and check back often in the weeks to come for updates. And if you enjoy hunting for bargains (or want to consign your own gently used horsey items!), check out the Marketplace, Equine Affaire’s own consignment shop. Learn more about how to consign here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-sell/mass-marketplace/.
Cheer on and join the excitement as dedicated horsemen and horsewomen give their all to compete in two fantastic horse competitions! First, the annual Versatile Horse & Rider Competition will return on Friday, November 11. Competitors will have the chance to vie for $5,500 in cash and other prizes, as well as the honor of being named the 2022 Massachusetts Versatile Horse and Rider Champions! Up to 25 horse and rider pairs will race the clock as they test their skills and athleticism navigating a complex obstacle course. This year’s competition will be judged by Scott Purdum and the master of ceremonies will be Steve Lanvit. Think you’ve got what it takes to win? Apply by September 9th! Details are available at https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-compete/mass-versatile-horse-rider-competition/. Next, and back by popular demand, the International Liberty Horse Association will host an invitational freestyle liberty competition, sponsored by EspanaSilk, on Saturday, November 12th and Sunday, November 13th! Select liberty trainers and horses of a variety of breeds and backgrounds will display their talents in a two-part invitational, designed to showcase just what’s possible when a horse and human elevate their communication skills to a whole new level. You don’t want to miss either of these fantastic displays of horsemanship!
Want to learn about all different kinds of horses, meet equine professionals, or shop for your next horse? Visit the Breed Pavilion, the Horse and Farm Exhibits, the For Sale Stalls, and the Adoption Affaire! These special and interactive sections of Equine Affaire are dedicated to the hands-on experience. There’s no better way to learn about a new breed of horse than by interacting live and in person. Breed representatives and horses of dozens of different breeds will be on site with educational materials and tons of great information in the Breed Pavilion. In the Horse and Farm Exhibits, meet and network with the proprietors of tons of horse businesses, from boarding barns and stud farms to lesson facilities and more. Finally, you can also shop for your next best friend by browsing for horses for sale from Massachusetts and surrounding areas, or by visiting the Adoption Affaire, where adoptable horses of a range of ages, types, sizes, and backgrounds will be presented in hopes of finding their next forever home. Interested in participating or learning more? Visit https://equineaffaire.com/mass-breed-pavilion/!
Got kids? Little horse lovers will adore the Equine Fundamentals Forum, where there are plenty of horse-related activities for little cowgirls and cowboys as well as older kids. Tots will enjoy riding Purple Rein, our purple mechanical horse; coloring and crafting their own mounts to ride in the stick rodeo; and learning fun horsey skills like braiding, wrapping, and more. Older youth will also enjoy great networking opportunities and learning new skills through the Career and College Fair Scavenger Hunt, which will take place Saturday, November 12. For youth interested in improving their horse-showing skills, the Interscholastic Equestrian Association will host an intensive dressage judge’s clinic on Thursday, November 10, in the GGT Young Arena. The Ebony Horsewomen, Inc. Equestrian and Therapeutic Center will be hosting Horses That Heal, a special event designed to show youth and families the benefits of equine-assisted activities. Learn more about all of these and other events at our website!
Looking for even more ways to participate at Equine Affaire? Try A Horse for Heroes! The Equine Immersion Project will be on site to provide opportunities for veterans, first responders, and active duty members to enjoy the benefits of a variety of unmounted activities. Equine Affaire is also looking for volunteers to help us put on this year’s event, so if you’d like to volunteer, contact Lori Helsel at lhelsel@equineaffaire.com today. Volunteers can work shifts in exchange for free admission and a classy souvenir. Bring your whole barn family and make a day of it.
Finally, no day at Equine Affaire is complete without attending the Fantasia! Sponsored by Absorbine®, Fantasia is a musical celebration of the horse unlike any other. This evening show boasts a variety of performances by elite equestrian and equine performers set to musical styles ranging from classic to contemporary. Hailed as a family tradition by many of our long-time attendees, each show is a unique experience that showcases the beauty, athleticism, nobility, and grace of the horse. This year’s show will feature trick roper Rider Kiesner and trick rider Bethany Illes; the renowned Canadian Cowgirls Drill Team; daring equestrian Caleb Carinci Asch; reiner Fred Win; driving fanatic Sterling Graburn and his posse of combined drivers; the Knights of Iceland; Elliott Holtsman with a stunning liberty performance; a fanciful dressage freestyle, and more! With just three performances on November 10th, 11th, and 12th, tickets are already going fast. Prices range from $14 to $25. Purchase your Fantasia tickets (separate from general admission tickets) online at equineaffaire.com today.
READY TO PLAN YOUR TRIP?
Equine Affaire has partnered with several local hotels to offer special discounted rates and room blocks. When you call to book your room, make sure to mention Equine Affaire! Make your reservations early, as many room blocks and discounted rates will expire in October. Visit https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-attend/host-hotels/ for details and check out /mass-campinglodging/ for information about camping on the grounds at the Eastern States Exposition. You can also learn about special discounts on car rentals at /mass-airport-rental-cars/!
The address for the Eastern States Exposition is 1305 Memorial Ave, W. Springfield, MA 01089. Please note that the Eastern State Exposition charges for parking!
GOT QUESTIONS?
To learn more about our incredible event, visit 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!
Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges our generous sponsors: Absorbine, Farnam, US Equestrian, GGT Footing, Horizon Structures, Nutrena, and EspanaSilk! Make sure to visit the booths of these and our many other sponsors at our trade show in Massachusetts to share your appreciation for their help in sustaining this event!
CONTACT:
Allison Rehnborg, Marketing Coordinator
Equine Affaire, Inc.
Phone: (740) 845-0085 ext. 103
arehnborg@equineaffaire.com
www.equineaffaire.com
*Pictures Available Upon Request