Equine Affaire to 'celebrate the horse'

Date: 11/4/2008

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



WEST SPRINGFIELD Later this month, horse trainers, riders and coaches from all over the world will be converging on West Springfield for a four-day celebration of equestrian sports at the 11th Annual Equine Affaire at the Eastern States Exposition.

The event will provide those of all levels of equestrian knowledge to participate in 60 training clinics, 160 seminars, presentations and demonstrations as well as experience the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, a trade show of 450 equine retailers and "The Pfizer Fantasia, a musical celebration of the horse."

The event will also feature 30 different American breeds including the Missouri Fox Trotters, Morgans and Mustangs and international breeds such as Arabians, Icelandics and Gypsy Horses.

"[The Equine Affaire] is a quality, smooth running show that draws a huge crowd which crosses all horse disciplines," Clinician Ryan Gingerich, also star of "The Behaviorist" television show, said.

Gingerich, along with over 15 other clinicians, will be conducting seminars throughout the course of the Equine Affaire to demonstrate and share their knowledge with novice and experienced riders.

"[At the event] I hope to help horse owners understand and communicate with their horses," he said. "Almost every behavior problem I encounter, whether on my TV show or in my travels around the country, comes from a lack of clear communication with the horse."

Gingerich will be hosting five seminars on connective horsemanship including "Re-training the Off-the-Track Thoroughbred: Making a Smooth Transition" on Nov. 14 in the Young Building and "Understanding & Overcoming Common Behavioral Problems in the Horse" on Nov. 14 in the Mallary Arena.

Clinician Matt Mills, founder of Reining Horses LLC, will be attending the Equine Affaire for the first time, traveling from his ranch in Arizona. Mills will be demonstrating reining maneuvers and concepts during seminars in the Mallary Complex and Young Building on Nov. 13.

Now in his late 20s, he has been ranked in the top 25 reining purse winners worldwide. In 2006, Mills won the United States Equestrian Federation Reining Championship and later won a team gold medal in the World Equestrian Games in Germany.

"Reining is a Western discipline, with a Western saddle and an approved discipline of the United States Equestrian Team," Mills explained in an interview with Reminder Publications. "I would liken it to figure skating with a horse. [Riders] have certain performance standards with the horse [and are evaluated on them].

"It's quite an adrenaline rush [to] take them [the horse] to the maximum speed and then drop its hind end and slide 25 to 30 feet," he continued.

Mills, who has been riding horses since he was nine years old, said his biggest draw to the sport was its "precision, perfection and strong relationship between the horse and the rider."

"It's a pretty neat way to make a living," he said with a chuckle.

Mills will be hosting two seminars on Nov. 13 including "Reining Concepts for the Novice Reiner: Riding Your First Reining Pattern" at 2:30 p.m. in the Young Building and "Reining Maneuvers: Tips for Improving Your Circles, Spins, Sliding Stops & Rollbacks" at 5:30 p.m. in the Mallary Complex.

Clinician Chris Cassenti, owner, founder and lead trainer of Chrislar Farm in Rowley, will be sharing her knowledge of English Pleasure riding at the Equine Affaire. She said she will be bringing horses and riders to perform demonstrations as well as encouraging audience participation of this type of riding.

Cassenti explained that she will show those in attendance the "ingredients" of a quality English Pleasure horse, which includes structure, attitude and training.

"We will bring fancy show horses and other horses to show the difference between structure, ability and attitude," she said, adding that she will teach how to "communicate with the horse effectively."

On Nov. 14, Cassenti will host two seminars including "Saddleseat English Pleasure: What's it All About? Selecting the Right Horse & Rider Combination for Success" at 11:30 a.m. in the Young Building and "Creating the Total Picture: Saddleseat Equitation & Its Importance in Any English Pleasure Class" at 1:30 p.m. in the Mallary Complex.

Other seminars include "General Training and Horsemanship," "Hunters & Jumpers," "Barrel Racing" and "Dressage."

Additional offerings at the Equine Affaire include the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition on Nov. 15 and 16, where 30 horse-rider teams will compete for $4,250 in cash and prizes. "The Pfizer Fantasia" will take place Nov. 13 through 15 at 8 p.m. in the Eastern States Exposition Coliseum. Tickets range from $12 to $24.

The Equine Affaire will take place from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 through 15 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 16. Admission is $13 per day or $45 for a four-day pass for adults; $8 per day or $28 for a four-day pass for children ages seven to 12; and children under six are free.

For more information about the Equine Affaire or for a complete list of events go to www.equineaffaire.com.