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During the annual Big E, thousands of horse show fans flock to the fairgrounds to watch horse and riders from far and near participate in the annual Big E Horse Show.
However, if the West Springfield fairgrounds opens its doors Thursday for the four-day Equine Affaire, the emphasis won t be on competing, but offering equestrians yet others a wide variety of opportunities including education to shopping to entertainment.
We re excited to celebrate our 15th year of bringing Equine Affaire to Massachusetts where you can create great memories and immerse yourself in most things linked to the horse, said Coagi Long, second in command and program director for Equine Affaire.
We re quite different from many other equine events in the industry which are competition related. Our focus isn't to have people competing against one another, but to bring them altogether within an environment that promotes learning, networking, and in many cases some shopping just in time for the holidays, she added.
This year s returning show features 230 clinics, seminars, and demonstrations with a wide variety of equestrian sports and horse training, management, health, and business topics. Equine Affaire s roster of presenters should include Olympians; world and national champion riders; Pan Am Games, WEG, and NFR competitors; popular equestrian television personalities; authors; course designers; judges; veterinarians; professors, along with other top industry professionals from through the United States and beyond.
Number one ranked U.S. jouster Nicole Fourtzialas of Haverhill will probably be dressing up in her 14th century suit of armor and demonstrating jousting at this year s Equine Affaire.
I ve attended Equine Affaire before, however is my first time as a participant, said Fourtzialas.
We ll be bashing the crap from each other for the viewing please of the attending, she laughed about jousting with your ex Canadian friend and fellow jouster Jordan Heron.
I've a corporate job and jousting is a great stress release personally. It s an all-natural since I ve been sword fighting internationally for a while, she added.
Kate Taylor of Rhode Island said she will be making her strategy to West Springfield to sign up in Todd Minkus jumping clinic.
The equestrian said she'd to apply for the clinic by providing of video showing what her horse was currently doing with regards to jumping and accompany it with a essay which also included her horse s goals money for hard times.
For those from the shopping mode, Equine Affaire s huge display features over 475 of the nation s leading equine-related retailers, manufacturers, providers, and organizations who'll fill five exhibit halls and lots of of the outdoor areas on the fairgrounds. Shoppers can informative exhibits and equine everything from tack, riding apparel, artwork, gifts, and grooming supplies to fencing, stalls, barns, farm equipment, and horse trailers.
And, when it s by pointing out beauty of the horse for you, more than 40 breeds from North America, Europe, and beyond will be featured from the Breed Pavilion and Horse and Farm Exhibits area. Representatives of national and regional breed associations and color registries will probably be on hand to resolve questions about their breeds, plus a rotating cast of equines from miniatures to drafts and from stock horses to sport horses will probably be on exhibit and presented at your fingertips for up close and personal evaluation. Breed demonstrations conducted within the clinic arenas will give you opportunities to understand the conformation, characteristics, and aptitudes of different breeds. The Horse and Farm Exhibits offer a place to connect with representatives of person breeding farms and training stables to look into breeds of horses, horses available, stallions at stud, riding lessons, and training and boarding facilities throughout Colonial.
Young horse enthusiasts will see plenty to nurture their fascination with the sport including exhibits by horse-related youth organizations, a demo ring with presentations specifically targeted at the interests and requirements of young riders, and breed spotlights. Much younger horse visitors can be involved in fun activities for example model horse painting, trivia quest, stick horse making, as well as a stick horse rodeo. You'll also have famous equines from your competition and cinematic arenas presented for photo ops on the Celebrity Horse Showcase.
And, there s even some exciting entertainment offered on Thursday, Friday and Saturday when Equine Affaire s signature musical celebration of the horse called Fantasia, will likely be held at 8 p.m. from the Coliseum. The popular equine musical revue, that's always a sellout, will come with a star-studded lineup of professional equestrian performers and exceptional horses choreographed to musical styles which range from traditional and country to classical and contemporary. Any tickets not purchased in advance is going to be available for purchase at the Better Living Center beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday.