Make It An Equine Affaire To Remember!
Image courtesy Equine Affaire
Apply by September 8 to ride or compete at Equine Affaire in Massachusetts.
Life’s too short to sit on the sidelines – especially if you’re an equestrian! If you’ve been waiting for a sign that it’s finally time to bring your horse with you to Equine Affaire, this is it. Pack your saddle bags and join us at the 25th Equine Affaire in Massachusetts this fall, happening November 9-12, 2023, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Whether you want to ride in a clinic, compete for cash, or both, there’s a chance for you to ride at Equine Affaire this year!
Make strides toward your goals in the saddle, on the ground, or behind the cart through Ride With a Pro! Sponsored by Fair Hill Saddlery, the Ride With a Pro program connects equestrians like you with professional coaches, trainers, instructors, and industry experts who can help guide you and your horse in the pursuit of excellence. Mark your calendars and apply by September 8 for the opportunity to participate in a clinic at North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering.
Whether you’re struggling to master a particular skill, hoping to explore a new discipline, or looking for ways to boost your confidence in the saddle, there’s a RWAP clinic for you. This fall’s class of clinicians includes a wide range of equestrian professionals with a multitude of different teaching styles and perspectives, representing more than a dozen different disciplines. If you’ve always dreamed of riding like a pro, you’ve got to Ride With a Pro! Here’s who you can apply to ride with at Equine Affaire this fall:
Jason Irwin…Colt Starting
Steffen Peters…Dressage
Jean McDonald…Dressage
Stacey Giere…Driving
Carl Bledsoe…Easy Gaited Horses
Jim Masterson…Equine Bodywork
Marty Whittle…Equi Yoga
Phillip Dutton…Eventing
Mike Major…General Training & Horsemanship
Julie Goodnight… General Training & Horsemanship
Brandi Lyons… General Training & Horsemanship
Jason Irwin… General Training & Horsemanship
Chelsea Canedy… General Training & Horsemanship
Andrew Welles…Hunter/Jumper
Mark Bolender…Mountain Trail
Bronwyn Irwin…Pole Bending
Greg Robinson…Ranch Horse Versatility
Lynn Newton…Western Dressage
Anyone 12 years and older is welcome to apply. Since all clinics will be happening at Equine Affaire, applicants should feel comfortable and confident enough in their abilities to ride (or drive) in front of a crowd.
For more details on clinic topics, review the 2023 RWAP Clinic Summary Packet, available here: https://equineaffaire.com/events/massachusetts/mass-participate/mass-ride-in-clinics/mass-ride-with-a-pro/. Each clinic summary includes the time and date of the clinic, the topic, and details on whether the clinician is looking for horses and riders with specific skills or issues. All applicants should be prepared to submit an application video, an application form, bio, and photo. Each clinic costs $105, which includes participation in the clinic, admission to Equine Affaire on the day of the clinic, twenty-four hours of stabling, and a free T-shirt. To apply, visit equineaffaire.com (click “Participate,” then “Ride With a Pro”) or you can contact Lori Helsel at LHelsel@equineaffaire.com. All applications are due by September 8, and all applicants will be notified of their selection status by October 13.
Calling all veterans, active duty, and first responders! We have a special opportunity for you this fall at Equine Affaire. We’re partnering with Operation Horses and Heroes, Inc., to bring you “A Horse for Heroes,” which is a chance for you (and your families) to experience the effects of equine-assisted activities and therapies on two different days at Equine Affaire: Friday, November 10, and Saturday, November 11. In the past, we’ve asked participants to sign up for this activity on site at the event; this year, we’re inviting you to apply with our RWAP applicants. There is no clinic fee for this interactive activity, but you will need to submit an application and a bio form to LHelsel@equineaffaire.com. Be sure to visit the RWAP page on our website, as outlined in the paragraph above, to apply.
Are you looking for an extra special kind of thrill this fall? If you and your horse love a challenge, apply to compete in the Versatile Horse and Rider Competition! Open to riders from any discipline and horses of all breeds, the “VHRC” is a timed and judged race through an obstacle course that will test your horsemanship skills as well as your ability to communicate with your horse. This year, the VHRC will take place on Friday, November 10, in the Coliseum at the Eastern States Expo. Many will apply, but only 25 horse-and-rider pairs will be accepted. The first-place winner will receive $2,500 in cash, a champion rosette, and the coveted title of Equine Affaire Versatile Horse & Rider Champion! Second through fourth places will also receive cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000, and $500, respectively, and rosettes, while fifth through tenth places will receive rosettes. Start prepping your application materials today! Visit equineaffaire.com (click “Participate,” then “Versatile Horse & Rider”) to fill out your application form, sign a copy of the VHRC rules, and learn about how to submit an application video. The entry fee is $360 with applications due by September 8. For questions, contact Coagi Long at CLong@equineaffaire.com.
Equine Affaire is proud to celebrate its 25th event in Massachusetts, happening November 9-12, 2023, at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts. Tickets for Equine Affaire and for Fantasia, Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse, are on sale now at equineaffaire.com. Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges its sponsors: Absorbine, US Equestrian, GGT Footing, Horizon Structures, Fair Hill Saddlery, Tribute Equine Nutrition, and Triple Crown Nutrition. To learn more about our 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’ll see you at Equine Affaire!
