Equine Extravaganza
Doswell, VA
Celebrating its sixth year, Equine Extravaganza, a three-day all-breed, all-discipline horse expo, returns to Virginia, October 29–31, 2010, but will debut at its new home: The Meadow Event Park, Doswell, VA, birth place of Secretariat and new home of the State Fair of Virginia. This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever with three days of great shopping and more than 100 clinics, demonstrations, and seminars featuring top clinicians from around the world. Attendees can also expect to see the atmosphere spiced up a bit with some new and exciting features: canine clinics and demos, more live music, mechanical cutting horse rides, a Cowboy Cook-Off, cooking demonstrations, a beer and wine garden with more live music, a VIP clinician meet and greet dinner, Gracie the amazing trick mule, trick horses, and much more.
One of the great things about the Equine Extravaganza is the cross-discipline appeal of the clinicians. Dressage master Jose Mendez’ is one such clinician who draws enthusiasts from all disciplines. Mendez’, a Spanish-trained Dressage Master and former rider and trainer for the Spanish Royal School of Equestrian Art, has represented Australia at the International Grand Prix and teaches clinics worldwide. Jose’s clinics will not only benefit dressage riders of all levels, but he will also offer practical tools that will benefit any rider who seeks to improve their overall effective use of aids, improve their seat, and generally enhance their communication with their horse.
Jose has teamed up with Australian based Colleen Kelly, an Equine Extravaganza mainstay, who returns in 2010, to teach Rider Biomechanics, which helps improve seat, balance, and over-all connection for any horse and rider. Kelly and Mendez’ will demonstrate how dressage skills and a balanced seat are essential to riders whose attire staple is a cowboy hat!
Other exceptional trainers in this year’s Equine Extravaganza line-up include Julie Goodnight, Kenny Harlow, Steuart Pittman and his Retired Racehorse Retraining Program, Richard Shrake, Randy Abernathy, Scott Purdum, Brock and Lesha Griffith, and so many more! And known for its commitment to horse health care and education, Southern States will be sponsoring a wide variety of excellent seminars on nutrition, pasture care, eco-friendly solutions for your farm, horse health, and more throughout the weekend in the Southern States Seminar Hall.
Caroline Rider, Karen Scholl, and Tara Jones will wow the audience with their colt starting skills in the first All Women Trainer Challenge. The Trainer Challenge will be held for an hour each day with a final obstacle course on Sunday for each trainer to demonstrate the progress they have made with their young horse through the use of natural horsemanship.
And when you want a breather from the excitement of clinics and the great shopping, sit in the beer and wine garden and enjoy some fantastic music with Tommy Jennings, Waylon Jennings’ brother, Bobby Plough, and Blue Grass greats Ron Thomason and Heidi Clare. On Saturday things will begin to heat up with the Cowboy Cook-Off. Attendees will get to taste test and judge which cowboy chow is the best.
And for pure entertainment you won’t want to miss Gracie, the amazing trick mule, who recently starred in Get Low with Robert Duvall. Gracie returns to the Equine Extravaganza where she participated in and won the Horse Idol competition in 2008, which launched her movie career! She will be showing off her best tricks in demos throughout the day on Sunday.
The kids corral will offer fun throughout the weekend including stick horse races, roping contests, trick horse demonstrations, and loads of fun for the kid in all of us!
Attendees can also expect great shopping with more than 150 vendors with everything from tack, apparel, gifts, trailers – and now dogs, and much more.
Friday evening’s Denim and Diamonds Clinician Meet and Greet Dinner will offer an opportunity to meet the clinicians and ask questions in an intimate environment. Tommy Jennings will entertain the audience and there will be a silent auction to benefit the Virginia Museum of the Horse.
Groups may participate in the “Giving Back” program which supports horse industry groups and associations by giving money back to the clubs who help spread the word about the event though the flyer distribution program.
The Equine Extravaganza® is an absolute must attend for the horse owner, horse lover, or even the casual horse enthusiast, and now for dog lovers, as well! There is truly something for everyone!
Hours
Friday: 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tickets are available online in advance or at the gate.
Daily Admissions
Adults: $15, Children 6–11: $5, Children 5 and Under: Free
Special “Giving Back” revenue program for non-profit clubs and associations.
Additional information on Equine Extravaganza® can be obtained by visiting www.equineextravaganza.com or by calling the corporate office at 410-349-9333.
