Horse World Expo returns to the Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA for its eighteenth year February 27-March 1. The mid-Atlantic region’s largest equestrian expo features over 160 hours of non-stop seminars and mounted clinics, over 350 vendors filling nearly 600 booths and ample family friendly equestrian entertainment.
Entertainment highlights include the Rescued to Stardom competition, Trail Champions Challenge, Parade of Breeds and Stallion Avenue, Equi-Tainment, Mounted Archery, Mounted Games, Driving Demonstrations and Cowboy Mounted Shooting, all included with daily admission.
Each year, Horse World Expo strives to bring new clinicians to the area. Here are just a few new to the Expo this year:
Carl Bledsoe, from his farm in Talking Rock, GA, brings with him a history of horsemanship and a wealth of knowledge for the gaited horse breeds. Rather than shortcuts and gimmicks, Carl believes in education and understanding with compassion and empathy for the horse.
Jason Charles, a local favorite, will join Horse World Expo for the first time as a clinician. A professional trainer, Jason is no stranger to the Expo, having appeared for many years as a competitor and winner of Trail Champions Challenge. In 2020, Jason will share his experience as a trainer and competitor with NRHA, AQHA, Mustang Million and many Versatility Competitions. He will also be designing, building and overseeing the course for the Trail Champions Challenge this year.
Michael Henaghan, a native of Trumbull, CT, has over 50 years of coaching and training experience. He has been associated with and coached some of the premier equestrians of our time including Allison Firestone, Beezie Patton Madden, Greg Best and many, many more. He believes in providing riders with an on-going, progressive and uniquely consistent schooling “know how” focusing on the basics of flat work and using jumping exercises to educate and challenge riders.
Tik Maynard is an icon in the equestrian world, combining his passion for riding with the importance of proper training and horsemanship. He represented Canada at three World Championships and the 2007 Pan Am Games. Today, Tik’s work combines 3-Day Eventing with his passion for horsemanship. Tik, along with wife, Sinead Halpin-Maynard, focus on developing quality young horses to be top level and Team eventing competitors.
Luke Reinbold is an effective human-horse educator, trainer and clinician. Luke travels the Northeast US conducting clinics and he's also a New York State Certified Law Enforcement Instructor. He is also a former member of the Circle Y Team of Champions and current member of Stagecoach West’s Team Riders.
Returning clinicians include crowd favorite Australian natural horseman Guy McLean, Julie Goodnight “Helping horses One Human at a Time”, Josh Lyons, whose effective and easy to understand training methods are used around the world, and English and western performance judge Jennifer Woodruff to name just a few.
Rescued to Stardom
In November, seven horses began their quest to win the Rescued to Stardom contest. The contest is for unbroke horses, three years old and up, owned by a 501 c.3 rescue. Their under-saddle training began on November 26 and continues through the start of the Expo. Each competitor will compete by presenting an in-hand freestyle at HWE on Friday February 28. The final competition, an under-saddle freestyle, will be held Saturday February 29. After the Expo, horses will be available for adoption.
The participating horse rescues introduced their horses on social media and will earn points based on the number of likes on a final social media vote before the event. Voting earns points toward the win; individuals can follow the journey of these very special horses on https://www.facebook.com/RescuedtoStardom/. Like and follow the page for the latest news.
The contestants are:
- Dixie is a 4yo KY Mountain Horse/Appaloosa cross, owned by Rocky's Horse Rescue & Rehabilitation, Thurmont, MD, trained by Christina Grogan
- Delilah is a 10yo quarter horse cross owned by Last Chance Animal Rescue in White Plains MD and trained by Jimmy Wagner
- Willie Nelson is a 14yo Morgan cross owned by Begin Again Horse Rescue in Lima, NY and trained by Hanna Blain
- Bad Pony is a 6yo grade pony gelding owned by Izzy's Love Equine Rescue in Emmitsburg, MD and trained by youth competitor Izzy Dempsey.
- Dakota is an 11yo Missouri Fox Trotter owned by Rocky's Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation and trained by Ashley Lauer, Dillsburg, PA
- Chili is a 7yo Belgian mule owned by Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue in Mt. Airy, MD and trained by Shanley Waffle.
- Girlygirl is an 8yo Pony of the Americas mare owned by Safe Haven Equine Warriors of Sykesville, MD and trained by Erin O'Neill
The Parade of Breeds, always a favorite, will include several new breeds this year. Those include the Hackney Pony, Kentucky Ice, Drum Horse and the rare Objibway Spirit Horse. Shop with over 350 vendors offering an unimaginable variety of products and services for the equestrian and horse lover.
Theatre Equus, held Friday and Saturday nights, February 28 and 29 beginning at 8:30 pm, will feature Guy McLean and an exciting cast of professional equine entertainers from across the country and beyond. Performers include David Rohrbach, Josh Lyons, Unbridled Wings with Melanie Ferrio-Wise and Brendan Wise, Canadian Cowgirls and Sylvia Zerbini, among others. Theatre Equus is a reserved seating separate ticketed performance event. Tickets are available at horseworldexpo.com and on-site, if still available, at the event.
The Official Horse World Expo Program will appear in the March issue of East Coast Equestrian. Complete information is available at horseworldexpo.com. NOTE TO VENDORS: a limited number of booths are available for horse related products and services.