Get out of the winter doldrums at the Horse World Expo, which will be presented March 3-6 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., where the Pennsylvania National Horse Show is held each autumn.
It offers seminars, mounted clinics, vendors and lots of equestrian entertainment. In the latter category, you’ll see the Rescued to Stardom competition, Trail Champions Challenge, Parade of Breeds and Stallion Avenue, Equi-Tainment, Mounted Archery, Mounted Games and Driving Demonstrations, all included with daily admission.
Horse Expo offers an even more special opportunity because Equitana USA will not be taking place at the Kentucky Horse Park.
As the organizer of that event stated, “Our vision for the event was to be a place that offered endless equestrian shopping, education, and entertainment from both domestic and international markets. However, as the pandemic continues to cause global challenges, we will take the necessary time to pause and reevaluate plans for the future.”
At Horse Expo, clinicians include a Texan, Craig Cameron, founder of the Extreme Cowboy Association and the Ride Smart Club of Ride Smart Horsemanship; Sadie Fisher, a certified John & Josh Lyons Trainer who works with horses of all breeds, and coming from Wisconsin, Dan Grunewald, who is certified to judge by nine organizations. The five time top-ten finalist with the Extreme Mustang Challenge will including western riding and ranch riding in his presentation.
Also appearing will be Kendra Clarke, a Level 2 Centered Riding instructor and a licensed Franklin Method Equestrian Pelvic trainer, specializing in horse and rider biomechanics, as well as Andrew Nav. a multiple National Cutting title earner and a Quarter Horse Congress Cutting Champion. Among others being showcased are Australian natural horseman Guy McLean, Shawna Karrasch teaching Positive Reinforcement methods; Jason Charles, who will be designing the Trail Champions Challenge course; Ivy Starnes, who specializes in the naturally gaited breeds, Dom Schramm representing eventing, Jeff Wilson for Western Dressage, Lindsey Partridge, best known for her work with retired racehorses, and classical dressage and bridleless jumping expert, Brendan Wise with Unbridled Wings.
Last year, eight horses began their quest to win the Rescued to Stardom contest. The contest is for horses three years old and up,who haven’t been broken to saddle and are owned by a 501 c.3 rescue. Their under-saddle training began on December 1 and continues through the start of the Expo. Each competitor will compete by presenting an in-hand freestyle on Friday March 4. The final competition, an under-saddle freestyle, will be held March 5. 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/.
Theatre Equus, held March 4 and 5 at 8:30 p.m, will feature Guy McLean and professional equine entertainers from across the country and beyond. 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.