http://www.horsemenscouncil.org/HorseFair/ So, who is going? When are you getting there? And what events are you checking out? http://www.horsemenscouncil.org/HorseFair/09PDFs/Schedule2.pdf And the most important question of all.................who wants to hook up?
Here is some info from Joy: This is not a news release. Think of it rather as a blog from me, Joy Meierhans, Illinois Horse Fair Manager. One of the realities of planning an event of this scale is that there's so much in it that often good things get overshadowed by the publicity given to the headliners. Here are a few of the new, different and remarkable aspects of this year's Fair that caught my attention and go beyond typical horse fair fare: Antique horse prints...Cathy McKinley has decided to sell her collection of antique horse prints. These are not repros! She says they're really antique. It's time to downsize the collection, she says. She's parting with works by Rosa Bonheur, the Herrings Junior and Senior and George Ford Morris. Also steel engravings from the mid 1800s. Even Pharoah's Horses. They'll be at her booth, Show Horse Tack, in the Livestock Center lower level. Ladies, here's your chance to play with one of the big boys' toys. Saddle up an iron horse for hands-on experience with a John Deere compact utility tractor/loader. Sign up at the John Deere booth in the Annex Building. Marcia Thibeault, horse vet and author, is a modern American James Herriott. She'll do readings from her I Make Horse Calls books, chronicling her experiences. I never got past Chapter 2 before tearing up. It's a great gift, and she'll autograph it for you, too. Trailer Eyes has a wireless video camera to mount in your trailer so you can check on your passengers as you drive. Yes, wireless. Check it out at their booth in the Horse Fair Annex. Leg Wrapping is a hands-on session where you'll learn different wraps for different reasons and practice on artificial legs from SIU's horse program. If Horses Could Speak...a DVD presentation of an animated equine skeleton, sometimes covered with muscles, shows how a horse correctly and incorrectly moves at walk, trot and canter as an aid to trainers and riders to improve performance. I've only seen clips, but they're awesome. Looking for something to wear to a cowboy prom? Or a wedding for a special cowgirl? You might not think of the Horse Fair when you're looking for a fancy gown...but the gown featured at Sunday's Lifestyle Fashion Show finale will be raffled off as a fund-raiser for Country Riders 4-H club. A Gone With The Wind type gown -- off the shoulders -- in dark blue denim with white lace overskirt corset style top; skirt has 14 yards of fabric! See it on display in Building 26. The winner will get a better deal than at Filene's basement! Back Country Horseman Bob Wagner is setting up a trail camp outdoors on the south side of Central Avenue just east of Barn 18 (think reenactment camps you've seen) complete with tent, corral...actually living in it all weekend, plus giving talks on horse camping and packing. Does everyone have trouble backing up a horse trailer? If that's you, don't miss the new Know Before you Tow video from Farm Bureau. Air Pro Studio custom airbrush designs by Rudy Olavarri while you watch bring a photo of your horse and Rudy can put it on...almost anything...even pillows or your riding helmet. Look for him in Building 26. Oh, yes, and remember Illinois Horse Fair is this Friday through Sunday at the Fairgrounds in Springfield. Use this link to get more details http://www.horsemen scouncil. org/HorseFair/ Joy Meierhans Ash and I will be working all three days. She for the smoothies!!
We are leaving tomorrow early morning and staying overnight at the Drury Inn. I'm excited to see Richard Shrakes "Learn Natural Moves to Replace Unnatural Aids that Create Fear" and Physics of Saddlefitting, and Tim Boyer's Trail Do's and Don'ts. Mark and I plan to go ot to dinner after the fair, anyone want to meet us?
ALL of these are on my schedule!!!! Sarah - Hubby and I are meeting up with ponyT and her hubby - I have no clue yet where we are going for Dinner on Saturday, but come with us!!!! I'm staying at the Fairfield Inn on Freedome Dr. (on the south side of Springfield)
Well - I ended up not spending all my money....... Flint got his very own blanket for when he is on the tie line (Drifter will be happy to get his back.........) Plus we picked up a pretty good felt saddle pad for a real good price! Saturday night we met up with PonyT & hubby and Sarah315 & BF and took on the town. I had a great time! We ended up at a pub where Mr. PonyT's friend's band was playing. It was fun! Thanks PonyT for diving us around! Oh ya - I almost forgot - we had a tornado down there. At one point today the sirens went off and we were all told to all go into the basement. It blew through fast and furiously! When we were leaving town we found a lot of stop lights that were completely out. I wonder if they lost power in some places?
I didn't see this thread in time but whoaboy and I was there yesterday and had a good time. We ran into Paige I think I scared her to death. The shopping wasn't very good. The best part of the day was we heard some guy on the phone saying "Well we found out we aren't suppose to pet stallions". :laugh: We both cracked up and wondered how he found out. We stayed and watched the cowboy rodeo ( I think that's what they called it). It was pretty good. Hey glad you guys were safe today with the tornado in the area. I know this wind is CRAZY here!
I went for the weekend.. It was the first time I had ever been there. I was astonished at all the people on Saturday, but a ghost town on Sun. I had my horse down there for a demo and got to ride him quite alot which was way overdue. And I think I ran into 5,000 people that I knew.
Oh what a night! The band we saw had a fiddle player that sounded pretty darn good! Dinner was fun, and, oh yeah, we went to the horse fair. I really enjoyed the saddle fitting clinic, and I liked Richard Shake. It wasn't too crowded, so we could actually get through the vendor areas. I didn't find any great deals though. Here's a pic of Me, Mark, Ponythief's hubby, Dbitt, Tbitt, and PonyT. Aren't we cute!
I'd love to hear the story about that!!!! :laugh: Skeeter - Funny, I was one of the 5k you bumped into. While walking through the vendor area I seen Skeeter purchasing a nice button down shit - I jokingly asked him if he needed a shirt for his "demo". He turns around and says "ya, I left the house today without any cloths" ............and guess what? I believe him - I seen him walking by about 20-30 minutes later, and he was warting that shirt he just purchased! :laugh: I really did have a good time Saturday night - Thanks for hanging with us Sarah
Wait?!?! You were all there and you didn't post, on this thread, saying you were going?!?! I see how it is! Now I'm mad at you all! *Humph* :'(
I ended up going on Friday and Sunday in order to set up/take down and hang out in the Illinois Walking Horse Association aisle. This was actually my first time at the Horse Fair, I've usually had to be away at school and unable to attend.
We had a nice time. The Ranch Rodeo was great and sold out. The Cowboy Mounted Shooting demonstration was awesome and showcased the fact that any breed (a Quarter, Arab, and Paso Fino was featured) of horse can be used. Once the tornado went over and the temperature dropped and the wind picked up like CRAZY, a lot of people went home. Friday night and Saturday were pretty crowded. Since I worked at a vendor's booth I don't know if any of the clinicians were any good. I did get to meet Dr. Thilbeault (sp??). She is the vet that wrote two books kinda of like the "All Creatures Great and Small" books. I bought both her books and she autographed them for me. It was great catching up with old friends, vendors we have met over the years, and meeting new people.
