National
Nearly 17,000 people gathered at the Wichita, Kansas Coliseum February 12, 13 and 14, for the thirteenth annual EquiFest of Kansas. “We had a fantastic weekend! Crowds enjoyed 3 days of exciting equine entertainment, clinics with world-class equine industry experts, stallion and breed demonstrations, the Kid’s Corral with fun activities for youngsters, a Judging Contest and shopping at our gigantic trade show!” said Pattie Stalder, Administrator for the Kansas Horse Council that produces EquiFest.
For the first time, EquiFest of Kansas featured two exciting new events: the Ultimate Horsemens Challenge, presented by Boulevard Beer, on Friday evening, and a Ranch Rodeo presented by Hunn Leather Products, held Saturday evening. “These two events were great fun and the audiences loved them!” said Ms. Stalder. Crowds cheered on the competitors in the Ultimate Horsemen’s Challenge as horses and riders negotiated a challenging course of tricky obstacles that even required riders to roll a giant soccer ball from horseback! After a hard fought competition, winners of the Ultimate Horsemens Challenge were announced: Cyndi Harris of Udall, Kansas took the First Place prize of a Boulevard Leather Coat; Second Place honors went to Cindy Huber of Koppen, Kansas; and Ashley Haverlander from Overland Park, Kansas, took Third Place.
The Ranch Rodeo presented by Hunn Leather Products, featured teams of four, competing in: cattle sorting, double mugging, trailer loading and a wild cow milking contest! The stands were full and it was standing room only as the ranch teams showed off their skills. First Place prize of $1430 and Trophy Buckles went to the Sweatwater / Drummond team, made up of Amy Potter, Chris Potter, Shane Stierwalt and Drew Lockwood from Shidler, Oklahoma. Second Place went to S7 Ranch of Fredonia, Kansas; and Third Place was awarded to JW Cattle Company, in Cambridge Kansas.
Top notch clinicians and trainers provided outstanding educational opportunities to EquiFest audiences, teaching riders and audiences about Reining, Cutting, Dressage, Jumping, Trail Riding, how to train young horses, and how to improve riding and horse handling skills. The equine experts included Ken McNabb presented by Orthoflex, Al Dunning, Kay Meredith, Linda Allen, Scot Hansen and Rick Lamb. On the last day of EquiFest, Al Dunning and Ken McNabb got together during Al’s clinic on Western Dressage. Riding Al’s horses, Al and Ken matched one another with flying changes, side passes, and sliding stops, all to the crowd’s delight! The youngest clinicians at EquiFest were the sons of Ken and DeeDee McNabb. Just 6 and 10 years of age, the McNabb brothers educated and amused the crowd, as the “miniature cowboys” gave a clinic on ground control for your pony.
The 3 time National Champion award-winning youth drill team, the Easy Rider Drill Team from Missouri, performed daily at EquiFest, presenting the nation’s colors each morning, and performing fast paced precision drills to music each afternoon. The Kid’s Corral was a big hit among youngsters who enjoyed pony rides, a horse that paints, roping, educational activities and more. Horses from over 20 breeds demonstrated the diversity of equine in the Breed Demos – from a one ton Shire draft horse to a tiny young spotted miniature horse no bigger than a Dalmatian. There was a broad selection of stallions displayed in the Stallion Review. From the floating movement of the Arabian at liberty, to the reining maneuvers of a Champion Quarter Horse stud, there was a first-rate variety of breeding stock on display. Horses of Hope, a therapeutic riding group, provided heartwarming demonstrations by riders of various ages and challenges. Members of the Kansas Farrier’s Association nailed a great display, showing how to build different kinds of horseshoes, how to trim hooves and shoe horses. Shopping was a serious pastime for some equine enthusiasts, as some “shopped ‘til they dropped” taking advantage of show specials at the huge EquiFest trade show that filled an entire building.
A Judging Contest was held Saturday morning at EquiFest, and produced winners in 3 categories of competition. John Bergin from Gossel, Kansas won the Open Division, with runner up Kristi Patton from Barber County, Kansas. The Youth Individual Division Champion was Christine Bartley of Derby, Kansas and Reserve Individual went to Katlynn Koenigs of Garden Plain, Kansas. The Top Judging Team was the Adair Team made up of Ethan Propp, Trevor Shoop, Katie Chump, Abby Hendrickson, Tucker Malotte and Callie Colclasure. The Reserve Judging Team was the Labette County Horse Club, represented by Rhianne Taylor, Jordyn Samper, Bailey Samper, Kaylee Houston and Rhett Samper.
Winners of the EquiFest Stall Decorating Contest were chosen in two categories. In the Breed/Discipline category, First Place went to the International Pleasure Walking Horse Registry, Inc., Second Place went to Rainbow Meadows Equine Rescue and Retirement, and Third Place went to Side Saddle Sisters. In the Stallions category, winners were: in First Place, DDW Quarters & Paints of Potwin, Kansas and their Paint Horse stallion, 4D Cherokee Business; Second Place went to the Flying Moose of Louisburg, Kansas and their Quarter Horse stallion Dun Faded My Genes; and Third Place was awarded to Stranger Creek Ranch of Tonganoxie, Kansas and their Arabian stallions, Odyssey SC and KA Odysseus.
EquiFest of Kansas will be presented next year February 11 through 13th, 2011 at the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita. For more information about EquiFest, contact: Equine Promotions at (765) 655-2107 or e-mail jjcloe@equinepromotions.net; the Kansas Horse Council at (785) 776-0662 or inforequest@equifestofks.com or visit the EquiFest web-sites at either www.equinepromotions.net or www.equifestofks.com.
EquiFest of Kansas is presented by the Kansas Horse Council, a nonprofit association formed to further the common interests of horse people and to promote the entire equine industry. The Kansas Horse Council has contracted with Equine Promotions Inc., to professionally manage EquiFest of Kansas. Equine Promotions Inc. is an event management company with extensive experience in equine event administration.
EquiFest of Kansas 2010 was sponsored in part by: Exiss Trailers; Holton Trailer Sales; Kansas Ag Network; KZSN; Longhorn Ranch Trailer Sales; Mid-American Ag Network; Orthoflex Saddle Works; Purina Mills LLC; and T’s Custom Embroidery.
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