7183 Hwy 49 P.O. Box 517 Coloma, CA 95613-0517 · (530) 295-1424

ALL-STAR HEADLINERS TURNED LOOSE

AT WESTERN STATES HORSE EXPO

Wind 'em up, open the gate, turn 'em loose!

Sound like a rodeo event? Well, it's not. It's the headlining all-star cast strutting their stuff in a "free-for-all" show Saturday night, June 2, 8 p.m. at the third annual Western States Horse Expo in Sacramento, California. It's unstructured, it's unscripted, it's zany, but it's bound to be uproariously fun when all these stars turn out to play, go crazy, and amaze the audience with what they can do when they are turned loose.

And it really will be a free-for-all, when you see stars like Pat Parelli take his magnificent black stallion Casper from high level dressage movements to being harnessed with a mule in a pulling contest. Then there's Linda Tellington-Jones, who's likely to take the bridle off any horse, point it at a jump, go flying over the obstacle, grinning the whole time. And she'll probably do it in some wonderful costume, jewels and skirt flying in the breeze. Who knows? Maybe we can get Pat and Linda to do a jump-off!

There's always the possibility, too, of getting Linda Tellington-Jones to ride one of Curt Pate's ranch roping horses, and try her hand at roping a steer or two. Or maybe we can get Curt to ride a high level dressage horse at a half-pass or piaffe. Perhaps Scott LaFevers will let Chris Cox lead his mule pack string through an obstacle course and he'll wind up jumping bridleless. Maybe Scott's pack mules will be recruited for the sport of Australian Campdrafting and they'll chase cows all around the arena. Then again, Chris Cox and Curt Pate might just develop a hankering for Campdrafting and they'll be the ones steering cows instead of roping them. Who knows? The sky's the limit!

Interspersed with this all-star extravaganza will be breed demonstrations, where Icelandics will "tolt" at remarkable speeds while their riders hold glasses of champagne without spilling a drop, and possibly the Gypsy Vanner horses will pull wagons reminiscent of cultures long past (if all the stars are in alignment and the Gypsy palmist gives her nod!) It won't be a predictable parade of breeds; you'll watch horses you've only seen in books, doing remarkable and dazzling feats. And we promise that you'll laugh and cheer as intense, hard-working, savvy cow dogs round up a herd of 12 ornery cows, circle them, and then load them into a stock trailer - all without human intervention!

This Saturday night event is only part of the entertaining and educational format of the three-day expo, June 1-3. Educational seminars, demonstrations by equine notables such as those listed above, an equestrian and Western art show, a working cow dog demonstration, horse sale, breed demonstrations and displays, and acres and acres of horse trailers are featured throughout the event. To top it off, over 400 trade show exhibitors with everything imaginable for horses and horse owners complete the picture of this unique exposition. Everything equine is found right here.

The Western States Horse Expo is open Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (there's a separate fee for the Saturday evening performance). Visit your local tack store for an Expo Bucks coupon that entitles you to a discounted entrance fee.

For more information call (800) 352-2411 or visit www.horsexpo.com.