First, let me introduce myself. My name is Liz Galletta, and I’ve been a member of the Horse Illustrated team since 2024. This is my second time attending Equine Affaire and every year it seems to get better! I want to take you with as I experience the event this year. 

Our western brand, Western Life Today, is the sponsor of Cowtown in Cooper, so our booth was the highlight of the Western Life Today Alleyway. We had seven wonderful booth sponsors, including PetKORE, Stud Muffins, AnimaSol, Chewy Equine, Boomerang Rubber, Sentinel, and Parelli Natural Horsemanship.

Our booth at Equine Affaire Ohio 2026. Photo by Madison Wintrich/MW Creative & Photography

Parelli set up at one end of our booth, and we were so thrilled to have them with us this year. 2026 was the start of a new partnership with Parelli, in which Pat and his team write a training column in each Horse Illustrated issue and select Young Rider issues. Not only were the Parelli team members so amazing to hang out with, but the energy and excitement that Pat Parelli brings wherever he goes is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. He draws crowds and captivates his audience so effortlessly — it’s no wonder how he’s developed such a large fanbase. He did daily giveaways at 4 p.m. at our booth, and every single day he drew a large crowd. 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 1

Day 1 of Equine Affaire was filled with the excitement and anticipation of what was to come. We saw hundreds of people come through our booth in the Bricker Building, and we had the chance to see seminars and demos from some of our favorites, including Pat Parelli and Sam and Kellie Rettinger of Whispery Pines Percherons. I also got talked into riding a mechanical bull – check out how that went below! 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 2

Friday was the first day Cooper in Cowtown was open, so we got to watch things get western during clinics by Mike Bednarek, Zoe Woodland, and Joe Sansone. My favorite part, of course, was the adorable young cows being used in these clinics. We also got to see additional clinics in other rings by Horse Illustrated Webinar guests Dan James, Jason Irwin, and of course our friend Pat Parelli.  

Friday also brought about the Versatile Horse & Rider Competition, which is the ultimate test of horsemanship and training. Riders and their horses must race through a timed obstacle course, created to test horsemanship skills and athleticism. Though, timing is not the only criteria, and points are awarded for a positive horse attitude, overall performance, and more. After a close competition, Brenda Hanson and Ace reigned victorious and took home the first-place prize. 

I also had the privilege of being able to “Drive A Draft” with Kellie Rettinger, which was an incredible experience that I am sure to never forget. Check out that experience below. 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 3

Day 3 was an incredibly busy day all around, but we made sure to watch some clinics as well as swing by some of our partner’s booths, including Equi-Analytical, KENT, Wild Animal Sanctuary, Farrier’s Magic, GG Equine, Tyler Shupe Leather, and the ASPCA Right Horse Adoption barn (spoiler alert — by Sunday evening, all but two horses had been adopted!) 

After watching more presenters (including our friends Bronwyn Irwin and Reese Koffler-Stanfield), we got to watch the hilarious Cowboy Challenge, emceed by the one and only Hayden Kristal. This on-foot challenge had competitors complete a series of farm-related tasks, including moving hay, setting up jumps, and scooping grain, to see who would be crowned the ultimate cowboy. This was insanely entertaining and, in our eyes, everyone was a winner for being brave enough to tackle those tasks in front of an audience.

Saturday was also the biggest day for Parelli’s giveaway, and we easily had over 100 people flooding our booth to get a chance to win big! 

Equine Affaire Ohio 2026: Day 4

Sunday was a bittersweet ending to a wonderful weekend. My favorite part of the day was taking advantage of the sales the shopping booths were putting on – the whole Horse Illustrated crew brought home solid clothing hauls for an incredible deal.

Another touching outcome of this weekend came from Boomerang Rubber – they graciously provided the flooring for our booth (which saved our backs from hours of standing on straight concrete) and at the end of the weekend, donated the mats to two different ASPCA Right Horse partners. We could not be more thankful for Bobby and his team, and we’re glad they could make a difference in the lives of adoptable horses through their donation. 

Over the course of Equine Affaire, we got to meet thousands of amazing people, introduce dozens of new readers to Horse Illustrated, and celebrate our 50th Anniversary with readers who have been with us for years.  

If you attended Equine Affaire this year, we were so glad to get to meet you and get to know you. If you didn’t attend, I hope you consider stopping by next year so you can experience the magic of this event. 

This article about Equine Affaire Ohio 2026 is a web exclusive for Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Welcome to Barn Banter, the official podcast of Horse Illustrated. In Barn Banter episode 18, hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor In Chief Holly Caccamise discuss Holly’s recent trip to New Zealand and spring foaling season. Then, they chat with prolific equine author Natalie Keller Reinert. Finally, they talk with Cailin Caldwell and Bailey Richards of the ASPCA Right Horse program about the adoption barn at this week’s Equine Affaire in Ohio.

Click to listen on mobile.

Listen to Barn Banter episode 18 now to meet Natalie and hear about the ASPCA Right Horse adoption barn.

Natalie Keller Reinert, Equine Author

Barn Banter episode 18 guest, Natalie Keller Reinert

Natalie Keller Reinert is the author of equestrian fiction series for adult readers, including The Eventing Series, Briar Hill Farm, and Ocala Horse Girls. She loves writing about strong women, female friendship, and the horse-human connection. In Natalie’s world, being a weird horse girl is cool and a good gallop is (usually) the best medicine. Natalie writes from her small farm in the woods of north Florida, and occasionally comes out of the forest to volunteer at events, sign some books, and raid the new fiction shelves at the library. You can find Natalie Keller Reinert on Instagram and Facebook, and learn more about her many equestrian titles at nataliekreinert.com.

◆ Natalie’s Instagram
◆ Natalie’s Facebook
◆ Natalie’s Website

ASPCA Right Horse Adoption Barn at Equine Affaire

Cailin Caldwell, ASPCA Right Horse Director, and Bailey Richards, ASPCA Right Horse Manager, come on the show to talk about “Adoption Affaire” at this week’s Equine Affaire in Columbus, Ohio. Stabled in the Gilligan Complex at the event, the adoption barn will offer adoptable horses and chances to learn more about involvement in horse adoption.

Cailin Caldwell (left) and Bailey Richards (right) of the ASPCA Right Horse program

Listen in as we chat about three of the adoptable horses available at Equine Affaire (featured below), and learn about all the attending horses here.

Bestie

Photo courtesy Nexus Equine

Looking for a best friend to hit the trails with? Meet Bestie! While he’s not suited for intense riding like timed events or show jumping, he’s perfect for leisurely rides and trailblazing. This is due to his hocks not being up to the best shape they could be, but he has been X-rayed and had his stifles injected, and he is doing much better. Don’t keep that from checking out this 8-year-old gelding; he is very capable of doing great things in the right, loving home.

Winston

Photo courtesy West Virginia Horse Network

Winston is a very well-behaved and easy-to-get-along-with 25-year-old Miniature Horse who is hoping to find an adopter who won’t write him off just because of his age. He is gentle to lead and will patiently stand to be groomed. Winston came to the West Virginia Horse Network quite underweight (which isn’t easy to see beneath all of his winter fluff). He is working on gaining weight, so a potential adopter would need to be willing to stick to his feeding plan to help him get back to the weight where he needs to be.

Toledo

Photo courtesy Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary

Looking for that quiet, friendly horse to add to your barn for some trail riding or a companion horse? Toledo is your girl! A 23-year-old Standardbred mare, she came from Happy Trails’ Amish Retirement Program after serving her family as a broodmare for several years. She is extremely quiet and will make a perfect addition to any barn. She would love to teach your kiddos the ropes or give your lonely horse that special friend. Toledo is suitable for most level riders under saddle. She sometimes needs ground boundaries reinforced, but she does respond well to correction. She does not bolt, buck, rear, etc. Consider bringing this sweet girl into your home and give her what she deserves.

In addition to Barn Banter episode 18, you can check out all previous episodes of Horse Illustrated’s podcasts.

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North America’s premier equine exposition and equestrian gathering will take place over four days, from Thursday to Sunday, which means you’ll have endless opportunities to learn about show jumping, dressage, reining, ranch riding, breakaway roping, positive reinforcement training, and everything in between, plus tons of sessions all about horse health care and training. With sessions going on in five arenas and on the seminar stage every day, you’re going to need to plan carefully to catch everything — and everyone! — you want to see. The full schedule for Equine Affaire is now available on their website, along with a list of the dozens of equine educators who will be on site teaching clinics and seminars and giving demonstrations throughout the weekend. Check out all Equine Affaire presenters here.

If you’ve always been curious about Western disciplines, then this year’s Equine Affaire is your year. Attend Cowtown in Cooper on Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, to learn all about the Western way of riding and how horses and riders can interact with cattle safely and effectively. This brand-new educational feature is sponsored by Western Life Today and includes a variety of clinics on roping, reining, ranch riding, ranch sorting, boxing, and reined cow horse topics presented by Steve Lantvit, Tanner Keith, Ken McNabb, Dave Treharne, and others. Take part in this authentic Western experience and learn something new.

Equine Affaire’s featured general horsemanship and training clinicians for this spring’s event include Mike Major, Ken McNabb, Pat Parelli, Steve Lantvit, and Chelsea Canedy. Attendees will also enjoy learning from Daniel Stewart (jumping, fitness & sports psychology), Phillip Dutton (eventing), Kevin Raber (reining), Dave Treharne (roping), Mark Bolender (mountain trail), Cynthia Hankins (hunter/jumper), Kristine May (barrel racing), Lauren Sammis (dressage), Stacey Giere (driving), Solange (stable riding system), Lynn Newton (Western dressage), Duane Esser (English pleasure), Matt McHugh (trailer driving), Kellie & Sam Rettinger (Draft horses), Karin Bump (college & career fair), Jerry Paulsen (equine assisted activities), Penley Horsemanship and the Mid-Ohio Mauraders (mounted shooting), the Young Guns 4-H Drill Team (drill team), and many, many more.

Phillip Dutton instructing at Equine Affaire. Photo by Xenophon Photography

Mike Major hails from Bowie, Texas, where he owns and operates Mike Major Horsemanship. Mr. Major has spent his lifetime starting, training, and showing horses in multiple Western disciplines, including ranch horse versatility, ranch riding, roping, cutting, cowhorse, and reining. He has won countless awards through American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) and Stock Horse of Texas (SHOT) events, including three AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Open World Championships, five AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Open Reserve World Championships, five SHOT Open World Championships, two World’s Greatest Versatility Ranch Horse Championships, and many more. He has also received his AQHA 50 Year Breeder Certificate. Mr. Major specializes in enhancing the clarity of communication between the horse and rider through body control and softness to succeed in all disciplines and at all levels. In addition to his accomplishments in the show pen, Mr. Major is an avid supporter of the industry, serving as a Special Advisor to the Mustang Heritage Foundation and as a member of the AQHA Ranch Horse Committee.

Ken McNabb is a lifelong horseman who grew up on the edge of the wild-horse country on the Wyoming-Montana border, both using horses for work and observing them in wild herds nearby. Mr. McNabb decided to make horsemanship his vocation early on. He began training horses for neighbors before he was 15 and apprenticed to Colorado master John Lyons at that young age. In the years since, Mr. McNabb has spent countless hours in the saddle, many of them behind a microphone, teaching participants in regional equine expos, horse shows, horsemanship clinics, instructional DVDs, and through a national RFD TV show. His TV show, “Discovering the Horseman Within,” appears weekly on the RFD satellite channel. Ken’s methods are commonly ascribed to the “natural horsemanship” persuasion of training, working with a horse’s natural inclination towards learning and rewards. He also periodically competes in prominent horse-starting competitions, including the 2008 Road to the Horse and wins at the 2007 Colt Starting Challenge at the Mane Event in Washington and the 2008 Trainers Challenge Colt Starting Competition in BC, Canada.

In 1982, Pat Parelli began creating a natural horsemanship program to improve the relationship between humans and horses. Mr. Parelli promoted the concept of love, language, and leadership. His desire to spread this knowledge to the world rose up in him after watching his mentors Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt work with horses. In 1984, Parelli began teaching clinics, and in 1991, he coined the name Natural Horsemanship. Natural Horsemanship has become a viable and important aspect of the international horse industry and continues to expand and influence how horses are trained. Mr. Parelli provides amazing talent for both training horses and teaching people. Today, Parelli Natural Horsemanship and the program have spread to 76 countries, over a million people, and have improved the lives of horses around the world. For more information about Pat Parelli and Parelli Natural Horsemanship, please visit parelli.com.

Steve Lantvit is a versatility performance horseman whose training program is based on trust, gentle hands, and a true partnership with the horse. Steve focuses on creating a light horse by establishing a strong foundation and providing correct timing and consistency with his methods. Mr. Lantvit competes successfully in cow horse and ranch horse events and enjoys coaching riders in the same. His guiding mission is to help riders achieve their dreams in and out of the show pen by producing handy, steady, and well-rounded horses. Mr. Lantvit hosts the popular TV show, “Sure in the Saddle” (as seen on RFD-TV and the Cowboy Channel), and conducts clinics across the country offering effective, meaningful instruction for riders of all levels across multiple disciplines. His knowledge, common-sense approach to teaching, and humor have made him a favorite at clinics, horse expos, and other exhibitions across the country.

Owner of Unexpected Farm in Wales, Maine, Chelsea Canedy is an upper-level event rider known for combining traditional horsemanship with proven training methods from the behavioral sciences, and has a reputation as someone who understands how horses think and learn. Through these integrative practices, Ms. Canedy helps riders to understand their horse, overcome their fears, and reconnect with their goals. Working with riders and horses ranging from novice to professional, she approaches athletic training for both with empathy, patience, and understanding; she deepens the horse-rider connection through more precise communication, positive reinforcement, and her “reward the try” philosophy. Ms. Canedy is a premier trainer for those dedicated to their goals, willing to navigate their personal obstacles, and discover their own mastery in the ring and beyond.

Tickets for Equine Affaire in Ohio are on sale now. Come to the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus on April 11-14, 2024, and enjoy hundreds of educational clinics, seminars, and demonstrations; exciting competitions; a massive trade show; themed pavilions; interactive activities; and lots more! General admission tickets are available for purchase online or by calling our office. General admission tickets are $16 in advance for adults or $10 for children, ages 7-10. Four-day passes are $52. Children (ages 6 & under) get in for free. And don’t forget to buy your Fantasia tickets, too! Equine Affaire’s musical celebration of the horse, Fantasia, will take place April 11-13 at 7:30 pm each evening and feature incredible equine entertainment. Fantasia is sponsored by Equine Medical and Surgical Associates. Elevate the equestrian experience of your whole family and come to Equine Affaire! To purchase tickets, find an event schedule, review hotel accommodation information, or learn other details, visit the Equine Affaire Ohio event page.

Equine Affaire gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship and support of Equine Medical and Surgical Associates, official sponsor of Fantasia; Rod’s, official sponsor of the Rod’s arena; US Equestrian, official sponsor of the US Equestrian Arena; GGT Footing, official sponsor of the arena footing; Pro Earth Animal Health, the official supplement of Equine Affaire; Boot Barn, official sponsor of the Great Equestrian Fitness Challenge; and Western Life Today, official sponsor of Cowtown in Cooper. For more information about Equine Affaire, please visit their website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @equineaffaire. We’ll see you at Equine Affaire!

— Edited Press Release

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