Equitana USA, produced by Reed Expositions, debuted at the Kentucky Horse Park the first weekend in October, welcoming horse lovers with a premier mix of equestrian instruction, education, shopping and entertainment. After going virtual in 2020, the long-awaited event finally greeted fans in person October 1–3, 2021, as the first hints of fall began to arrive in Kentucky.

The legendary Kentucky Horse Park was the perfect setting for the all-breed, all-discipline exhibition to begin in North America. Located in the heart of Kentucky’s Bluegrass horse country, Lexington, Kentucky, is known as the horse capital of the world.

Equitana USA Education

With over 40 daily sessions, there was plenty to experience at Equitana USA. The education program brought trainers of all types into one space, from natural horsemanship to dressage, show jumping and eventing. polo, vaulting, mounted games, trail sports, and other disciplines also had a moment in the spotlight.

The opportunity to audit clinics with U.S. Olympians Phillip Dutton and Laura Graves was high on the list for many equestrians. Clinician and horseman Pat Parelli drew an enthusiastic crowd as he presented the fundamentals of Horse Psychology 101.
Cross-training with Lynn Palm, yoga for equestrians, and the Masterson Method equine bodywork with Jim Masterson were all part of the exciting lineup.

Equitana USA Entertainment

No celebration of horses is complete without a showcase of breeds, and the event featured equines of all shapes and sizes, from Arabians to Akhal-Tekes. Morgans displayed multi-discipline talents and temperament with youth riders, while smooth-gaited breeds, including the Rocky Mountain Horse and Tennessee Walking Horse, showed off their easy, natural gaits. Ex-racehorses were well represented with performances by an all-Standardbred drill team.

Emily and Sarah Harris of Sisters Horsing Around shared the versatility of their Irish Cob, demonstrating dressage, jumping, barrels and poles all in one session. Meanwhile, Miniature Horses strolling around were perfect equine ambassadors attracting fans of all ages. Celebrity horse appearances included fan favorites Patrick the Mini Horse and Lynn Palm’s Rugged Painted Lark.

Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship wowed the crowd with his liberty demonstrations while sharing the secrets behind liberty training and new ways to participate through the International Liberty Horse Association.

Fun zones for kids included a horseless horse show, a Breyer horse painting station, and a hands-on educational display from the United States Pony Clubs where kids could learn about horse colors and markings, brush a horse, measure their height in hands, and more.

The Equitana Experience

Equitana USA felt open, welcoming and easy to navigate. Action centered around the covered arena, with three rings of action going strong right outside all day long, in addition to the main stage indoors. Up the hill, the Rolex Stadium and Pegasus arenas accommodated bigger clinics. Local food trucks helped elevate the dining options above the typical horse show and fair food, while bright potted mums and seasonal décor were small touches that contributed to the top-level event atmosphere.

The trade fair offered shopping and resources for equestrians to explore, including equine representatives of various breeds. You could feed treats to a Morgan, get friendly with a Fjord, say hello to an American Saddlebred or get acquainted with an Arabian horse.

Exchanging Ideas and Information

One of the goals of Equitana USA is to promote the exchange of ideas and information. Thought-provoking panel discussions on the main stage addressed topics, including traditions and change in the horse industry, how to make a positive impact, and ways to improve accessibility to horses for everyone.

Paralympian Sydney Collier closed out the weekend with a compelling closing keynote talk. “Let’s face it, there are no improvements to be made without taking that initial leap of faith, in starting the process,” she explained. “That’s where it’s so intimidating … to take that first step in whatever you’re trying to do.”

Equitana USA offered ways for equine enthusiasts of all levels to take that step, from meeting a horse for the first time to learning how to become a better partner for your horse. Most of all, the event brought a feeling of community through a shared passion for horses, in addition to how we can all find ways to be part of the horse industry and make it better.

Equitana USA is scheduled to return to the Kentucky Horse Park in September 2022, with dates to be announced soon.

Equitana USA Vendor Village

U.S. Pony Clubs Interactive Booth

U.S. Pony Clubs Interactive Booth

Straight Arrow’s Mane ‘N Tail and Exhibitor Booths

State Line Tack Booth

Fun Horse Purses

Ariat Booth

Amazing Equestrian Artwork

New Vocations Booth

Saddles for Sale

Mare Modern Goods Booth

Breyer Booth

Further Reading

• 2021 EQUITANA USA Tickets Now Available

• Equitana USA Unveils Month-Long Virtual Program to Celebrate the Horse

The post Attendees Enjoy Equitana’s First American Entertainment and Education Expo in 2021 appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The wait is over! After postponing the highly anticipated and newest North American edition of the premier horse industry event in 2020, Equitana USA and the Kentucky Horse Park announced ticket sales for 2021 are now open. The Equitana USA show will be held Friday, October 1 to Sunday, October 3, 2021, at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky. The event welcomes all riding levels, disciplines, and breeds, as well as enthusiasts of all ages to come together to celebrate the horse.

The event will showcase a variety of popular equestrian personalities, professional performers, authors, veterinarians and other top professionals sharing their expertise on a wide range of disciplines and topics, with more than 150 sessions. Some slated to provide sessions include Laura Graves (dressage clinic), Ronny Riemer (jumpers clinic), a Retired Racehorse Project Masterclass, the EQUUS Foundation Adoption Day, and a variety of panels covering sustainability; horsemanship; social responsibility; diversity, equity, and inclusion; accessibility; and traditions and changes in the industry.

Featured presenters on tap for the event include Micah Deligdish, Max Corcoran, Shawn Flarida, Colton Woods, Pat Parelli, Sydney Collier, Lindsey Partridge, Cole Cameron, Jim Masterson, Stephanie Bulger and many more. Each day will feature a trade fair, showcasing equestrian-related products and services, along with the special evening performance of EQUUS Evolution at the Alltech Arena, which will be ticketed separately (details and ticket sales to be announced).

Tickets can be purchased at www.equitanausa.com and start at $27 (ages 13+), $10 (ages 6-12), and free for children five and under. At checkout, purchasers may select to add on a special limited-edition pair of Dreamers and Schemers Equitana USA Boot Socks for $15.99 while supplies last. New branded merchandise will be released for purchase both before and on site during the show.

In addition to entrance into Equitana USA, all tickets include on-site parking, free United States Equestrian Federation fan membership and admission into the Kentucky Horse Park, which includes access to the International Museum of the Horse, American Saddlebred Museum and Hall of Champions.

Equitana USA is pleased to collaborate with associations, media and industry supporters to elevate the event experience for attendees. Association partners include the United States Equestrian Federation, United States Pony Club, United States Hunter Jumper Association, United States Eventing Association, United States Dressage Federation, the Retired Racehorse Project, and more. Additional media and industry supporters include the Equine Network, Breyer, Cavali Club, Dreamers & Schemers, Elite Equestrian magazine, Strides for Equality Equestrian and many more. All of these collaborators will have a presence at the event, giving attendees the opportunity to meet with them and learn more about their missions and contributions. The list of associations, media and industry supporters continues to grow daily.

Secure your ticket today to stay up to date on the latest Equitana USA news.

For more information about Equitana USA, visit www.equitanausa.com or www.kyhorsepark.com.

The post 2021 EQUITANA USA Tickets Now Available appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

The equine industry won’t have to wait a year to celebrate the horse with Equitana USA after all. Equitana USA will showcase a month-long virtual celebration of the horse in September, and the program is free and open to anyone. Registration and more information about the full programming schedule can be found at www.equitanausa.com.

Equitana USA is a three-day celebration of the horse that invites equestrian professionals and enthusiasts of all riding levels and ages, disciplines and breeds to gather for education, entertainment, instruction and shopping. The event is produced by Reed Exhibitions, a leading global events business, who also produces Equitana in Germany.

Virtual sessions begin Tuesday, Sept. 1, and include a variety of webinars with equine industry notables, expert horsemen and women, and an array of exhibitors with innovations and products to advance the care, performance and celebration of horses of all breeds and pedigrees. Sessions include live interviews, panel discussions, expert seminars and educational content ranging from equine nutrition to yoga on horseback, as well as behind-the-scenes with notables like Sydney Collier, Mikhail Proctor and Jamilah Simms.

Select Saturdays in September will feature special Kid’s Edition content of Equitana’s virtual program. Plans are also in the works for barn tours in collaboration with Horse Country, Inc. There will also be sessions on training the performing arts horse, equine photography sessions and Q&A’s with equine legal experts, among other topics.

“We listened to the feedback from the industry after our very difficult decision to cancel the in-person event due to COVID-19 concerns and instantly knew our fans still wanted to connect and learn,” says Meghan Margewicz, the event’s director. “A lot of the session leaders and experts we would have seen at the event have joined us to present a September packed full of great learning for everyone. We’re excited to have everyone join the celebration online now, which will offer a sneak peek of the amazing programming we’ll witness when we’re back together again at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2021.”

Next year’s event is slated for Oct. 1-3 at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Ky.

Equitana USA invites equestrian professionals, enthusiasts, and everyone interested in learning more to join the online events throughout September. The daily schedule will be updated as sessions are added to the Equitana USA website at www.equitanausa.com. Fans are also encouraged to follow the event’s social channels and e-newsletters for updates on the live 2021 event, but also several planned live streamed content sessions during the September celebration.

Exhibitors interested in the 2021 event, virtual celebration, or year-round promotional opportunities can learn more at www.equitanausa.com or by contacting Kaitlyn Fritz at kfritz@reedexpo.com.

The post Equitana USA Unveils Month-Long Virtual Program to Celebrate the Horse appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.