Springfield, IL – Top national clinicians and equine educators join vendors offering everything for the equestrian – recreational horsemen as well as professionals in all breeds and disciplines – at the 20th annual Illinois Horse Fair, March 6-8 at the state fairgrounds in Springfield. 

Produced by Horsemen’s Council of Illinois (HCI) and sponsored by Purina Mills, Midway Trailer Sales and John Deere, the all-breed expo annually attracts more than 10,000 horsemen.       

In addition to a strong pre-season retail environment (140 commercial vendors, many brands of trailers for sale on site) and informational opportunities, Horse Fair offers unique HorsesForSale aisles, more than 25 breed and sport demonstrations, Stallion Row and Parade and the All-Youth Horse Judging Trials. 

New this year are the Ranch Rodeo at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Coliseum and Cowboy Church with David Davis’ Horseback Music Ministry at 8 a.m. Sunday. In his role as a clinician Davis will teach training horses for Roman riding. There’s also an all-breed gaited riding clinic by Liz Graves, a dressage clinic by Lilo Fore and an equestrian lifestyle fashion show. 

The ranch rodeo – a team competition pitting four-rider teams against one another and the clock in timed “cowboy skills” events – is being produced for Horse Fair by Randy Littrell of Raymond, and Matt Branum of Taylorville. Littrell rode bulls for 13 years and now focuses on a breeding program at his Shop Creek Cattle Company. 

While general admission tickets permit entry to Horse Fair’s clinics, demonstrations, commercial exhibits and barns, only Ranch Rodeo requires a separate ticket ($7 adults; $5 children/seniors). 

Horse Fair’s headline clinician is RFD-TV’s Craig Cameron of Bluff Dale, TX, often called the public defender of the horse. Joining Cameron is the ultimate coach, Richard Shrake of Sun River, OR. Others giving training demonstrations include Ryan Gingerich (The Behaviorist on RFD-TV), Mark Schwarm and Tim Boyer. 

Riding clinics will be presented by Alain Allard of Quebec, Canada (Reining), an NRHA futurity winner; Lilo Fore of Santa Rosa, CA, (Dressage), an international campaigner and FEI “I” judge; Shellane Piatt of Litchfield, IL, (Barrel Racing), five-time International Finals Rodeo and AQHA World Show qualifier; and Liz Graves of Spring Valley, MN (Gaited Riding), who many consider to be the premier all-breed gaited clinician. 

Cameron will do two training sessions in the Livestock Center on Friday and in the Coliseum on Saturday and Sunday. 

In addition to his regular TV appearances, Cameron is on the road more than 44 weeks a year demonstrating the style of horsemanship he has perfected in the last 23 years. Called the “public defender of the horse,” Craig dedicates himself to those who educate their horses by first educating themselves. 

Craig has created a program that builds confidence and trust between man and horse. Rather than fight the animal, he offers patience and understanding that leaves the horse wanting to do what is asked of him.In the early 80’s Craig met Ray Hunt who opened his eyes to the art of working through understanding when training horses. Building upon his experiences, Craig uses a philosophy of teaching that eliminates rough handling of horses earning him a well-deserved international following. 

A native Texan, Craig is headquartered out of his unique Double Horn Ranch in Bluff Dale, TX and in Lincoln, NM. His original entertaining and motivational style is regularly sought after by TV, radio, magazine, fairs, ranches, concerts, universities and many celebrities. 

Exhibits fill the Livestock Center, Annex, Building 26 just north of the Livestock Center, and barns radiating east from the Livestock Center and across the street in the Series 25 barns. Most exhibits are in heated indoor space, but some equipment displays and trailers are parked outside adjacent to these venues. 

More than 300 young people will be involved Saturday in the All-Youth Horse Judging Trials under HCI sponsorship in cooperation with U. of I. Extension. Teams come from the ranks of 4-H, FFA and breed associations around Illinois and surrounding states.

What’s unusual about the HorsesForSale Aisles at Horse Fair is that all dealings are direct between buyer and seller. Horses are neither auctioned nor sold by Horse Fair, and Horse Fair takes no commission. When prospective buyers come onto the grounds, they receive a listing of horses for sale, which includes a description of the horse along with a tag number that appears on the horse’s halter and stall. To enter a horse in the HorsesForSale Aisles, contact Myles Harston, HFS coordinator, at (309) 208-5230 or email mh@aquaranch.com. 

Horse Fair opens on Friday (3 p.m. – 9 p.m.) when early bird shoppers get access to vendors' full stock of merchandise plus save money on special Friday-only promotions and reduced $5 admission charge…and see training demo sessions by Craig Cameron, Richard Shrake and others. Hours Saturday are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. when the Ranch Rodeo begins. Hours Sunday are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Saturday or Sunday Horse Fair tickets are $12 adults and $6 child/senior; weekend Horse Fair passes are $20 adults and $10 child/senior. Tickets for Saturday night’s Ranch Rodeo require a separate $7 ticket for adults, $5 for children and seniors. Advance tickets may be purchased online with a charge card at www.HorsemensCouncil.org or by calling the Council office at (217) 585-1600. 

Volunteers are needed for a variety of responsibilities, ranging from manning information booths to hospitality. You can volunteer for a few hours a day or for a whole weekend.  To volunteer, contact Cheryl DeMent by email at paintfilly71@yahoo.com. 

For information on exhibiting: booths – Joy Meierhans, Horse Fair Manager, (630) 557-2575 or JM@TheMeierhans.com; stallion row and parade – Lori Nelson (217) 623-5561 or lorinelsontraining@gmail.com; breed/discipline demonstrations – Kat or Brent Hamer (309) 432-3539 or fizz61760@yahoo.com. 

Those interested in having a horse considered for the many training demos by Horse Fair clinicians should contact Carrol Rodgers, horse procurement coordinator, at (618) 838-4396 or email carrolr@hotmail.com. 

Riders interested in participating in clinics should contact coordinators direct: Reining with Alain Allard – Doug Bogart (309) 787-4271 or djbogart7@sbcglobal.net; Dressage with Lilo Fore – Pinky Noll (217) 787-7317 or nolllaw1@aol.com; Barrel Racing with Shellane Piatt – Dave Jostes (217) 972-7416 dj@heaths.com; and All-Breed Gaited Riding with Liz Graves – Stacy Bowman (217) 487-7664 or BowmanFxTr@aol.com. 

A complete schedule of events is printable from the Horse Fair web site at www.HorsemensCouncil.org. 

Illinois Horse Fair is produced by Horsemen’s Council of Illinois, an affiliate chapter of the American Horse Council. HCI is the statewide “organization of organizations” and individuals providing central leadership and advocacy for Illinois’ 77,000 horse owners, 213,000 horses and its diverse $3.8 billion equine industry.

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