Presented by:
Produced by:
RFD-TV’s CRAIG CAMERON HEADLINES ILLINOIS HORSE FAIR
With RICHARD SHRAKE, the ultimate coach
Cameron and Shrake will be joined by nationally known trainers hosting specialized riding clinics – Reining, Western Pleasure, All-Breed Gaited Riding, Barrel Racing and Saddle Seat Equitation – at the 20th annual Horse Fair for an outstanding educational program presented by Purina Mills, Midway Trailer Sales and John Deere.
A regular on RFD-TV, Cameron is a native Texan often known as the “public defender of the horse.” One of the original clinicians, he is on the road more than 44 weeks a year to bring his style of horsemanship to those who want to educate their horses by first educating themselves.
Joining Cameron is Richard Shrake, Sun River, OR, one of the horse industry's great teachers and communicators as well as a world-class judge. Called the “ultimate coach” Shrake’s special gift is his ability to break down each problem into a very solvable situation and communicate the actions needed to his students.
Info
on Craig Cameron and Richard Shrake
NEW at Horse Fair
Horse Fair always brings fresh headliners – clinicians, trainers, instructors – with relevant topics useful to all levels of horsemen, but also offers the new-and-different in equestrian related events.
New events this year are a free hands-on Trailer Safety & Driving School conducted by the pros from Midway Trailers Sales (Saturday and Sunday); an Equestrian Lifestyle Fashion Show (Sunday afternoon) with selections for the barn, the trail and the show circuit, including gently used furs from a vendor exhibiting at Horse Fair for the first time; All-Breed Gaited Riding Clinic with nationally acclaimed clinician Liz Graves (Saturday and Sunday); high-level dressage demonstration with international campaigner and USDF Instructors/Trainers Council Chair Lilo Fore, courtesy of CenterLine Dressage (Saturday); and even Cowboy Church (8am-9am Sunday in Bldg. 13, across from the Coliseum in-gate).
Riding Clinics by Outstanding Trainers
Illinois Horse Fair offers many opportunities to enhance your equestrian education in a full program of demonstrations, riding clinics and seminars. Joining Cameron and Shrake are five trainers of national prominence hosting riding clinics in their disciplines: National Snaffle Bit Assn. Hall of Famer Jon Barry, Advance, MO (Western Pleasure); second generation National Reining Horse Assn. champion Matt Flarida, Lexington, KY (reining); arguably the premier all-breed gaited riding clinician in the country today, Liz Graves, Spring Valley, MN (Gaited); AQHA World Show qualifier and All American Quarter Horse Congress Top 10 three-timer Donna Irvin, Kewanee, IL (barrel racing); and Rob Byers, Simpsonville, KY (saddle seat equitation), coach of many equitation Triple Crown-winning riders as well as trainer of World Champion horses in every division.
Info
on Clinicians and Speakers
In addition to expert trainers and clinicians, the three-day all-breed expo and industry tradeshow presents 25 breed and sport demonstrations, Stallion Row and Parade, more than 75 horses in the HorsesForSale aisles, 140 equestrian vendors, 100 horse trailers on display for sale and a full schedule of educational seminars and workshops.
Friday
Specials
Horse
Fair opens on Friday when early bird shoppers get access to vendors' full
stock of merchandise plus save money on special Friday-only promotions
and reduced admission charge…and see training demo sessions by Craig Cameron,
Richard Shrake and others.
More
than 10,000 People Share Your Passion for Horses
At Horse Fair, more than 10,000 people share your passion for horses,
and everyone understands the lure of the barn, the call of the trail, and
the excitement of equestrian competition. From Quarter Horses to Morgans,
Bashkir Curleys to Paso Finos, Andalusians to Reiners, and Belgians to
Miniatures, you’ll see more breeds and disciplines at Illinois Horse
Fair than anywhere in the state.
Fabulous
Shopping, Friendly Clinicians and Exhibitors
The shopping is outstanding
at Illinois Horse Fair. Best in the state. It’s virtually an equestrian
shopping center, with more than 140 different commercial vendors featuring
saddlery, clothing, boots and hats, jewelry, art, equestrian services,
barns and fencing, even colleges with equine programs.
More than 100 horse
trailers will be on display by dealers ready to make sales. Nowhere else
in Illinois will you find as many trailers, horse merchandise and supplies
than at Illinois Horse Fair.
The program and layout at Horse Fair are friendly
and convenient. You’re encouraged to ask questions and interact with the
clinicians and speakers, welcomed back in the barns to talk to the owners
and trainers who present 25 breed and discipline demonstrations by all the
popular breeds as well as breeds not seen as widely.
Visitors
Welcomed on Stallion Row and HorsesForSale Aisles
Mare owners can check out
the breeding stallions on Stallion Row and in the daily Parade of Stallions,
while almost everyone wants to see what’s stabled on the HorsesForSale
aisles. Horse Fair takes no commission but rather provides a common ground
where buyer and seller can meet and talk directly. The atmosphere in the
HorsesForSale aisles is low-key and congenial, presenting horses of many
breeds, ages and capabilities. Potential buyers can evaluate many horses
right on the grounds, eliminating costly and time-consuming travel. Last
year, HorsesForSale featured more than 75 horses.
All-Youth
Horse Judging Trials
Returning to Horse Fair is
the All-Youth Horse Judging Trials presented by Horsemen’s Council of
Illinois in cooperation with the University of Illinois.
Open to all youth (non-collegiate) horse judging teams, the Trials
will be held Saturday morning in Building 13 across from the Coliseum
in-gate.
Info on All-Youth Horse Judging Trials
Diverse attractions aim to
please any age group, including the lively booth run by Illinois High
School Rodeo Assn., the HorsePlay Youth Activity barn, where young
Fairgoers can romp at an indoor equestrian-themed play area just for them.
Back this year is the Bertrand Ranch Miniature Horse Remuda in Barn 25-L on the north side of Central Avenue. Visitors will find 30-40 miniature horses, and if that alone isn’t enough of an attractor-factor there’s also a free petting zoo, and a collection of rocking horses on display and for sale.
A word of caution: Come with horse friends, or come
alone. Don’t bring anyone to Illinois Horse Fair who doesn’t share
your interest in horses; they’ll want to leave long before you’re
ready to go!
Horses/Riders
Sought for Training Demonstrations
Demo Horse/Rider Application Form
Buy
Tickets in Advance to Avoid Long Lines
Purchasing
advance tickets is recommended to avoid long lines at the Horse Fair ticket
windows. Adult general admission tickets are $6 for Friday and $12 for
Saturday or Sunday; children/senior tickets are $4 and $6. Weekend passes are $20 for adults and $10 for children.
Advance tickets may be charged to a credit card; tickets at the
door are cash only.
Secured Seating for Craig Cameron
For
those interested in securing a seat in advance for Craig Cameron's Saturday
and Sunday morning two-hour round-pen sessions at 9:30 a.m. in the Coliseum,
a preferred seat ticket is offered for an additional $20 per session.
Preferred seats are on the arena floor right outside the round-pen, affording
an excellent view and permitting viewers to ask questions.
Volunteering
at Horse Fair
Volunteering at Horse Fair is fun, educational and a great opportunity to
help put on the largest non-racing horse event in Illinois.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of responsibilities, ranging
from ticket sales to hospitality.
You can volunteer for a few hours a day or for a whole weekend.
To volunteer, contact Cheryl DeMent at (217) 944-2093
or email paintfilly71@yahoo.com.
To
Exhibit at Horse Fair
For information about commercial space,
breed demos, stallions and HorsesForSale, contact the coordinator listed
in the Exhibit Information section of this website.
Horse
Fair is Produced by Horsemen's Council of Illinois
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.
