EquiFest of Kansas 2008:

World Class Clinicians, Shopping, New & Exciting Equine Entertainment!

 

            EquiFest of Kansas officials have announced new details for EquiFest of Kansas 2008, to be held February 29 March 1 and 2, at the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita , Kansas . This celebration of horses, now in its eleventh year will feature world-class clinicians from all over the U.S., including: Curt Pate teaching General Training and Horsemanship; Cleve Wells with Western Pleasure; Jimmy Driver and Training Through Trust, Trust Through Training; Jane Armour presenting Hunters & Jumpers; Sandy Hotz teaching Dressage; and Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard presenting Teaching Two as One and Steve Edwards, teaching about Mules.

            A wide variety of unusual and exciting equine entertainment is scheduled for EquiFest of Kansas 2008. Al Ragusin and his Dancing Horses will provide precision movements, singing and lighthearted entertainment to music, while Regina Ware and her Friesian horses offer sophisticated syncopation, dancing to music. The festival will take a step back in time as Hanlon-Lees presents the pageantry of 14th Century Jousting! Costumed steeds, authentic weaponry, and noble knights in shining armor will highlight the action.

            Horse enthusiasts can also explore a giant equine trade show that fills an entire building. Rows of commercial booths will offer clothing, tack, feed, equipment, gifts, horse trailers, and countless equine products and services.

            Lecture and workshop topics at EquiFest will cover a wide range of topics, including trail riding topics by the National Park Service. They will cover why horse people should care about saving trails and how to work with other trail users and land managers. Debi Metcalfe from Stolen Horses International will talk about theft prevention, and tracking including freeze branding and microchip demos. These presentations are in addition to other lecture and workshop topics still to be announced.

            Advertising opportunities are open to horse groups and businesses of all sizes in the EquiFest program in the form of display ads or a listing in the Equine Service Directory. The EquiFest program is distributed, at no charge, to EquiFest attendees and participants. “This is a great way to market to people with horse interests from all over the country”, said Lise Streit, EquiFest Chairperson for the Kansas Horse Council.

            Hours for the equine exposition are: Friday, February 29, 2008, from 10am to 8pm; Saturday, March 1, from 9am to 8pm; and Sunday, March 2, from 9am to 6pm.  General admission tickets cost $12.50 for adults, $6 for children aged six through twelve, and children five years and under get in free.  Three-day discount passes are available in advance, or at the door the first day of the event: $30 for adults and $15 for children 6 through 12 years. Tickets go on sale after Jan. 4 through Select-A-Seat at www.selectaseat.com or 316-755-7328. Tickets may also be purchased at the door (cash only).

            Sponsors for EquiFest of Kansas 2008 include: Down Under Saddle Supply; Exiss Trailers; Holton Trailer Sales; Oklahoma Trailer Center; Orthoflex Saddle Works; and Purina Mills LLC.

            EquiFest of Kansas is presented by the Kansas Horse Council, a nonprofit association formed to further the common interests of horse people and to promote the entire equine industry.  The Kansas Horse Council has contracted with Equine Promotions Inc., to professionally manage EquiFest of Kansas.  Equine Promotions Inc. is an event management company with extensive experience in equine event administration.

     For more information about EquiFest, contact: Equine Promotions at (765) 655-2107 or jjcloe@equinepromotions.net;

the Kansas Horse Council at (785) 776-0662 or e-mail ksequifest@equiventurepromotions.com; or visit the EquiFest web-site at either www.equinepromotions.net or www.kansashorsecouncil.com.