12th Annual Pennsylvania Horse World Expo Features Trail Champions Challenge, Equi-Tainment, Top Clinicians, Theatre Equus

The PA Horse World Expo will bring the nation?s leading equestrian clinicians and entertainers to Harrisburg for four days of education, entertainment and shopping.

February 20, 2014–The world of horses comes to the 25-acre climate-controlled Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center February 27- March 2. The four days of non-stop education, entertainment and shopping comprise the mid-Atlantic region?s largest and longest running equestrian expo. Scores of horses of all breeds and disciplines and the nation?s leading equestrian clinicians and entertainers draw tens of thousands of horse enthusiasts from across the region and beyond to Harrisburg, PA.

Horse World Expo is two events in one. The Expo itself features national and international clinicians teaching riders to train their own horses, competitions and showcases for regional horses and riders, and unparalleled shopping with everything imaginable for horses and horse lovers under one roof. TheatreEquus, AMusicalEquineRevue, aprofessionallychoreographedandscriptedshowinwhichhumansandhorsespartnertoperformremarkablefeatsofdaringandbeauty,willbeheldtheeveningsofFebruary28andMarch1inconjunctionwiththeExpo. Gearedtoallages,TheatreEquusisaneveningoffamilyentertainmentstarringhorses??partcircus,partWildWestshow,partequestrianballet.Performancesbyaboutthirtyofthecountry?smosthighlytrainedhorsesareaccompaniedbymusic,enhancedlightingandnarration.

The Trail Champions Challenge, a timed and judged event in which competitors ages 10 and up negotiate a difficult set of obstacles that test athleticism, horsemanship and the communication and bond between horse and rider, has proven so popular two sets of riders will compete this year. The exciting and entertaining competition features horse and rider combinations from throughout the region, competing for cash prizes, which are judged on the quality of horsemanship at each obstacle.

Stars of the Thoroughbred Makeover will feature four of the competitors from the Retired Racehorse Training Project?s Thoroughbred Makeover and National Symposium held at Pimlico Racecourse in October. Four trainers?two teenage girls, two adults?will compete with their former Thoroughbred racehorses in a multi-discipline challenge to be judged by a panel of guest judges. Equi-tainment! A Musical Equine Variety Show presents drill teams, freestyle dressage, western dressage, tricks and other exciting and entertaining displays of horsemanship. Other featured exhibitions are the Parade of Breeds, Opening Ceremonies, and Stallion Avenue Demonstration, each held daily.

Many of the country?s most accomplished horse trainers present seminars on training by day, and dazzle audiences by night (Friday and Saturday only) with their amazing performances in Theatre Equus. Among them is trick trainer, movie trainer, stuntman and ?Equine Extremist? Tommie Turvey, Jr., whose horses trust him so completely they accomplish dangerous stunts no other horse trainer has attempted. Those amazed by Turvey?sperformance during Theatre Equus, can, during his Pennsylvania Horse World Expo seminars, watch him teach his horses to do tricks like lying relaxed on their backs, feet in the air, before crowds of thousands.

In addition to top equestrian clinicians and performers, the 12th annual Pennsylvania Horse World Expo will feature hundreds of vendors, and equines of all breeds and disciplines. Vendors will fill more than 500 booths in more than 180,000 square feet of exhibit space with an overwhelming selection of horse related merchandise for browsing and buying. Visitors can learn about a variety of breeds on Breed Row, and meet breeding stallions up close in Stallion Avenue. The latest in horsekeeping technology will be featured at the show along with apparel, barns, artwork, books, equestrian vacations, feed, trailers, tack, training, schools, and much more.

Equestrian Promotions also produces the Maryland Horse World Expo, held January 17-19 at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium.

PAHorseWorldExpohoursare:Thursday,February27,noonto8pm;Friday,February28,10am?8pm;Saturday,March1,9am?8pm;Sunday,March2,9am?5pm.Daily admission (cash only) is $12, $6 for children ages 7-12. Children under 7 are admitted free. Tickets are available at the door, on the website at www.horseworldexpo.com, or by mail.

Reserved seating for Theatre Equus, whichbeginsat8:30pmandrunsabout100minutesonFriday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, is $12 to $24. Tickets are available at the show (while supplies last) or online at www.horseworldexpo.com. The Farm Show Complex, Cameron and Maclay Sts., Harrisburg, charges $8 per day for parking. For more information, phone (301) 916-0852.

For those looking for even more to do, the first annual National Pet Expo will be held in conjunction with Horse World Expo on March 1 and 2 at the Farm Show Complex. Hours are 9 am to 8 pm Saturday, March 1 and 9 am to 5 pm Sunday, March 2. Tickets are $10, $5 for ages 6-12, and a discounted combination ticket with Horse World Expo is available.

For more information visit NationalPetExpo.com.

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