U of A hosts 10th annual Horse Festival March 27-28
March 11, 2009Contact Information:
Laurie Harris, Festival Marketing Director
479-200-0164
Festival Information: http://www.horsefestival.org/
479-575-8423 / festival@uark.edu /
By Fred Miller, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
479-575-5647 / fmiller@uark.edu
Erin Bogle, two-star Parelli instructor, demonstrates training techniques during the 2008 University of Arkansas Horse Festival.
Bob Rawson and Howdy Smith give a cutting horse demonstration during the 2008 University of Arkansas Horse Festival.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The 10th University of Arkansas Horse Festival will be held March 27-28 at the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center and Dorothy E. King Equine Pavilion.
The annual festival features entertainment, horse shows, demonstrations and clinics related to all things equine, said Nancy Jack, associate professor of animal science and head of the Dorothy E. King Equine Program at the U of A. The 2008 festival attracted some 5,000 patrons.
The event raises money for the equine program, part of the department of animal science in Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, Jack said.
The festival begins Friday evening with two horse clinics, Jack said. The first, at 5:30, features Julie Goodnight, an internationally respected trainer and clinician with experience in many different types of training. She will give a lecture, “Life Lessons the Horses Teach Us.”
At 7:30, Goodnight will present a clinic on the fundamentals of natural horsemanship. Mark Peterson with his horse Dusty, billed as “America’s Smartest Horse,” will join Goodnight for a demonstration of the training methods he used to develop Dusty’s remarkable skills.
Award-winning country song-writer and performer Templeton Thompson will accompany the Friday evening clinics and perform during the shows on Saturday.
The Horse Festival goes into full swing from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday with outdoor activities and demonstrations taking place all day and two afternoon shows in the indoor arena of the Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Center.
Free events include indoor acts, demonstrations and clinics until 11 a.m. and outdoor demonstrations and clinics throughout the day. Outdoor events also include children’s activities, pony rides and “Meet the Breeds.” Visitors can learn about saddle making, horse care and more.
Goodnight and Templeton will appear during the afternoon shows, beginning at noon and 3 p.m. The entertainment also will feature the Express Clydesdales, high-speed drill teams, horses in costume, the Butterfield stage coach, the Rexall Rangers, Barcode the zebra, gaited horses, jumping horses and much more, Jack said.
Fees for the Friday events are $10 each for the lecture and the clinic. On Saturday, entry to the shows will be $10 per seat. Admission is free to all other Saturday events, though some vendors may charge fees for some activities.
For more information, call 479-575-8423, e-mail festival@uark.edu or visit the UA Horse Festival Web page: http://www.horsefestival.org/