Photo: Rebecca Rigdon performs a musical kur in the Equine Extravaganza at EquiFest.
EquiFest of Kansas 2007 attracted over 17,000 spectators to its 10th Anniversary celebration event, February 23-25 in Wichita, Kansas. The equine celebration featured some of the finest instructors and trainers in Kansas, as part of the special tenth anniversary production of equine entertainment and education. Over 160 horses representing a multitude of breeds and disciplines, came together to be a part of the largest equine festival in this part of the country.
“I’ve had countless people tell me that this is the best EquiFest we’ve ever had”, said Lise Streit, Executive Director for the Kansas Horse Council that produces EquiFest. “The highlight for many was the Equine Extravaganza Saturday night, which we brought back by popular demand”. The special evening entertainment event showcased a potpourri of equine entertainment. Craig Cameron thrilled the audience with a special ride to music featuring sidepasses, sliding stops and reining and cutting maneuvers. EquiFest dressage clinician Rebecca Rigdon performed a mesmerizing musical kur as she and her horse seemed to dance to the music. Excitement mounted when 5 young riders performed a “reverse limbo” jumping demo that featured 5 horses jumping higher and higher, culminating when they cleared a jump at 5’ 5”! Erik Martonivich and Big Horse Productions captivated the crowd with a daring Roman Riding performance and gymnastics on horseback. Wild Women of the Frontier provided costumed fun and education as wranglers and rowdy ladies provided a first-hand look at famous women from the Old West. Quiet Thunder Drill team contributed to the pageantry by honoring both Kansas and the USA in a stirring patriotic presentation that concluded with fireworks on horseback!
Photo: Alice White and her horse clear a fence over 5 feet high in the jumper exhibition "How high can they jump?!" at EquiFest of Kansas
EquiFest clinicians provided outstanding educational opportunities, teaching riders and audiences about Western Horsemanship, Ranch Roping, Jumping, Dressage, Barrel Racing, Cutting Horses and Vaulting. Appearing during the festival were: Craig Cameron, John Staples, Rebecca Rigdon, Charlie Trayer, Steve White, Cindy Branham, Dean Smith, Brent Wright, Dawn Dawson, Rick Lamb and Erik Martonivich.
The EquiFest trade show building was once again filled to the brim with an entire building full of vendors, selling a wide variety of products for horse owners and horse lovers.
Photo: Quiet Thunder Drill Team grand finale in a patriotic tribute to the USA, complete with fireworks!
The Cowhand Olympics made a return to the expo, pitting 4 teams of 2 cowhands in an exciting series of ranch hand competitive events. Billie Jo Claassen of Peabody, Kansas and Callie Jo Peterson of Marion, Kansas came from behind on the final day to clinch the title of Top Cowhands. Both women are founding members of the Women’s Ranch Rodeo Association.
On Saturday, the second annual Kansas State University Knowledge Challenge tested the equine knowledge of participants. Winners in the 13 Years of Age and Younger Category: first place went to Anna Miller of McPherson, Kansas; second place went to Katelynn Slade of Valley Center, Kansas; and taking third place was Olivia Graham of Wichita. In the 14 to 18 Years of Age Category, winners were Morgan Rumbaugh of Junction City, Kansas, in first place; Amy White of Belvue, Kansas took second place; and third place went to Shannon Smith of Tonganoxie, Kansas. Winners in the Adult Category were: first place, Andrea Huffman of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Marcia Clevenger of Guthrie, Oklahoma in second place; and Erin Maish of Concordia, Kansas took third place honors.
The EquiFest Stall Decorating Contest rewarded breed groups and stallion owners for creative ornamentation of their stall areas. Winners in the contest included the Breed/Discipline category: first place went to the High Plains Paso Fino Association; second place to the Midwest Mustang and Burro Saddle Club; and third place went to the United Plantation Pleasure Horse Association. In the Stallions category, winners were: Hannah Weimer and her Arabian stallion taking first place; second place went to Shannon Bergner and her AQHA stallion; and third place was awarded to Barbara Hewes and her AQHA stallion.
Photo: Big Horse Productions thrill Equifest crowds with Roman Riding gymnastics.
Sponsors for EquiFest of Kansas 2007 were Exiss Aluminum Trailers, Holton Trailer Sales, John Deere Company, Kansas Ag Network, Kiefer Built Trailers, KZSN, Mid-America Ag Network, Purina Mills LLC, U.S. Army and USA Embroidery.
EquiFest of Kansas is scheduled next year from February 22 through 24, 2008 at the Wichita Kansas Coliseum. Clinicians tentatively scheduled to appear include: Van Hargis, Ken McNabb and Cleve Wells.
For more information about EquiFest, contact: the Kansas Horse Council at (785) 776-0662 or e-mail equifest@kansashorsecouncil.com; or Equine Promotions Inc. at (765) 655-2107 or e-mail jjcloe@equinepromotions.net; or visit the EquiFest web-sites at either equinepromotions.net or kansashorsecouncil.com.
.