Northern Canada Equine ...On-Line News: The Mane Event Expo Concludes Another Successful Event at the Red Deer, Alberta Venue

• Home	• FAQs
• Site Map	Weather
• Contacts	Weather

We Accept:

Directory Listings:

Pick of the Best!
EAADA

The Mane Event Expo Concludes Another Successful Event at the Red Deer, Alberta Venue

May 7, 2009

Red Deer, AB --- The Mane Event horse expo and trade fair returned to Westerner Park April 24 – 26 for its annual weekend of clinics, presentations and demonstrations by top international equine clinicians. With attendance up by 3000, roughly 45,000 people had the opportunity to visit 230 exhibitors who offered their equine products and services at the 115,000 sq. ft. trade show.

The Mane Event, well known for its focus on offering education to a wide range of interests in the equine community, brought in top international clinicians once again this year. National Finals Rodeo veteran Gary Leffew of California conducted bull riding clinics and presentations, a first for the Mane Event. Also in the line-up were Mette Rosencrantz (dressage), Canadian show jumping competitor and former Olympian Jay Hayes, Dana Hokana (Western pleasure and horsemanship), Arizona horseman Al Dunning (reining, cutting and horsemanship), Hardy Zantke (driving), Gigi Bailey (hunter under saddle) and Bobby Richards (gaited horses). Clinician Robyn Hood and gifted horseman, teacher and presenter Jonathan Field, a regular at the Mane Event, were also on the schedule.

Dressage clinician Mette Rosencrantz was provided with a wide range of horses and riders, and asked her riders to demo lateral work, tempi changes, pirouettes, and passage so she could explain the different moves to the crowd, and also give them a pleasing show. Jay Hayes handled his students very well and worked through challenges such as the varied levels of experience and fitness. His straightforward and honest approach sparked a few fires for the riders and great improvements could be seen even after just one lesson.

The Trainers Challenge got underway with this year’s contenders having their first training session in the round pen with an unbroke three-year-old gelding they drew for. Up first was Patrick Hooks of Oklahoma, was first in the ring, followed by Doug Mills, well known BC-based trainer and three-time champion at the Mane Event in Chilliwack, BC. Champion Bronc rider Mel Hyland, who has been one of the Trainers Challenge judges at the Mane Event for the past two years, is now on the “fun side of the fence.”

As the Trainer’s Challenge progressed, the crowd was shown to many different tools of the trade. The strong point for not only each trainer, but also for each clinician at the Mane Event, was that when you take and you get a response, you must release. Plenty also combined that idea with taking things slow and getting the smallest things correct would strongly benefit your horse in the long run, and make it a better performer.

Pat Hooks showed an affable personality even when his difficult young horse was nipping and locking up under saddle. Though he didn’t ride the horse successfully through the final course, he was still awarded with an enthusiastic and respective standing ovation after he finished with a melodic song for his horse.

Doug Mills was consistent throughout the whole challenge with his quiet but strong demeanor and that showed with how responsive his colt became. Doug finished with a freestyle to music where he removed the colt’s halter and they went about the ring, and also received a standing ovation.

Mel Hyland impressed the crowd from the first day when he climbed up on his colt and rode him forward. “This is what we do for a living so in reality it will be easier for me to be on the inside of this fence than it is sitting there trying to judge someone else doing it,” said Hyland before the challenge. “I like it because it’s a challenge for myself. It’s also an opportunity to share with people the stuff I believe in.”

In the end it was a tough call between Doug Mills and Mel Hyland, and with the crowd anxiously awaiting it was announced that Doug Mills was once again the Trainer’s Challenge winner.

For complete information about the Mane Event visit www.maneeventexpo.com

Listen to commentary of the Trainers Challenge and other happenings at the Mane Event Expo through the Equinely-Inclined! podcast: Episode 54 series.

To May 2009 News Articles Index | To Northern Canada Equine ...On-Line Home