Up to 44,000 horse people and about 60 horses are expected at Westerner Park this weekend for Western Canada’s biggest equine training clinic and trade show.
Nicole Barker, a spokesperson for The Mane Event, says its Red Deer show, entering its fifth year, has surpassed its Chilliwack, B.C., counterpart, held in October. Although Chilliwack’s version was started first, Alberta has a higher concentration of horse owners and riders and therefore draws more people and exhibitors, Barker said on Tuesday.
The economic impact The Mane Event has on Red Deer and nearby areas has never been assessed, she said. However, there will be a considerable amount of money spent locally, with guests coming from as far away as Yukon and Nova Scotia while trade show exhibitors and horse trainers will come from across Canada and the United States.
It’s not unusual that some people to have already bought products will pick them up from exhibitors when they attend the show, said Barker. She knows of one guest who has bought a new horse trailer to be taken home from the show.
Along with a trade show with roughly 260 booths, the Mane Event offers training clinics with different specialists, including a chance for people to bring along their own horses and work on their skills.
Highlights include the Trainers Challenge and, on Saturday evening, the Equine Experience — a performance highlighting horses and riders in a variety of skills. The Trainers Challenge runs over all three days, pitting three well-known trainers in a contest to see who can do the best job of starting an untrained horse under saddle.
Mane Event shows and clinics are open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Equine Experience starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets, available at the door, are $15 a day for adults, $10 for youths seven to 12 and free for children six and under. Weekend packages are $40 for adults and $25 for youths.
Visit www.maneeventexpo.com.