Looking for a horse-themed gift? Maybe want to learn more about equine law and liability? Perhaps looking for some horse-riding techniques? Or just interested in seeing a parade of breeds? You'll find it all at the Horse World Expo at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium today through Sunday.
The ninth annual expo features horse demonstrations and lectures, more than 100 seminars, exhibits, clinics and plenty of shopping at some 490 vendor booths.
"It's a great family event," says Denise Parsons, president of Equestrian Promotions, the company producing the event. "And you don't have to own a horse to enjoy it. There's so much that can be enjoyed by the casual horse fan."
The huge expo takes over all three buildings of the fairgrounds. That's more than 225,000 square feet of exhibit space.
"[Visitors] are going to see products and services, all different types of horse items," Parsons says. "And not just for the horse owner, but also for the horse lover. There are going to be clinics and training and riding [sessions]. We have live multibreed demonstrations. And we have a Stallion Avenue where people can see approximately 30 live stallions on display."
Seminars, included with admission, will range from talks on show-ring safety for competitive riders to how to take better horse photographs.
Conducting the seminars will be many big names in the equine industry, including Olympian James Wofford, clinician Lynn Palm, trainer Julie Goodnight, Native American horsemanship expert GaWaNi Pony Boy, photographer Lori Walton and trainer Charles Wilhelm.
Also, visitors can see artwork by local 4-H groups all weekend and can browse the hundreds of vendor tables and stands, featuring everything from horse-themed home decor to saddles, jewelry and clothing.
"There's going to be a huge, huge amount of goodies [for sale]," Parsons says. "There are horse trailers and trucks, all the way down to pencils and T-shirts."
The Horse World Expo runs noon-8 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. tomorrow, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium. Admission $8; $4 ages 7-12; free for ages under 7. Call 301-916-0852 or visit www.horseworldexpo.com.
For more family events, see Page 33.
