Horse Expo in Red Deer

from Saddle Up April 2022

Alberta Thoroughbred Program

By Brigitte MacKenzie, Media Coordinator

With Covid calming down, and spring on the horizon, annual events are getting going again, and Horse Expo is the top of the conversation.

Glenn Stewart

Amy Star

Horse Expo has twelve world class clinicians, a Trainers Showdown, presenters, exhibitors, and so much more!

Three of the top trainers In North America will compete against each other to earn the status of winning the coveted Showdown Challenge Championship. The three trainers this year are Kade Mills, Jason Irwin, and Trevor Mertes.

Our esteemed judges to find our Trainers Showdown winner are Lorie Duff – (Liberty trainer, www.libertylanefarm.net); Cain Quam (Mounted Shooting); and Marc Garner (Ranch Manager). They have been chosen to help find our Champion at the 2022 Expo.

For everyone who is attending you can observe and experience what it is like to start a green horse from Day 1. You will all have your own ideas about how each horse and trainer are progressing. You can be part of the entire observation progress from the first moment each trainer meets his equine student.

Next stop on our schedule we can learn more of the process in training with elite coaching from Barbra Schulte, Cindy Ishoy and Hugh Graham. All three clinicians will teach the physical and mental preparations which they have done for three decades! It will be interesting to watch how the horses and students progress over the three days.

In discussion with Cindy Ishoy, I inquired if her students required “warm up” time in the arena and she said “no, I want to coach the students in the warmup because it is one of the most critical parts of showing a horse.”

Hugh Graham strictly says “the straight lines are critical for the coaching and understanding this will create power and balance for horse and rider.”

Barbra Schulte believes “it is mindful thinking for the horse and rider to work together.”

Cain Quam

There will be Mounted Shooting with Cain Quam, Horsemanship & Liberty with Glenn Stewart, Working Equitation with Amy Star, Barrel Racing with Vanessa Salisbury, Reining with Jim Greendyk, Ranch Riding with Sally Saur, and so many more! You will be able to keep yourself busy the entire weekend. Check out our schedule to see how it fits into your event journey at HorseExpo.ca.

Watch, Learn, Shop, and Experience Horse Expo 2022 this Easter weekend at Westerner Park in Red Deer, Alberta. Visit HorseExpo.ca for more information!