WSHE 2011 Opens in Sacramento

By June 6, 2011

One of the largest horse expositions in North America — the Western States Horse Expo — kicks off in Sacramento June 10-12. Combining multi-discipline competition with a shopping extravaganza, the event strives to deliver something for all ages and riding styles.

A highlight of the show is the Magnificent 7, an All-Around Stock Horse Contest that begins with preliminaries on Thursday, and culminates with an intense one-day riding competition on Friday, horse and rider demonstrate their skill and versatility in four events: herd work, rein work, steer stopping and fence work.

The action peaks Friday night when seven finalists are just four events away from a $25,000.00 purse, and the best horseman receive the title of Magnificent 7 All-Around Stock Horse Champion.

Three-time Magnificent 7 winner Bob Avila said he is a regular at the WSHE, where he will once again offer a clinic. “You get a lot of new people, from different walks of life. The vibe is very different from a typical horse show in that you have a lot of non-show people in attendance.”

Temecula-based horseman Bob Avila is a three-time winner of the Magnificent 7 Stock Horse Championship, and a regular clinician at the Western States Horse Expo.

Avila’s clinic will focus on proper bitting, lead changes, and other equine basics. “I educate people as to what to look for and what to try, and give them the tools to figure things out,” the Temecula-based horseman said.

Meanwhile, his wife Dana loves the WSHE for the shopping. “The shopping is almost overwhelming,” Dana Avila said. “Just building after building after building, with everything you could possibly want. There are thousands of people coming through that gate. If you love horses, of every breed, this Expo a great place to be.”

A Trail Symposium will offer insight on managing back-country emergencies, camping with horses and a Dutch oven cooking demonstration, along with other outdoor tips. The Driving Darby, a condensed version of a combined driving event that features competition in dressage, marathon and a cones course, is another perennial crowd-pleaser.

For details, visit www.horsexpo.com.

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