Illinois Horse Fair
“Tennessee Walking Horses Popular at Illinois Horse Fair” by Kalin McClure
The Illinois Horse Fair, held annually in Springfield, Illinois provided a great opportunity to promote the Tennessee Walking Horse to a large number of equine enthusiasts. The fair draws a crowd of more than 10,000 people over the course of the weekend and features clinicians, exhibitions and a large variety of vendors. Stallion owners, stables and clubs decorate barn aisles where they interact with visitors.
A volunteer crew comprised of IWHA directors and members decorated their aisle using elegant black stall drapes with gold accents. A large banner welcoming everyone hung over the aisle. Tables with literature about the Walking Horse as well as pictures showcasing the versatility of our breed were stationed around the aisle. Members donated older copies of Voice magazine and set them out for people to read and take home.
The main attraction, of course, was the horses themselves. Six horses represented the breed. The horses provided by IWHA for the fair this year were Pride’s Trigger Finger, owned by Janet Knight and ridden by John Knight, Penny’s Cracker Jack, owned and ridden by Gloria Heggy, Raining Masterpiece, owned and ridden by Denise Sherwood, Iron Masterpiece T, owned and ridden by Gary and Kay Taylor, The Power of Your Love, owned by Debby Raup and Midnight Iron Sun, owned and driven by Nancy Van Wassenhove. This group of horses is comprised of accomplished show horses and trail horses alike.
The horses participated in two breed demos, exhibiting as a group and showing off the glide ride for which our breed is famous. The horses were ridden in both western and English tack, and even demonstrated what a lovely driving horse our breed can be. An announcer explained the history of the breed and provided educational information to the audience while the horses strutted their stuff. The horses were wonderful ambassadors, showing off what makes the Tennessee Walking Horse an exciting mount for show and pleasure as well as the personality that makes it a valued member of the family.
Along with the breed demos, some of the IWHA representative horses participated in a 4H and FFA Horse Judging competition. Four horses competed in both a model class and a lite shod two gait optional tack class. Official judges placed the classes but did not announce their ties while 4H and FFA teams judged the classes as well. Each member of their team recorded their placements and turned in their cards, which were graded against how closely they matched the official placement. This was a great opportunity to share our breed with a large number of young horse people. The director of the judging competition complimented the Walking Horses on being such quality animals.
Even back at their stalls, the horses did a great job of promoting the breed. A plaque, complete with each horse’s registered name, barn name, accomplishments and personality traits adorned each stall door. This encouraged people to get up close and personal with the horses, who enjoyed meeting new people and receiving some pats. Children could then pick out a special ribbon pin that announced which horse they had petted and had a picture of that horse.
IWHA president, John Knight, gathered together officers and directors of the association to present a check to the local Shrine Club. The Shriners Hospital for Children has been the chosen charity of the Illinois Walking Horse. The IWHA has donated nearly $30,000 over the years to this worthy cause and is a six star award winner thanks to their charitable efforts, such as the IWHA Fall Charity Horse Show which is held annually in October at the Illinois State Fair Grounds.
Thanks are due to the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois for putting on the Illinois Horse Fair and providing a great opportunity to promote our wonderful breed as well as our association, IWHA exhibitors and members, who were a tremendous help during the set up and tear down of our extravagant display as well as making the aisle a fun and friendly place for everyone to visit, and TWHBEA for supplying promotional material and support.