Western States Horse Expo Achieves Record Attendance in 5th Year

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – July 22 2003 – Attendance at Western States Horse Expo reached a record high – more than 62,000 paid – as the equestrian mecca celebrated its fifth year. The increase – 19% over the previous year, was the biggest gain ever for the three-day event.

With an all-star roster of world-class clinicians, including Pat Parelli, John Lyons, and Clinton Anderson, the Horse Expo provided live demonstrations in four major arenas, while displaying more than two dozen breeds and sports.

Exit surveys reported that the primary reason for attendance was shopping, and the Horse Expo didn’t disappoint, featuring more than 450 vendors in its Mane Market Place and the world’s largest assemblage of barns and horse trailers in the world in its Rigs and Digs displays.

Russell Dilday was named All-Around Stock Horse Champion during the Magnificent 7 competition, besting a list of respected horseman including two former World’s Greatest Horsemen. The competition includes one horse, one rider, demonstrating expertise during four different skill-based events.

The Western States Horse Expo named Master Horseman Ray Hunt as the 2003 inductee into their Hall of Fame, at an emotionally charged ceremony attended by more than 3000.

Regarded by many as ‘the original clinician,’ Hunt, now 72, is a master horseman whose name has become synonymous with equestrian education. For more than 40 years, he has taught hundreds of riders in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe, and thousands more through his books on how to interact with their horses, and inspired a generation of clinicians to share their knowledge.

The Premium Horse Sale which attracted buyers from throughout the Western U.S., achieved an 83% sold rate, with a top-5 average of $8,750, while the Horse Expo Art Show attracted nearly 200 entries for its juried competition.

The Western States Horse Expo is the largest and most comprehensive equine exposition and trade show in North America. Held annually over three days at Cal Expo in Sacramento, California, the Horse Expo presents more than 400 vendors, world-class clinicians, a premium horse sale, and art show, and the Magnificent 7 Stock Horse Competition. Attendance in 2003 was 62,400. More information available on the web at www.horsexpo.com or call (800) 352-2411.