Equine Affair

The Mid-Ohio Walking Horse Association actively participates at Equine Affaire the largest equine exposition/trade show in North America, held in Columbus, OH. This is an excellent venue to showcase our wonderful breed to the public thru direct hands-on interactions at breed promotion stalls, education presentation and under saddle ring demonstrations.

For 2024, the Tennesse Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association (TWHBEA) provided the beautiful booth in the Breed Pavilion and manned by TWHBEA CEO Mark Farrar along with Mid-Ohio Walking Horse Association (MOWHA)members. Horses for the Pavilion and Arena demonstrations were provided by Mid-Ohio Walking Horse Association members.

MOWHA association President, Mag Ranft, arranged for horses to represent the breed across multiple divisions. There were 6 horses for ring demonstrations and breed booth/promotional stalls, and another 2 horses dedicated to breed booth/promotional stalls.

The under saddle breed demo horses represented All Day Pleasure, Country Pleasure, Trail Pleasure, Lite Shod and Plantation divisions with both English and Western, showing 2-gait and canter. The riders included youth, amateur owned and trained, amateur and professional.

We had a variety of colors including black, sorrel, spotted and gray, to display to the public. Along with the horses, came the owners from states including Ohio and Wisconsin. Trainer Jim Potter from Ohio, who is also the NWHA President, donated his time/services to his customers for this event. All of the horses presented are owned by members of Mid-Ohio Walking Horse Association.

The weather was chilly with on/off rain. But, an advantage to chilly and rainy weather outside, is more horse lovers inside to shop, attend clinics and breed demos, learn about different breeds and clubs...and most importantly, learn about the wonderful flat shod Tennessee Walking Horse!!

Mid-Ohio Walking Horse Association folks worked hard all weekend to display the horses, answer questions and promote the breed to so many of the 300,000 to 400,000 folks who attended Equine Affair each year. It was a great opportunity to share the multiple aspects and opportunities with a TWH from rail to trail, to connect with fellow TWH lovers from many states....and to promote Mid-Ohio affiliated shows as well.

Promotion of the TWH is one of the purposes of Mid-Ohio Walking Horse Association, and Equine Affaire is a great opportunity to do just that. Many, many thanks to all who helped in front and behind the scenes.

Horses in under saddle demo:

Mischief Managed - Lite Shod English. Owned by Mag Ranft. Ridden by Jim Potter.

Staubach CTF - Trail Pleasure Western. Owned and ridden by Allie Deck.

Legacy's Keita - All Day Pleasure Western. Owned and ridden by Terrance Moyer

OG's Too Good Lookin - Plantation English. Owned and ridden by youth Kenzie Gildow.

We Don't Talk About Bruno - Country Pleasure Western. Owned and ridden by Megan Jenkins

I'm War Games - In-Hand English. Handler Allison Fraser. Owner Joyce and Terrance Moyer.

Under saddle/demo horses spend some time in the promotion stalls. But the horses dedicated to promotion stalls spend extended hours in the Pavilion over the course of the event, and have direct contact and interaction with thousands of folks that come thru...requiring horses that are extremely tolerant, friendly and inquisitive. The two horses dedicated to promotion stalls:

Ozone Alert – SSH, Racking, Halter. Owner Marianne Springer.

Whoopi's Promise Angel - All Day Pleasure. Owner Wendy Kaufman.

Equine Affaire Mid-Ohio Coordinator – Mag Ranft arranged for horses, demos, choreographs, scripts, music, stall signs, barn stalls, and a LOT more.

Booth Help & more – Mark Farrar CEO of TWHBEA. From Mid-Ohio: Mag Ranft, Marianne Springer, Wendy Kaufman, Joyce and Terrance Moyer, Megan Jenkins, Allie Deck, Allison Fraser.