UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Whether you are an avid horse person or just an interested spectator, there is something for horse enthusiasts of all ages at the Equine Experience at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days.
During the three-day event, Aug. 8-10, visitors can attend demonstrations, interact with Penn State equine science faculty and staff, and learn about horse health and care.
Located at the top of Main Street at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Pennsylvania Furnace, the Equine Arena and Equine Exhibits Building will showcase the versatility of the horses and horse breeds, as well as highlight information about forage, pasture management and stable facilities.
“Last year, we had great crowds for our equine demonstrations,” said Danielle Smarsh, equine extension specialist and assistant professor of equine science in the College of Agricultural Sciences. “We are bringing back many of our favorite exhibitors, so I hope people will return to Ag Progress Days to see all the wonderful horses and learn something new.”
Equine science faculty, staff and members of the Pennsylvania Equine Council will be available to answer questions and provide information on equine-related topics in the Equine Exhibits Building throughout the three-day show.
This year’s arena demonstrations cover topics for every interest and horsemanship level. The full schedule will be available in the coming weeks. Highlights include:
Tuesday, Aug. 8
- The Pennsylvania State Police Mounted Patrol will conduct two demonstrations to highlight the work of the police horses.
- Penn State Extension’s 4-H Team Horse Power — comprising teens interested in the equine industry who have passed the first two levels of the Pennsylvania 4-H Horsemanship Skills Program — will host demonstrations on basic safety and horsemanship. Team Horse Power representatives teach horsemanship and safety skills at clinics, camps and workshops throughout Pennsylvania while promoting the 4-H program.
- Visitors can learn the basics of handling and training young horses in demonstrations with the University’s Quarter Horses.
Wednesday, Aug. 9
- The Keystone Dressage and Combined Drill Team will return to Ag Process Days to put its horses through their paces.
- Rick Shaffer of R&S Paso Fino Stables of Somerset also will return for two breed clinics and riding demonstrations.
- The Capital Area Therapeutic Riding Association Youth Ambassadors will show off their miniature horses in two demos.
- The Wednesday evening extravaganza will include another demo from Spring Mount Percherons and a salute to America, followed by a mini jumping derby.
Thursday, Aug. 10
- Penn State Extension’s 4-H Team Horse Power will return to host more demonstrations on basic safety and horsemanship.
- Visitors will have another opportunity to learn the basics of handling and training young horses in demonstrations with the University’s Quarter Horses.
- To wrap up Ag Progress Days, 4-H teams will challenge their peers in an equine knowledge competition during the annual Penn State Equine Science Horse Quiz Bowl Thursday.
Over all three days, Spring Mount Percherons, owned and shown by David and Linda Hershey of Warriors Mark, will be on site with a six-horse hitch demonstration. This year, Ag Progress Days will welcome Gail Eichelberger, current president of the Pennsylvania Equine Council, and her husband, Richard Eichelberger, to speak each day about gaited horses, which move differently than non-gaited horses at higher speeds. Attendees can also attend a Bear Hill Horse Logging demonstration to learn more about horse logging and restorative forestry every day. Bear Hill specializes in low-impact timber management, selective harvests and wetlands logging.
Sponsored by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, 9 miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 8; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 9; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 10. Admission and parking are free.
For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website. The official hashtag for social media is #agprogressdays, and the event also can be found on Facebook.