HomeScheduleCliniciansEventsVendorsSponsorsContact Us

tommieturvey.jpg

Tommy Turvey is one of the most sought after Entertainers and Trick Horse Trainers in the world today. He has appeared from coast to coast and in Europe and Australia. His High energy presentations have earned him the name of “Equine Extremist”. Tommy will not only be featured in the “Night of the Horse”...but he will do clinics and DVD signings in his booth/pavilion at the Northern Illinois Horse Fest 2009.

Tommy along with sister Karen Turvey-Marshall are quite the pair as they perform many daring and Extreme Equine Acts....they also present very informative clinics and discuss Tommy’s movie career as well. Tommy and his Horses have appeared in numerous films and commercials on TV including the Mini series “John Adams”  and most recently “Witless Protection Program” with Larry the Cable Guy. Join Tommy this August at the Northern Illinois Horse Fest.

scottpurdum.jpg

http://www.advantagehorsemanship.com/

Trainer Scott Purdum uses his horsemanship skills to teach all types of horses. His training creates a horse's willingness to work with, and respect the handler. With each client he teaches both the horse and handler how to work together to form a better relationship with each other.

"Be Clear. Be Concise. Be Consistent."

Scott is dedicated to bringing horses and people together using methods that are easy to understand and apply! His program works with all breeds and helps riders of any discipline become a better partner with their horse!

If you have a problem horse, a horse that needs breaking, or even an older horse needing a "tune up", Scott is here to help.

richardshrake.jpg

Richard Shrake is not only a great man, he has also been an icon as a professional in the horse industry for over 40 years. He lives his life with simple and timeless principles, believing in hard work and family values. His dream was to create a balanced, common sense program based on knowledge and wisdom, that would help riders and their horses everywhere realize their potential. Through his uncomplicated formula for success, the Resistance Free® Riding and Training Methods, Richard has achieved this goal. He inspires… He motivates... He cares. His gift of teaching and training has touched and enriched the lives of riders and their horses…. from beginners, to intermediates to professionals. Richard Shrake has been an icon and highly regarded professional for over thirty years. His reputation as a teacher has always been proven by a barn full of winning students. His capacity for patience and his skill as a communicator made him a hit with youth students from the beginning. As a showman, Richard has shown all over the United States, and as a clinician has taken his experiences and his teaching methods all over the United States and beyond.

Richard Shrake's training method, known as Resistance Free®, has made him one of the best all-around clinicians out there. His base, in Sunriver, Oregon, allows Richard the time needed to write his Bridle Wise column, which appears in major equine magazines throughout the country. He has trained World Champion horses and riders, judged all major breed World Championship shows and has put his lifetime of wisdom into well-written columns, an extensive video series and well- constructed clinics.

In recent years, he has been called the "ultimate coach" by his students. Richard's primary purpose in creating the Resistance Free® methods has been to develop a cooperation between horse and rider, which results in a way of training and riding that is humane and always has respect for the partnership between the horse and rider.

kerrykuhn.jpg

Kerry Kuhn is a horse training clinician focused on the human/horse relationship. His clinics are designed to help people of all levels and disciplines improve communication, confidence, and response with their equine companions.

 With the knowledge and experience Kerry has gained, he hopes to teach riders how to become better partners with their horses. By learning to listen to their horses, a rider becomes aware that leadership is what their horse needs. Being in the best place at the best time develops the rider as a good leader. This is what Kerry strives to teach.

Kerry is an accomplished clinician who has given demonstrations nationwide.

As seen on RFD-TV 

 

tommygarland.jpg

Tommy Garland comes from a long time horse family.
Tommy has trained many top Champion Horses over his
 career. He has also competed in many World Shows and
 events.
 Tommy Garland was chosen to compete in the 2008 "Road
 to the Horse" in Tennessee and has been asked to return
 for 2009. Join Tommy as he brings his World Class
 Talent to the North American Horse Fest in November.

 

Mari.jpg

 

Mari Monda Zdunic is a top dressage competitor having earned USDF gold, silver, and bronze medals, Olympic Sports Festival silver, bronze and team medals, along with numerous USDF top ten horse of the year honors from the United States Dressage Federation from Training through Grand Prix levels, open and all breed awards. Mari competed in the Olympic Trials in 1980, Gladstone, NJ; and the 1981 World Championship Trials. She is equally admired for her spectacular exhibition rides which have thrilled spectators from coast to coast. An associate of Mr. Chuck Grant for fourteen years, Mari is continuing his fine work since his death in 1990, as owner and trainer of Shine-A-Bit Farm.

Mari has been key in the promotion of nontraditional dressage mounts. She has trained and shown the first North American Arabian, Connemara, Appaloosa, and Paint Grand Prix dressage horses; those being Gahalla owned by Paul and Delores Lavins, Grosse Point, MI, Tre Awain DeValera owned by Three Creek Farm, St. Charles, MO., and Billie Joe Freckles, last owned by David and Anne Gribbons, Long Island, NY, and Double Darin Cody owned by Amy Mueller of Saginaw, MI.

Mari has also been deeply involved in the advocation of the American Quarter Horse in competitive dressage and for high school exhibitions. Mari and her horse, Shine-A-Bit III (AQHA) have performed exhibitions at the Washington International Horse Show, as well as at the Quarter Horse Congress, and was honored Grand Prix horse of the year for the United States Dressage Federations all breeds quarter horse awards in 1988. Mari also trained Royal Inspiration to a three time American Buckskin, Amateur Championship - rode and owned by Eva Haron, South Lyon, MI. Another familar mount for Mari has been Prussian Dudley, a Saddlebred/ Trakhaner cross gelding who really enjoyed his time in the spotlight.

Al

ways the consummate professional, Mari takes pride in students who ride and train, the end goal being to make your horse go "skipping down the road!"

colleenkelly.jpg

 Colleen Kelly, MISBS, EFA - NJAS Official Judge (Retired, President, Vaulting Victoria, started her career in exercise physiology, and now, some 30 years later, is one of most sought-after speakers around the world.
With years behind her in the research field with the University of NSW, and as the previous Spokeswoman for the WorkCover Authority of NSW, Colleen’s elite lecture circuit includes Equestrian Federations around the world, and world-class conferences such as Equine Extravaganza, Equine Affaire, Sporthorse Expo, EquineXpo and Equitana.
They say "you get it from your family" & Colleen's great grandmother Mary Louise Berry (b.1836) was well known for training animals and breaking horses, and, probably because of her petite size, was unable to do the rough "rope them down" methods.
This kind method of breaking was followed by Colleen's Grandfather, Alan Manuel. Colleen has always trained animals learning carefully from her mother, Gwen Kelly who not only was a master horsewoman, but able to train trick animals - even able to train cats to do every animal trick you can think of!

Colleen owned, trained and performed with the well known 'Rex the Wonderhorse', and Patch the Wonderdog at shows and performances & many charity and fundraising events around Australia.

tomtweeten2.jpg

Dr. Tom Tweeten is a scientist with more than 35 years of experience in Analytical Chemistry. He has worked with industrial chemicals and human and animal nutrition to develop chemical testing procedures to insure product quality and integrity.

About eleven years ago Dr. Tweeten and a couple of young entrepreneurs began developing a line of horse care grooming products. Since Dr. Tweeten is a horse owner and show competitor, he has worked to create products that are healthy and beneficial for his horses, while achieving the aesthetic results he wants. Dr. Tweeten’s experiences enable him to focus on developing a way to properly prepare and groom a horse so that it is beneficial to the animal. Based on this presentation you will learn what you will want to include in your tack box to maintain a healthy appearance of your horse.

Caring and maintaining a horse takes time and money. Taking time to work with a horse is an important part of getting the most out of a person’s investment whether it is preparing for a show or going for a trail ride. I will share some thoughts and ideas why grooming is not just for showing BUT an important part of communicating and building trust with a person’s horse.

There are three aspects of grooming that will be presented. They include:

  • Showing how the grooming process can help both the rider and the horse relax before beginning an activity. It helps both partners in the riding activity come to a common mental state.
  • Talking about selected tools that work best for grooming. Each tool will be demonstrated, showing how to get the most out the grooming device.
  • Summarizing of how to select different grooming aids and what to think about when looking at the ingredients they contain. Have you ever thought how the horse grooming process differs from human grooming?

Through participation in the presentation, a person will begin to have a deeper appreciation of how this type of quality time can strengthen their relationship with a horse, enhance the appearance of the horse, and enrich their riding experience. I invite people who are both new to riding horses as well as the experienced horse person to attend.

BerryExam.jpg

Steve Shaver of Turner, Michigan operates Equine Dental Services, providing quality dental care for horses throughout Michigan and surrounding states. He has owned horses since he was 6 years old with 40 plus years experience.

After a 17 year career in law enforcement, including as a mounted police officer, an injury caused him to look for a new occupation. After noticing the lack of trained equine dental professionals, he decided that this would allow him to work with the animals he has been involved with his whole life.

He is a graduate of the American School of Equine Dentistry in Purcellville, Virginia, one of three Equine Dental Schools in the country. The intensive course included instruction in floating, creating bit seats, incisor reduction and alignment, wave and hook reduction, non-surgical extraction techniques, cap removal, canine teeth reduction and full mouth balancing. Additional instruction in advanced equine dentistry and power equipment is offered. He has also received specialized training in performance horses, racing horses, and working with Arabian and Mustang horses.

Steve has developed a special relationship with the horses that he works with a and as a result is able to perform most of the horses dental needs without sedation.

DennisAuslam.jpg

Dennis Auslam

 www.redwoodstables.com

 Dennis Auslam does training, lessons and clinics out of his facility, Redwood Stables in Morton, MN as well as conducts clinic at remote locations. He also has been a presenter at several horse fairs in the Midwest. Dennis has 28 years of horse experience at all levels. He specializes in starting colts and also works with performance, halter, pleasure, and trail horses. Whether training any breed of horse, passing along techniques or teaching responsibility to young riders through lessons, it gives him great joy as a trainer and instructor to be able to expand people's knowledge of the potential of their horse and the relationship between horse and owner. Some of his accomplishments include year-end championships in rodeo associations and successful showings in AQHA and ABRA.

 

debi_idaho_69243600.300.jpg

Debbie Metcalfe

Missing Horses, Tack, Trailers and Horse Identification 

Often referred to as the “John Walsh” of the horse industry, Debi Metcalfe is perhaps the most recognized expert in the field of horse recovery, theft prevention and horse identification.
More than just a pasture fence was broken when thieves took Idaho, from Debi Metcalfe’s husband in Shelby, North Carolina, in 1997. Important ties binding her family together were stressed by the abduction of a horse they viewed as a member of their family. They reacted with confusion—people still steal horses?!—and fear. When she realized local law enforcement considered her family’s loss a minor matter, she took action.

Debi began what would prove to be one incredible journey. Her quest led she and husband Harold into the dangerous world horse thieves inhabit. Along the way she discovered unexpected allies and recovered Idaho in a church parking lot 51 weeks later in Tennessee.

She didn’t see it coming but Stolen Horse International had started forming itself as soon as she sent out her first plea on the Internet by email to anyone who would listen. Little by little people joined this unnamed group linked together by big hearts, kind hearts and broken hearts.

Stolen Horse International, Inc., located at www.netposse.com, sometimes referred to as NetPosse or SHI, is a one-of-a-kind, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with hundreds of thousands of visitors to the website each year. Information ranging from stolen horse listings to theft protection, from recovery tips to disaster planning and much more are on website. NetPosse, a volunteer group of people who forward IDAHO ALERTS for missing horses via email, print flyers and post in their communities, and watch for stolen horses at auctions, numbers into the thousands and is responsible for many of the recoveries.

Debi’s book, Horse Theft: Been There, Done That, is a must read addition to every horse owner’s library. Stolen Horse International, Inc. has been featured in many international magazine articles such as America’s Horse, Dressage Today, Horse and Rider, Paint Horse Journal, Equus, Practical Horseman, The Appaloosa Journal, as well as television newscast and shows. Debi, recently featured on the cover of The Gaited Horse magazine, can be seen on RFDTV on Best of America by Horseback and HorseCityTV’s In the Barn series. She has presented programs at all the Equine Affaires, Equine Extravaganza’s in NC and VA, and many more throughout the US. Debi has been a contributing columnist for PhelpsSports.com, TWHBEA's The Voice, Tom Seay's of Best of America by Horseback Radio. She has also been on radio with Rick Lambe, Wayne Williams, Jim Campbell and Lisa Ross-Williams.

Debi is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Pembroke

Cassie.jpg

 Cassie Bastien

04’ AVA Nat Champ.

07’ MSRA Specialty act of the year

08’ MSRA Specialty of the Year

With a background in Rodeo and a fundamental love for animals, Cassie has been able to meet and work with some of the Greatest Performs in the world. As a start on the rodeo tour Cassie did a series of performances showcasing her vaulting abilities. With the ground and weather conditions in the Midwest driving Cassie to come up with alternative acts, The Annie Oakley act was formed. The desire to take a little from the old wild west shows and some from the new extreme sports venues Cassie is constantly adding and trying new things to keep the crowd on their edge of there seats. Working with her 2 horse’s, Chance and Shyanne the world is a stage for the Next Generation of Equine showmanship.