Tradition continues strong with Ag Progress Days Equine Experience

Tradition continues strong with Ag Progress Days Equine Experience

The Leon Wintermyer Inc. six-horse hitch, which will be on hand all three days, is a popular attraction at the Equine Experience.

University Park, Pa. -- The Equine Experience at Penn State's Ag Progress Days has a history of delivering attractions and activities that educate and entertain horse lovers of all ages and experience levels.

The 2010 version of the exhibit will be no exception, as Penn State's Equine Science team and the College of Agricultural Sciences again will offer a full schedule of events. Visitors to the show, Aug. 17-19, will have the opportunity to learn about a variety of topics through training and breed clinics, demonstrations, informational displays and lectures.

This year the Leon Wintermyer Inc. six-horse hitch of Percherons, driven by Barbara Richardson, will be on hand all three days. These powerful animals will be hitched and driven once each day, in addition to giving a special performance during the Wednesday-evening session of Ag Progress Days.

Also on Wednesday evening, the Pennsylvania State Police Mounted Patrol will present an entertaining demonstration of police horse abilities and crowd control. Other events will include drill team performances, light horse driving, miniature horses, polocrosse exhibitions and demonstrations by 4-H members and Grier School students.

Penn State faculty, staff, students and invited trainers will conduct handling demonstrations aimed at helping horse owners learn skills to more safely and confidently enjoy the use of their horses. Breed demonstrations will feature Paso Finos, miniature horses, quarter horses, draft breeds and Arabians.

In addition to the riding and training demonstrations, a series of lectures will be presented in the Equine Learning Center. Topics will include parasite control, environmental stewardship, dietary supplements, nutrition, equine massage and routine horse-health management skills every horse owner should know.

The Pennsylvania Equine Council again will staff a learning station at the Equine Experience to allow visitors to groom a horse, visit with council members and learn what issues are at the forefront of Pennsylvania's equine industry.

The 4-H Equine Skillathon, an opportunity for 4-H members to test their equine knowledge, will take place Thursday morning. Penn State Equine Science faculty and staff will be on hand all three days at the Equine Arena and Equine Exhibit Building.

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, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 17; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 18; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 19. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days Web site at http://apd.psu.edu/ online.