HORSE LOVERS WILL FIND A FULL DAY’S FUN AT SUNBELT EXPO
MOULTRIE, GA---The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Horse Arena sponsored by Southern States, Legends & Triple Crown Horse Feeds will offer non-stop action this year.
The Equine Demonstrations at the Expo October 16-18 include Southern States Percheron Hitch, Stardust Drill Team (Pasa Finos), Barrel Racing, and Reined Cow Horses and Trick Horses Act.
A highlight in the show arena this year will be the Royal Thunder Percheron Team--comprised of six black “gentle giants” of the horse world known for their playful personality despite intimidating size (standing six feet at the shoulder, and weighing 2,100 pounds).
Originally bred in medieval times near Normandy, France, the beautiful Percheron is thought to be the only draft horse breed with Arabian bloodlines. The horse’s strength made it ideal for heavily armed knights, and later attributed to its status as an excellent workhorse for farming and hauling freight.
The Percheron Team--hitched to an early 20th century street wagon (with an authentic 1908 Studebaker undercarriage) loaded with farm supplies, will perform once a day during the Expo at 3 p.m. Visitors will delight as the horses complete “Two Figure Eights,” “Spin the Top”, and “The Docking Maneuver,”--where they demonstrate their ability to move out of the way of traffic without moving the wagon at a simulated loading dock.
Single riders will also entertain in the Sunbelt Expo Horse Arena. Kim Landry of Starke, FL.--who has won every major futurity--will demonstrate barrel racing. In this timed event, riders must maneuver around barrels in a pattern. Speed is of the essence, but accuracy is also important (Hitting the barrel causes a five-second penalty). Landry is distinctive in that she is one of the few who competes on horses she has trained.
“I train colts five years and under for their first year of competition,” Landry said. “At the Expo, I plan to show how I train and some of my techniques.”
Carole Fletcher of the Singin’ Saddles Ranch in Florida will perform a trick horse act, in which her horse will count, bow, dance, pose, and even play dead. Fletcher, who began training and performing with trick horses in 1976, will share her gentle, positive reinforcement techniques that produce trusting animals that love to “horse around”.
Also, look for the Dixie Reiners Horsemans Quarter Horse group and the Star Dust Drill Team; a group of Paso Finos that will perform in the horse arena and along with the Percheron Hitch will lead the Antique Tractor Parade at 2 p.m. The Horse Pavilion will also house an array of static exhibits for the equine enthusiast.
The Sunbelt Expo show hours are from 8:30 am to 5 pm Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 8:30 am to 4 pm on Thursday. The three-day show will be held at Spence Field; four miles southeast of US Hwy 319 on Highway 133 near Moultrie, GA. Admission is $5 per day, per person. Children under 6 are admitted free with a parent. For more information, visit www.sunbeltexpo.com or contact the Expo office at Telephone: (229) 985-1968, Fax: (229) 890-8518, E-mail: info@sunbeltexpo.com -- Address: 290-G Harper Blvd., Moultrie, GA. 31768.