Entertaining and Informative Horse Demonstrations

Demonstrations showcasing everything from handling baby foals to riding a young horse for its first time, and from miniatures to draft horses, are scheduled at the 2008 Nevada County Fair, August 6 – 10. Demonstrations take place every half hour from 11:30 am until 5:30 pm Wednesday through Sunday. In addition, a halter competition is slated for Thursday at 8 am.

“Our goal is to entertain visitors, as well as help educate them,” says Horse Exhibit Coordinator Ron Davis. “We have lined up exhibitors from all over Northern California.”

There will be draft horses pulling wagons, barrel racing, dressage, and foal handling exhibitions. Each day at 3:30 pm, professional horse trainer Jerily McCormick will demonstrate how to start round-pen training with a two-year-old colt. “Hopefully, the horse will advance from basic ground training the first day to being able to be ridden at a walk, jog and lope by the fifth day,” explains McCormick, a Nevada County resident who has been training horses for two decades.

Haflingers, the “Golden Horse of Austria,” reveal their versatility by pulling carriages, jumping, being ridden English and Western, and playing a competitive game of equine soccer. The horses actually kick the beach ball with their legs, trying to score goals (see photo).

Other breeds will also be featured, including Peruvian Pasos, Paints, Quarter Horses, Arabians, Morgans, Tennessee Walking Horses, Mules, Shires, Spotted Drafts, and Miniature horses. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm, herding dogs will exhibit their innate abilities to gather and move sheep and other livestock.

For specific demonstrations and times, please see the Nevada County Fair Schedule located at the Fair Office, at the Gates at the Fairgrounds, or on-line at the Fair’s website at www.nevadacountyfair.com. For more information about this year’s Fair, call the Fair Office at 530-273-6217.