Texas horseman Chris Cox – 3 time colt starting world champion, and Chicago horsewoman, Yvonne Barteau - FEI trainer, competitor and instructor, USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist, will headline the East Meets West themed 2014 Illinois Horse Fair, March 7 – 9 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.  The Illinois Horse Fair is sponsored by Purina Feed, Midway Trailer Sales, Illinois Farm Bureau, and Kubota USA, and produced by the Horsemen’s Council of Illinois.

Chris Cox has had a lifetime of education with the greatest, most important teacher of all, the horse. Raised on a cattle ranch in the wilds of Australia, Chris had opportunities that most horsemen of this day and age never experience. With only horses for transportation, Chris learned at an early age how to appreciate and distinguish the abilities and traditions of the great men and horses around him. Influenced in his early years by both English and Western traditions, Chris has implemented a style and technique that can be applied universally between both horse worlds. A common sense, straightforward approach allows the average horseman, as well as the advanced rider, insight into horse behavior and leads them towards that ultimate goal…a versatile and useful partnership between human and horse. 

Yvonne Barteau has dedicated her life to understanding horses and preparing them for their careers whatever that might be.  "I have been in the horse business all my life and have trained and competed horses in everything from Team Penning and barrels, to Standardbred racing, from 100 mile endurance rides, to Equine Theatre to Grand Prix Dressage.”  Yvonne has trained horses to the Grand Prix Level and has won numerous USDF Horse of the Year titles as well as winning CDI and FEI classes around the United States. The author of Ride the Right Horse, she is a sought-after instructor and clinician as well as an authority on recognizing equine personality types and targeted training strategies to communicate with particular temperaments.

Horse lovers of all stripes will enjoy diversity as never before at Illinois Horse Fair’s Silver Anniversary celebration!

Illinois Horse Fair annually offers training and riding clinics by nationally and internationally known trainers, seminars by horse experts, great shopping with 140 vendors selling all things equestrian.  Programming includes Breed and Sport Demos, Stallion Row and Parade, HorsesForSale Aisles, the All-Youth Judging Trials, Young Riders Area, and Queen/Princess Contests. 

Information on clinicians, schedules, and tickets will be posted at www.HorsemensCouncil.org/HorseFair as it is finalized. Those interested in having information emailed to them may sign up for Horse Fair Updates on the same home page or can participate in the mounting excitement through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/IllinoisHorseFair.

For exhibitor information contact Karen Freese, Manager, at (217) 677-2267 or [email protected].