Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo (COEE) wrapped up another successful year after teaming up with Iron Horse Equestrian Complex (IHEC) in Burlington, Ontario, to host the second year of this exciting event. Held June 10th to 12th this year, the Expo featured demonstrations, clinics, a tradeshow, heavy horse events and an Extreme Cowboy Race™ all geared towards horse enthusiasts in a variety of disciplines.

“We are used to running events at this facility, but the team at COEE is exceptional – they were very organized and no details were left out,” says Ken Niles, owner of IHEC. “I look forward to watching this event grow and continuing the relationship between Iron Horse Equestrian Complex and Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo.”

All seven outdoor rings at IHEC were used in order to accommodate a variety of disciplines spanning English, Western, heavy horse, driving and horsemanship. North American Dressage star, Jane Savoie, was a huge hit during her Canadian appearance, drawing an excited crowd who audited sessions geared towards improving the connection between horse and rider.

Wayne Roycroft, who recently retired as the coach of the Australia’s Olympic Equestrian Team and whose family is considered an Australian Eventing dynasty, gave stadium and cross–country clinics to several riders and even mounted up to school participants’ horses.

Famed American cowboy, Craig Cameron, spoke about horsemanship and gave reining demonstrations on Whimpys Tinseltown, owned by Sharon and John Fletcher of Waterford, Ontario.

“Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo has been designed to offer these educational and business opportunities to riders, coaches, horse owners and all equine professionals,” says Lorie Jocius, president of Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo. “We strive to provide the tools to help people take better care of their horses and to improve their skills as equestrians.”

One of the show stoppers took place in Rings 6 on Saturday evening with the finals of Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race™. Twelve of the top finalists from the semi–finals negotiated a new obstacle course in front of a thrilled audience. The champion of the night – winner of $1,500 and a Nurtural Horse Bitless Bridle – was Camilla Willings of Kenilworth, Ontario and her Paso Fino stallion, Mercenario.

The Reserve Champion of the Extreme Cowboy Race™ – winner of $1,000 and a prize pack from Just Add Horses – was taken by the only other stallion, Ima Patriotic Doc, and his rider, Lantz McLaren of Indian River, Ontario.

The rest of the placings were as follows:
   3rd – Ashley Bull (winner of $500) – Monkton, ON
   4th – Michelle Henry – Fenwick, ON
   5th – Jennifer Postma – Murpeth, ON
   6th – Jennifer Postma – Murpeth, ON
   7th – Heather Gill – St. Williams, ON
   8th – Tim Fortune – Stayner, ON
   9th – Laurie Donaldson – Holstein, ON
   10th – Yvonne O’Brien – Zurich, ON
   11th – Greg O’Brien – Zurich, ON
   12th – Rodney Fuller – Holstein, ON

The other show stopper was the Heavy Horse Happening, sponsored by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, that ran on Saturday and Sunday. This competition featured six of the top heavy horse hitches in Ontario as well the Cape Cod Percherons, a world–class hitch originating from Nova Scotia. The highlight of this two–day learning event was the Six–Horse Hitch class with the first–place ribbon going to the Glen–Cal Percheron hitch, driven by Calvin Lipsett Jr. All of the participants were delighted with the commentaries received after each class from the judge, Randy Robertson, and Jim Poole, the retired general manager of the Budweiser Clydesdales.

“It is difficult to learn how to improve in any discipline if you are never told what you are doing wrong,” added Lorie Jocius. “Feedback from a judge is not appropriate in a real competition but we strongly encourage it at our Equine Expo so participants understand steps they can take to get better for upcoming competitions.”

In addition to preparing for year three of Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo, the management team have started prepping for the nation’s largest agricultural trade show, Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show, which is going into its 18th season on September 13, 14 & 15, 2011 in Woodstock, Ontario. For more information, visit www.OutdoorFarmShow.com.

The 2012 Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo will be held June 8, 9 & 10, 2012. Keep an eye on the website at www.EquineExpo.ca or like Canada’s Outdoor Equine Expo on Facebook.