By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent COLUMBUS, Ohio — Whether you’re a fan of the event from watching RFD-TV or are a first-time viewer, the Extreme Cowboy Race at this year’s Equine Affaire in Columbus is sure to have you gripping tight to the saddle horn and taking a deep seat for a wild ride.
Craig Cameron will not only present clinics on general training and horsemanship at this year’s Equine Affaire, taking place April 12-15 at the Ohio Expo Center, but he will also be conducting his Extreme Cowboy Race as shown on RFD-TV.
“Equine Affaire enjoys an excellent relationship with Craig Cameron,” said Angela Ryan, media and marketing coordinator for Equine Affaire. “He’s been one of our most popular presenters for many years giving clinics on topics such as general horsemanship and colt-starting techniques, developing the workability of your horse and riding smart.”
The timed and judged race takes horses and their riders through an obstacle course designed to push them beyond their traditional comfort zones and test the communication between the horse and rider as well as the horsemanship skills and athletic ability of each competitor.
“One of the basic philosophies of Equine Affaire is to support equine professionals like Mr. Cameron throughout their careers,” Ryan said. “Eager to showcase the impressive skills of truly outstanding horsemanship to a wider audience, we are pleased to bring the thrill of the Extreme Cowboy Race to the Equine Affaire event in Columbus this year.”
Created by Ryan Dohrn of HorseCity.com and Cameron, HorseCity.com decided to name the event Extreme Cowboy Rave to challenge typical reality TV shows with an infusion of horseback riding thrills. Since 2005, Cameron has designed and horsed three races at his Double Horn Ranch in Bluffdale, Texas.
Each season, Cameron assembles an impressive roster of competitors from across the country who compete for the title of Extreme Cowboy Race Champion. The race spans 15 30-minute episodes featuring horse and rider teams as they compete the various rounds of the racecourse.
“Horse people will enjoy the event because every rider faces at least one of the challenges incorporated into the race every time they ride,” Ryan said. “Horse people are able to visualize themselves working through the course, sparking lively debates about how they would have handled a particular challenge.”
But the race will appeal to non-horse folks as well, Ryan said.
“Non-horse people will enjoy the event because the Extreme Cowboy Race incorporates all the exciting elements of a reality show,” Ryan said. “In addition to being timed, the race is judged, making the race not only about speed, but about teamwork. An added element is the fact that the teamwork is between a horse and a human, giving non-horse people an excellent example of what horse people already know: horses are incredible companion animals and amazingly intelligent.”
Although not currently scheduled to be filmed for broadcast, competitors at the Columbus event will face all the same elements, excitement and prizes associated with the televised events that take place in Texas, including $4,250 in cash prizes.
The race will take place in Priefert Arena with a maximum of 35 horse and rider teams selected to compete by Cameron. The first 18 teams will compete Saturday afternoon with the remaining 17 teams competing Sunday afternoon. The top 10 teams and one wild card team will then advance to the finals Sunday afternoon.
The course will be constructed within the 100 feet by 200 feet parameters of the Priefert Arena and will feature obstacles similar to those featured on previous races - as well as several new obstacles designed specifically for the Equine Affaire event. Likely obstacles include saddling a horse, dragging logs, jumping obstacles, loading into a trailer, backing through a pattern, pole bending or rollbacks, navigating a log jumble, penning cattle and working gates, conquering dirt terrain, crossing water obstacles and more.
Although a timed event, each team is also judged on each obstacle and awarded one to 10 points for quality of horsemanship. Criteria include horsemanship, cadence, control, horse’s attitude and overall execution.
Horses and riders are required to complete each obstacle in a given time limit to receive points; if the obstacle is not completed in the time frame, the contestant is flagged and must move on to the next obstacle. Points are then translated into time penalties with the lowest overall time winning the race.
Cash prizes as well as Circle Y saddle packages will be awarded to the top three finishers. The first place team will receive $2,000 and a Circle Y saddle as well as the title of Extreme Cowboy Race Champion. The second and third place teams will receive $1,500 and $750 respectively as well as a Circle Y saddle each. Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the final phase of the race Sunday afternoon.
“Equine Affaire is always looking for new, different and impressive features to bring to our attendees. The Extreme Cowboy Race is all of that and more,” Ryan said.
“Known as a public defender of the horse, Mr. Cameron’s training programs are designed to build confidence and trust between horse and rider. He has dedicated himself to those who educate their horse by first educating themselves.
“Equine Affaire is also based on education, offering riders of all ages and skill levels unparalleled educational opportunities.
Through the excitement of competition, the Extreme Cowboy Rave showcases what an educated horseperson can achieve when they become a teammate with their horse.”
The race is open to all riders 18 years of age and older and horses of all breeds, however there will be no divisions based on gender or age. Entry applications can be found online at www.equineaffaire.com This farm news was published in the March 28, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. |
