Despite the fact I live in Massachusetts, I haven’t gone to the Equine Affaire. It’s coming up next week. I have the schedule of events but when I had the chance last year, opted to stay home and go for a ride instead. I am not a crowd person and understand it’s an enormous trade show. Any one gone? Did you enjoy it? Some of the workshops sound interesting. Steffen Peters will be there. I wonder if it will have an adverse affect on my wallet. All that stuff!
It is enormous… but it is fun. if you are not a huge crowd person you may not love it, it is very busy, but it’s not busy the oblivious people in Walmart are - most everyone is walking purposefully, and it’s pretty easy to get around although it is a huge complex. I almost want to say go with a friend, but it is also fun to go by yourself.
I live in MA as well and have gone almost every year since I was a teen. If you are not shopping, you might not like it. Bring your own purse (ahem, we call them “granny purses”) and stock with snacks and water. The vendors charge an arm and a leg for water.
I mostly go for the trade/vendor expos - lots of good deals and fun things you can pick up for Xmas shopping for horse friends. I watch some of the clinics/forums but sometimes it just really makes me wish I was riding, so I don’t stick around too long unless it’s a demonstration I haven’t seen of or heard before. I also really like some of the food trucks. It’s a bit of a drive for me but I never think on the way home I wish I didn’t go…
Sometimes you can get some really good deals at EA you can’t get normally from vendors - I saw some brand name stuff that was on sale, I picked up some quirky/fun items that weren’t too expensive the last few years as well.
But yes, it will have an adverse effect on your wallet… plan accordingly 
WE have a much smaller but similar thing locally. It can be overwhelming, but that’s the fun of it. You also get to see things you didn’t expect, like cadaver hooves at the farrier’s tables or new kinds of arena footing, or new saddle designs. Or maybe walk through a 4 horse gooseneck with living quarters and ooh and ah. Then when you get worn out, you can sit down and watch a clinic or demonstration. it does eat up a day and you will end up spending money on things you didn’t know you needed or even know existed, but it’s cool to be in a huge event where everyone is horse focused and out to have a good time looking at stuff. You are having some BNT clinicians this year so that’s always interesting to watch, even if they aren’t in your discipline, good riders and coaches are always worth seeing. And there’s some sort of Fantasia in the evenings, plus rare breeds on display. Much bigger than ours, looks really cool!
Equine Affaire is really fun. I’d recommend going on a weekday because weekends are really crowded. The clinics and shopping are great. The breed pavilion is one of my favorites.
Each Equine affaire probably has its own clinicians and vendors. The last Ohio one didn’t have as much English gear as expected (tall boot shopping was lousy!) but had really good clinics. YMMV
I work it, and I really enjoy it. The booth I work at is behind the bleachers so I can listen to the clinicians while I work.I’ve learned a fair bit auditing, and I rode in clinics at EA Ohio twice. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
If shopping is your thing, GREAT deals at Circle L (western) Tack Warehouse (Western and nylon, as well as custom mohair girths), Horseloverz (EVERYTHING-come see me ). Back on track usually has clearance items in their booth half off. Probably others too.
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I have really bad anxiety when it comes to large crowds, but I still drive down from Maine every year. It is SO worth it, especially if you’re a bargain shopper like me 
The clinics are typically fantastic and you can learn a lot. They have something for everyone. But like someone else said, bring your own snacks and waters, food and drinks are PRICY!
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I mostly go for the shopping! I love to just browse the rows of vendors and keep an eye out for unique stuff you may not be able to easily get online. It’s also a good opportunity to try on things like boots or saddles (for yourself) that you may not be able to get your hands on otherwise. I haven’t had much luck finding particularly good sales, though I believe Sundays are best for sales (before vendors have to cart everything home again). Clinics can be quite good, especially in the Coliseum, but because I like to make my way through each building, I don’t usually pull myself away for the clinics. One year a friend was riding in one of the clinics, so I helped her prep and watched her ride, but otherwise it’s been a long time since I watched one!
I’m going with friends this year, and have nothing specific in mind to purchase, so it’s mostly a good opportunity to spend time with horse friends!
The crowds are definitely a bit crazy, which is why I only go on Thursday or Friday. Of course, Friday this year is a holiday so that may be just as bad as Sat/Sun…
I’ve been going with a barn buddy/friend for a long time. Her brother lives about 20 mins. from the Big E so we don’t have to pay for a hotel room. There isn’t anything else like it that we can get to, at least from northern New England and it’s my annual big long weekend escapade.
The shopping is good to great, depending on whether you are looking for things you need, things you don’t really need, and things you didn’t know you needed. I tend to be in the latter category now. Don’t expect to be bowled over with all sorts of outrageous bargains. The vendors know we are a captive, spendthrift crowd, but you can get some good buys if you keep your eyes open. On Sunday some vendors offer a discount before they start to pack up. It’s a good idea to have a sense of what regular prices are on things you like so you can shop “intelligently.” My two targets this year are Back on Track for another black baby pad, and ordering supplements from HorseTech because they both offer a discount. Oh, and then there’s Dark Horse Chocolates. Stop by for a sample.
I have to put an ad in for our vet, Dr David Jefferson, who has a terrific book out called “Maine Horse Doctor: on the Road with Dr J.” It’s a compilation of dozens of his columns in the Horses Maine which are a lot of fun to read. Even better, they are loaded with all sorts of information so we will be better, more educated horse owners.
As far as the overall schedule, I think it’s been stronger other years. This year’s two biggest headliners are Steffen Peters and Phillip Dutton. But if you have never been, or don’t go often, you certainly will find plenty to do between shopping, clinics and demos, and touring the barns. Schedule is on their website so you can pick what you want to see. We used to do all 4 days, but find that pretty exhausting, maybe because we are both in our late 60s.
Food is expensive but isn’t bad. Bring snacks and beverages.
Have fun. You will run into someone you know who you never run into at home.
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L O V E I T!!! And I drive from New York. I am so sad I am not going, but a work detail and a horse show came in the way. I am already hoping for next year!!
For those of you that have been to Equine Affaire, any tips for first-timers? Also, I’m getting dropped off by a friend and don’t want to have to pay for parking if they aren’t staying, is there a place to drop off or a pedestrian entrance?
You’ll have to get dropped off outside the parking gate. There is a foot path that goes from this end of the parking lot to the ticketing gate. If you’re not driving, the gate you want is the gate behind the Kid’s Place daycare center.
Love love love equine affaire. I can’t wait until I can go again (currently in nursing school and can’t get away for a weekend).
Tips for first-timers: wear a backpack and put a couple waters and some snacks in it, as another poster suggested. It also doubles as a cargo area for your shopping. I prefer a backpack to a large purse because the backpack keeps your hands free for eating, looking at the schedule or map, taking notes, etc.
Get a schedule and choose which clinics you want to audit, and plan to be there for them. There are 4? huge buildings that are pretty spread out, so you want to leave like 10 minutes of walking/finding a seat time before your clinic starts. You can shop around your clinic times. This is the way that I’ve found best to feel like I’m learning and not just shopping/wandering around aimlessly.
Bring a small notebook and pen for taking notes during clinics or jotting down items you may want to buy later on.
Wear comfy shoes.
Wear layers. You’ll be in and out of buildings a lot and… it’s November in the northeast.
The busiest days are Friday and Saturday. Thursday and Sunday are less busy crowd-wise but it also closes earlier on Sunday and things can be pretty picked over by then.
Have fun fun to everyone who goes! I’ll be joining you next year!
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I’ve been going for 10 years now. While it’s gotten a little predictable for obvious reasons, it’s still fun. The best day to go is Thursday. Few crowds and lots of good deals. I got a pair of $169 breeches for $30 this year. Good sales on boots too. There are plenty of clinics to watch representing all disciplines, good food and just lots of happy people spending money on their horses. Yes, it is definitely a wallet buster, but in a fun way. I’m going back up tomorrow to watch the jumping clinics.
We went for the third year in a row this past weekend. It was ok, not great, but worth the time. We got many of the things we needed but it seemed like many of the vendors preferred to have you order online ship things to you rather than binging stock to the show. We were ready to buy a nibble net but since the company didn’t bring any to sell, and still wanted to charge for shipping we passed. The night show was also disappointing compared to other years. I could have skipped the whole first half as it seemed like it was nothing but dressage riders in different costumes all doing the same thing. The second half was a lot better with the versatility challenge, drill team, mustangs, etc. It just seemed like other years they had a bigger mix of different types of riding during the show.
Keith
I’ve attended for last few years. I like that there are- lots of opportunities to see clinics in different disciplines, all during this one event. This year we caught a gaited horse clinic and carriage driving clinic, there are few folks that do those disciplines in my area so that was a treat. Of course there are clinics in the more popular disciplines too.
I also love to see the breed demos and walk around the barns learning about the different breeds.
Shopping can be mixed. Last year got a great deal on breeches at the smartpak booth. But it depends what you’re looking for of course. I think at EA Ohio, they have a used tack consignment sale. Wish they would do that in Mass. too.
I’ve gone for about 15 years now, but for about 10 years I’ve gone with a barn buddy/friend whose brother lives about 20 minutes away. Our housing costs a bottle of wine (horse-related label, of course) and a couple of box seats for the Fantasia. This year’s show was pretty good even though the Canadian Cowgirls and Icelandics weren’t there. Loved Sylvia Zerbini who has done her liberty show in Cavalia, and Bobby Kerr’s great cowboy act with his mustangs.
But the shopping? I got a few good deals on some closeout clothing and books. The best deal was a set of turnouts: buy 2 get one free, so I saved the price of the sheet. A lot of vendors in Better Living wouldn’t have been in there a few years ago. Tacky clothing, jewelry, for example. The biggest shock were that Crop and Carrot didn’t have their big booth in Mallory (always had great deals on Ariats) and Bit of Britain was gone. The breed pavilion was not full, nor was C barn. It has gotten quite expensive for a booth and stalling, and I think quite a few vendors are on the fence about continuing to come. Attendance was fairly light on Thursday, and not as crowded on Friday (holiday) and Saturday. We didn’t do Sunday.
Things are going down hill. The big name clinicians were great, as usual, including Steffen Peters and Philip Dutton. But the smaller sessions of the right side of the schedule were not as enticing as they used top be. That may be because we’ve gone for so many years. I hope they get a shot in the arm, because there isn’t anything else like it in New England and New York. I’d hate to see it fritter away. We always have fun, and we always bump into someone we haven’t seen in a while.
I too noticed that some big name vendors weren’t there. Rod’s, BoB, and Crop and Carrot. I don’t think I saw Berry Fit there either.
I was disappointed in the one clinic that I went specifically to see. But ended up watching a bit of others and learned plenty! The big name clinicians certainly delivered.
I went on Friday and it was crowded but I’ve certainly been there when it was way busier. The Mustang Virtual Reality trailer was pretty neat.
There were some good blanket deals. I am kicking myself because there was a display of five or six Rambo/Horseware blankets set up and I really liked one that was yellow and grey but I didn’t buy it because I did NEED it. But then today my horse shreds her turnout blanket. Of course! I can’t even remember the name of the tack shop now.
I’ll admit I didn’t even go into the C barn. I usually do but I just didn’t feel like looking at 30 gypsy vanners
Adams horse supplies had the Rambo display and those prices are probably online as well.
I got some excellent deals at Antares and Equifit. And picked up some things I hate paying shipping on like saddle soap.
did you happen to check the prices on that Antares with the freaky-headstall (Precision?)? I remember reading you have that headpiece? Thought of you when I saw it. I wish I had been able to buy it but I went with a friend who was feeling frugal and the peer pressure got to me… and I didn’t really need it… Saw some good deals in the bin too.
