Opens March 28th In Albany, Oregon

Presented by SilverLite Trailers, the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo returns to Albany, Oregon for its ninth year March 28th through the 30th, and will feature an impressive list of renowned clinicians and presenters, diverse commercial displays, the popular Breed Showcases and Stallion reviews and new features including Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Race(tm). Presenters this year include Craig Cameron’s “Ride Smart” clinics; Ken McNabb, “Discovering the Horseman Within”; Jane Armour, “Hunters & Jumpers”; Jeremy Steinberg, “Dressage”; Cleve Wells, “Western Pleasure” and Bob Jeffreys & Suzanne Sheppard, “Teaching Two as One”. “The Horse Show Live” with Rick Lamb, presented by Daily 72, will also be appearing daily with live interviews and presentations.

A Native Texan Craig Cameron, one of the original clinicians, is on the road more than 44 weeks a year covering 80,000 miles demonstrating the style of horsemanship he has perfected in the last 23 years. Called the “public defender of the horse,” Craig dedicates himself to those who educate their horses by first educating themselves. At an age where most have long since retired the thought of starting colts, Craig Cameron, known as “The Cowboy’s Clinician,” starts hundreds of horses each year in addition to his four-day clinics held at his ranches in Bluff Dale, TX and Lincoln, NM. He blends education with entertainment and has created a program that builds confidence and trust between man and horse. Rather than fight the animal, he offers patience and understanding that leaves the horse wanting to do what is asked of him. In the early 80’s Craig was fortunate to meet a man named Ray Hunt who opened his eyes to the art of working through understanding when training horses. Building upon his experiences, Craig uses a philosophy of teaching that eliminates rough handling of horses earning him a well-deserved international following. Craig, a life-long rancher, working cowboy and horse trainer, has just about done it all from cow-calf, stocker operations, custom hay-baling, or capturing wild cattle for fellow ranchers. After years of bull riding on the professional rodeo circuit and successfully operating his cattle business, Craig, decided that it was truly the horse that attracted him. He soon discovered his aptitude for communicating with the horse and meticulously refined and nurtured this talent. He wanted to give back something to the horse. When he was ready, he began conducting western horsemanship clinics and demonstrations to help riders increase their knowledge and understanding of their horse and to keep the cowboy tradition alive.

Craig Cameron will not only present clinics at the 2008 Northwest Horse Fair & Expo, he will also conduct his Extreme Cowboy Race™ each day at the event. The Extreme Cowboy Race™ -as seen on RFD-TV- is a timed and judged race through an obstacle course that is designed not only to push horse and rider teams out of their traditional “comfort zones,” but also to test communication between horse and rider and the horsemanship skills and athletic abilities of each competitor. Spectators will find the competition exciting and entertaining to watch while contenders will address its challenges in a race for $7,200 in cash prizes, and the title of “Extreme Cowboy Race Champion.”

Although the Extreme Cowboy Race™ at the Northwest Horse Fair & Expo is not currently scheduled to be filmed for broadcast, the competition will include many of the same elements, excitement associated with Craig Cameron’s televised productions in Texas. A maximum of 36 horse/rider teams will be selected through an application process by Mr. Cameron for participation in the race. The first 12 teams will compete the evening of Thursday, March 27th. The second round of 12 teams will compete Friday, March 28th with the remaining 12 teams competing Saturday, March 29th. The top twelve horse and rider teams will advance to the Extreme Cowboy Race™ finals on Sunday, March 30th.

Back by popular demand this year, Ken McNabb started his equine experience on a two-week pack trip when he was 10 days old. Like most kids who grow up on ranches, Ken was working cattle and training his own horses while still in grade school. Throughout high school, he picked up extra money breaking colts for neighbors. By the early 1990’s, Ken’s natural ability and his love for horses led him to consider studying professional horse training as a career. Around that time John Lyons, with his psychological approach and gentle training methods, was beginning to gain national acceptance and in 1993, Ken became one of the first certified John Lyons Trainers. The ranchers back home were skeptical of these gentle methods, but as Ken began producing better saddle horses, the doubts disappeared. The demand for Ken’s training time left him fully booked. Realizing that thousands of people were anxious to find better ways of training, Ken began teaching his techniques in 1996.

Since that time, Ken has taught thousands of students. He has had clinics from coast to coast, from Texas to Alaska. Universally, his students agree that he is a master communicator who makes training easy to understand and workable for both young and old. Ken is committed to transferring his expertise to his students so that they can become the rider/trainer themselves. He believes that with the right training, mediocre horses can become good, and good horses can become great. He has always believed that any rider, and any horse, can find their best potential given the right opportunity. He offers a unique environment where the horse is trained using the best methods, and the rider is coached to bring their personal best into the arena. Ken’s faith in Christ, along with his commitment to strong family values and patriotism, help make him the kind of speaker/trainer people enjoy.

New this year, Jane Armour will be at the Expo presenting Hunter Jumper clinics. Armour grew up in a small rural town in Scotland, and was lucky enough to have her own ponies. The pleasure and passion she discovered in her early childhood created a desire to be around horses as much as possible. The desire to learn all that she could lead her to train for the British Horse Society Examinations with the British Olympic Dressage Trainer. During her training she learned that a systematic training program builds a sound happy horse that is relaxed, confident and successful. She has not deviated from these principles in over thirty-five years of teaching and training. Jane competed successfully in Scotland, England and Ireland in dressage, eventing and show hunter classes with numerous horses. Wins included hunter classes at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland and light-weight hunter championship at Balmoral, Northern Ireland. During this time she became a dressage judge and started the first Scottish Dressage Championships. In Great Britain the British Horse Society is the lead body for advice and training. She became an Examiner in 1976 for the British Horse Society and worked for many years training and testing professional riders and instructors. After relocating to Ireland in 1994, she expanded the breeding part of the business and became a judge for ridden hunters for the Irish Horse Shows Association. She now travels extensively in the States and in Scotland and Ireland offering clinics and workshops to riders and trainers who want to build a strong relationship with their horse or students. Jane has written one book, Steps to Success through Clinics and Confidence, and is currently working on a second book for parents and trainers about the emotional value of riding for children. She has two DVD’s ‘Reach out for Confidence’ and ‘A Bit of Understanding’.

Jeremy Steinberg made his first appearance at a national venue in 1996 at the USDF Young Rider Championship where he earned Individual Gold Medal and helped to win the Team Silver Medal for Region 6. Since then, he has gained much attention in regional and national dressage press as “one to watch” among world class US competitors. Jeremy and his most recent FEI partner, Parocco, had extremely successful show seasons in 2005, 2006 and early 2007 at Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle. This exceptional partnership resulted in their making the 2007 US League Final and earning the invitation to compete in the invitational only competition at the World Cup before Parocco’s well deserved retirement. During 2007, Parocco and Jeremy earned the Oregon Dressage Society’s Good Sportsmanship and Horse Ambassador awards for bringing international level dressage home to Oregon. Jeremy and Parocco won both in 2005 and 2006 the Region 6, Northwest Dressage and Oregon Dressage Society’s yearly Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle Championships.

Jeremy’s accomplishments also include riding in numerous United States Dressage Federation training symposiums with some of the greatest trainers in the world. Along with training over 10 horses to Grand Prix Dressage, Jeremy has been long listed numerous times by the United States Equestrian Federation for both the developing rider program and for the last World Equestrian Games. Jeremy teaches daily lessons to riders of all levels, training and showing horses from Training Level through Grand Prix. Jeremy enjoys teaching, emphasizing an environment conducive to learning classical dressage and good horsemanship. His goal is for students to understand the basic philosophies of dressage, enabling them to work successfully with their own horses. Jeremy has become a much sought after clinician in the United States and Canada.

In the circles of pleasure horse owners, trainers, and riders, Cleve Wells is a name that is commonly heard and spoken, and with good reason. Cleve has ridden two separate horses to World Championships in the same year, Radical Rodder in Sr. Western Pleasure and Zippo Can Do in Jr. Western Pleasure. Though it isn’t the first time an individual trainer has done this, it has been many years since the feat was last accomplished. The World Championships for Radical Rodder and Zippo Can Do aren’t the only accomplishments under Cleve’s belt. Add to them fifteen other horses he has led to World Championships! But his talent doesn’t end there either...Cleve has been described by other trainers and horsemen as ‘a true thinker, way ahead of his time’ his ideas are innovative and creative. He has taken his skills as a trainer and rider and expanded to teaching not only other trainers who have worked with him but also through his seminars where he takes his training on the road. Cleve hosts several clinics in which he teaches his program to others in person.

Another great addition this year will be Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard Teaching Two as One(tm). Bob Jeffreys’ passion for horses and years of personal experience and work with various trainers led him to develop the Partnership Training for Horse and Rider(r) system. His training methods encompass the most effective techniques available. Bob’s unique Vowel Method of Applied Pressure(tm) enhances the rider’s ability to communicate with the horse by gaining control over specific body parts. Bob has taken the time to consider training from the horse’s perspective. He carefully analyzes whether the horse is afraid, or is simply confused about what is being asked. Through this thorough, thoughtful and concentrated process, Bob has been able to discard many unproductive methods and devices. In addition to communicating with specific body parts, Bob’s methods focus on training the horse to become a willing partner, as well as mastering riding techniques that improve this partnership.

Bob works with a wide variety of breeds including Quarter Horses, Paints, Thoroughbreds, Morgans, Arabs, Icelandics, Norwegian Fjords, Saddlebreds, Missouri Fox Trotters and Standardbreds. He also writes a column that is featured in New York Horse, Infohorse.com.

Suzanne Sheppard (Centered Riding® Level 3 Instructor/Clinician) grew up in Virginia, taking English riding lessons from the time she was five years old. She enjoyed showing and trail riding her own horses throughout her childhood. As an adult Suzanne studied T’ai Chi Chuan, eventually becoming a T’ai Chi instructor, while also earning her Master’s Degree in Education. After teaching elementary school for 10 years and establishing a successful private tutoring practice Suzanne was inspired to return to the equestrian world, where she could pursue her love of beautiful movement with horses. Since graduating from Bob Jeffreys’ first Trainer Education Program she has worked with a variety of horse breeds and their riders to cultivate better equitation through a focus on body awareness, feel, balance, timing and communication. Her background in natural horsemanship, martial arts and education led her to study with Sally Swift and many other very gifted Centered Riding(r) instructors, earning her current qualifications. Suzanne has been featured on various radio and TV shows, and has worked with Bob to develop and produce their Self-Help Series for Riders New & Returning to Horses, a triple video/DVD set.

The three-day equine exposition is an excellent opportunity to improve your horsemanship skills whether you’re a beginner or expert rider. The line-up of diverse clinicians ensures that riders of any discipline will learn new skills to improve their riding and enjoyment of their horses. This Expo is designed to meet the needs of the expert as well as the beginning horse enthusiast. In addition to the instructional sessions in the lecture halls, arenas and courtyard, attendees will enjoy two big buildings of commercial vendors featuring the latest innovations in the equine industry and entertaining equine demonstrations and presentations including the very popular Friday evening Equine Extravaganza, drill teams, dancing horses and more.

Sunday, March 30th is LMF Feed Youth Day. Admission is free to 4-H and Pony Club members 18 years and under presenting a current club ID at the gate. Clinics and Lectures presented that day by Bob Jeffreys and Suzanne Sheppard will be geared specifically toward youth audiences.

The Northwest Horse Fair and Expo is sponsored by a variety of area companies including SilverLite Trailers, Coastal Farm & Ranch, NW Rider Magazine, the official publication, Andis Clippers, LMF Feed Stores, Orthoflex Saddleworks, Inc., Embroidery Creations and Guaranty RV & 5th Wheel Centers. For more information contact the Northwest Horse Fair and Expo at www.equinepromotions.net, by phone (765) 655-2107 or via e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it