Over the course of four weeks, 4,000-plus horses and more than half a million humans will trot through the Ohio Expo Center during the All American Quarter Horse Congress.
Hosted by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association (OQHA), the equestrian event is billed as the largest horse show in the world. It began in 1967 after Blair Folck, owner of National Equine Sales and a past OQHA president, attended the Charolais Cattle Congress in St. Louis.
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Impressed by the show's success, Folck suggested that a similar program could be adapted to quarter horses and hosted by OQHA. The inaugural event lasted for three days.
The quarter horse’s adaptability makes it suitable for various purposes, from show horses and working on ranches to pets and therapeutic animals, according to Autumn Bowlby, OQHA’s marketing and communications director.
“The American quarter horse got its name because when it was first developed as a breed, they were the fastest (at running) a quarter of a mile. Since then, they’ve become very versatile,” Bowlby said.
“They’re like the Labradors or golden retrievers of the horse world. They’re great with all types of people. They have a good temperament.”
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Aside from directly participating, what draws 650,000 people to the All American Quarter Horse Congress each year?
“Obviously, you see a lot of people coming to compete. But also, Ohio has a very equine-dense population. We have a lot of horses in Ohio and surrounding states, which means we have a lot of horse lovers,” Bowlby said.
Ohio has an equine population of about 306,000, making it the sixth most populous state in the country when it comes to horses, according to 2022 statistics from the Ohio Farm Bureau . It also has the sixth most horses per square mile of land in the country, with more than seven horses per square mile.
“Plus, we have a trade show with 175-200 vendors on about 20 acres of space," Bowlby added. "A lot of people come to watch the horse show, shop, see the ‘Heroes on Horses’ and attend the ticketed marquee events."
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There’s also what Bowlby calls “the ‘Yellowstone’ effect” — developing an interest in the Western way of life after watching depictions on television.
“A lot of people are being introduced to the Western lifestyle. We’re seeing a lot of people who didn’t have Western or horse experience having an interest in how they can participate,” she said.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re an old hand or a tenderfoot, you can have a great time horsing around at the Congress. Before you saddle up, below are some things to know.
When and where is the All American Quarter Horse Congress?
The Congress begins Sunday and runs through Oct. 27 at the Ohio Expo Center.
Event hours vary for the horse show; visit quarterhorsecongress.com for a schedule. Hours for the trade show, which begins Oct. 2, will be from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
How much does it cost to attend?
Admission is free, except for freestyle reining and professional bull riding, which are ticketed separately. More information about these events is below.
Is there a parking fee?
Single-day parking is $25 per vehicle, except on Mondays and Tuesdays, when it costs $15. New this year, free parking will be offered each Wednesday. Parking for the duration of the Congress costs $75 per vehicle.
Attendees are encouraged to reserve parking in advance.
What is 'Heroes on Horses'?
This special event at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 11 will honor disabled and wounded active-duty military service members and the horses helping them heal in the PATH International Equine Services for Heroes program.
"Horses in general are extremely therapeutic and people connect to horses differently than humans.
"It's great for folks with disabilities as well as military veterans. And it's a great way to honor our service folks," Bowlby said.
What can I buy at the trade show?
Exhibitors will be selling everything from show clothing, boots, hats, tack, towing vehicles and trailers to equine art, jewelry, furniture and much more. There also will be food vendors.
What will some other highlights be?
These events are among the attractions at the All American Quarter Horse Congress:
▪ 7 p.m. Oct. 4 : Freestyle reining (ticketed): Bowlby drew a comparison between this event and figure skating because of the music, props and even riders and horses dressed in costumes.
"There's a huge entertainment factor. The house is always packed; we always sell out," she said. "It's a great event even if you don't know much about horses or the industry."
Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at quarterhorsecongress.com/freestyle-reining .
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▪ 5 p.m. Oct. 5: Reining futurity finals : The purpose of futurities in general is to identify and promote the most promising young horses, which Bowlby said will be represented here. “There will be some of the nation's top riders and best horses. Some of them have actually been on shows like 'Yellowstone,'" Bowlby said.
▪ 7 p.m. Oct. 11: Pro bull riding (ticketed): "It's like a rodeo, with professional riders riding some of the toughest bulls in the country. It's always a lot of fun," Bowlby said. "It's the same day as 'Heroes on Horses,' so some people make a whole day of it."
Tickets start at $30, available at quarterhorsecongress.com/pbr-bull-riding .
▪ 2 p.m. Oct. 19: Congress Super Sale : Some of the industry's leading prospects as well as older, proven show horses will be sold at auction. "A lot of people find their next show partner here," Bowlby said.
For more details about the All American Quarter Horse Congress, visit quarterhorsecongress.com .
bpaschal@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: All American Quarter Horse Congress: Here's how you can giddy up and go
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