Shape those hats, shine those boots and polish up that belt buckle and make plans to come to HorseFest this weekend—Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 12, 13 and 14—at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Mo.

A large trade show, top-notch clinicians, horses on display, educational and entertainment features—it all adds up to three days of fun for area horsewomen and horsemen.

Gold Sponsors for this year’s HorseFest include PFI Western Store, Purina Mills, Race Brothers Farm & Home Supply, Priefert Ranch Equipment, MFA and Applegate Livestock Equipment.

Hours for HorseFest are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for youth 12-18 years old. Children under 12 will be admitted free and $3-off family discount coupons will be available at Gold Sponsor retail locations which are listed at www.horsefest.net/sponsors.html

The HorseFest trade show features wide-ranging equine exhibits—from trailers to tack and western wear to animal health products. Horse enthusiasts will see bargains on the products they need as well as hard-to-find items they’d have to search the countryside to find.

In addition to the trade show, area breeders will have horses from several breeds on display and for sale. The horse displays provide an opportunity to talk to breeders and inspect what they have to offer.

Headlining this year’s event is Stacy Westfall, winner of the 2006 Road to the Horse colt starting competition.

When Stacy Westfall made her dramatic bridleless bareback ride on a gleaming black mare at the 2006 AQHA Freestyle Reining competition, she rode off into the realm of legend. Big-time reining wins and becoming the first woman to participate in—and win—the Road to the Horse colt starting challenge added even more shine to a sterling reputation.

The beginnings of the nationally-known horsewoman’s equine experience, however, don’t have the glamour of “viral” YouTube videos, TV appearances and crowds clamoring for her insight.

It began when Stacy was six years old and crazy about her pony, Misty. Growing up in Maine, Stacy wasn’t exactly in the heart of the equine world but her mom, Sherri, encouraged Stacy to analyze why the pony did the things she did—to try to think like the pony. Somewhere along the line, Stacy became a teacher as well as a rider. Her first horse was a friend, transportation and recreation all rolled into one as she continued to take her mom’s advice. And Stacy Westfall has been thinking like a horse ever since.

Stacy will share her knowledge with equine enthusiasts at HorseFest, March 12, 13 and 14 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Mo. In daily clinics—three on Friday, three on Saturday and two on Sunday—Stacy will not only help folks better understand their horses, she’ll demonstrate a bridleless ride.

“I’m excited about HorseFest,” she says. “I’d encourage everyone to especially come out on Friday. We’ll lay the foundation and then we’ll cover different material throughout the sessions.”

Friday through Sunday topics include:

Clinics at 9 a.m. (East Hall), 11 a.m. (Arena) and 1 p.m. (Arena) on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, her clinics will be at 11 a.m. (Arena) and 1 p.m. (Arena).

Topics will include:

•How Controlling the Hips and Shoulders Advances You (Fri.-Arena)

•Groundwork All Riding Horses Should Know (Fri.-Arena)

•Reading Your Horse’s Body Language/Colt Starting (Fri.-E-Plex)

•Improving Control: Horses Don’t Follow Their Noses (Sat.-Arena)

•Bridleless Riding: How, When and Why (Sat.-Arena)

•Reading Your Horse’s Body Language/Colt Starting (Sat. E-Plex)

•Teaching Whoa: Beginning to Bridleless (Sun.-Arena)

•All Questions Answered: Mounted Q&A; with Stacy (Sun.-Arena)

Kuhn, who will also share his expertise at HorseFest encourages horsemen to look a little closer when working with their mounts.

Cowboyin’ is in Kerry Kuhn’s pedigree and that means being horseback is just about his favorite place on God’s green earth.

And Kerry would likely tell you it’s even better atop a well-trained horse.

These days, after faith and family, Kuhn’s life revolves around helping horses and the folks who ride them. His Practical Horsemanship approach has reached out to thousands of equine enthusiasts and made him a go-to guy when it comes to taking the horse-rider relationship to the next level.

He will share his experience with HorseFest visitors at 11 a.m and 3 p.m. each day in the East Hall round pen.

If you’ve ever ridden a spooky colt through a pasture of horse-eating bushes and killer rabbits you’ll certainly appreciate the Ultimate Horsemen’s Challenge.

The aim of the event isn’t to scare a horse, of course, but it definitely takes a measure of his training and discipline—and that of the person on his back.

You’ll have the chance to find out what it’s all about at HorseFest. On Friday, members of the Ultimate Horsemen’s Association (UHCA) will put on a clinic, demonstrating how to deal with some of the trail obstacles used in the Challenge. Presenters will discuss how to introduce a horse to jumping and other disciplines.

Then, on Saturday, UHCA members will stage a limited competition so HorseFest visitors can get a real taste of the Ultimate Horsemen’s Challenge.

The Challenge is inspired by Craig Cameron’s Extreme Cowboy Racing. Back in 2007, several area horsemen who had participated in an Extreme Cowboy race in Kansas City found they were absolutely hooked on the new equine sport. They got together in December of that year, formed a board, drew up some by-laws and made plans for seven races in 2007.

“I don’t think any of us ever dreamed it would get as big as it has,” says Scott Simms, a Butler, Mo., rancher who served as the organization’s first president.

Marcie Sutton hadn't even spoken her first word when a teenaged girl from a nearby farm rode her horse over and asked her parents if she would like a ride. The memory of that first ride still remains with her. Not long after that day, she did speak for the first time—to say "horse".

Sutton will be on-hand at HorseFest to answer questions and cover a variety of horsemanship topic on Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. in the East Hall.

Shannon Cunningham, coach of Northeast Oklahoma A&M;’s championship equine judging team, will present a clinic in the Arena on Friday at 9 a.m. which will be aimed at helping horse folks connect the dots between conformation and athletic ability.

Fast and furious cowboy mounted shooting returns to HorseFest as the area’s top competitors slap leather with six-guns blazing in the HorseFest Shootout on Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Cowboy Church services will begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday in the Arena. Organized by the Southwest Missouri Christian Cowboys, worship will include gospel music by Dave Buchanon, David Haygood and Greg Looney, cowboy poetry by Neal Torrey and a message of inspiration from Lynn Duncan.

Marcie Sutton will also offer a testimony.

Jacki Thomas will present daily saddle fitting and equine massage demonstrations in the West Hall of The E-Plex.

A veteran competitor in a number of equine disciplines, Thomas operates Mid Missouri Equine Massage. Her focus will be on therapeutic massage and helping riders make sure their saddle is right for their mount.

Throughout the three-day event, educational presentations will give area horsemen and horsewomen plenty of opportunities to broaden their equine knowledge. Topics scheduled throughout the event, and located in the West Hall, include:

•Feeding the Insulin Resistant Horse, Virgil Bruner

•Electric fencing for horses, Allen Huhn

•Colt Gentling and Saddle Care Jeff Woodbury

•2010 Federated Equestrian Games, Matt Case, Alltech

•What’s in the Feed Bag, Virgil Bruner

For more information on HorseFest 2009, contact Farm Talk at 620-421-9450, the Ozark Empire Fair at 417-833-2660 or log on to horsefest.net.