Now a family tradition, follow your young ‘uns as they try to find the outlaw on a Wanted Poster they receive. The outlaw is then ‘forced’ to sign the poster. For helping the Sheriff in his quest to find all the bad guys, every holder of a signed Wanted Poster is awarded a free Deputy Sheriff’s badge at the Trading Post. All ages will enjoy the Living History encampment – the late 1800s re-created in authentic detail. A short stroll away, the kids enjoy panning for gold at the water sluice. Nearby, the State Park Rangers will display and talk about all kinds of feathered and scaly critters at Scales and Tails, which is next to a fascinating (but safe) display of hives and bees.
All ages enjoy the arena events and demos – too many to mention – but they include drill teams, mini horses being driven and jumping, a Mustang presentation (horses once wild), draft horse demonstrations, jumping by Melanie Ferrio, presentations by Brendan Wise – a John and Josh Lyons Certified Trainer, llamas, a costume competition, reining, and both amateur and professional barrel racing.
In the front field, get up close and personal with a Hands-On Horse. If you’ve never felt the velvety nose, smelled the sweet breath or hugged the neck of a real horse, now is your chance! Next enjoy a pony ride or wagon ride or wander down Breed Row and admire the sizes, shapes, and colors of the many breeds represented. The petting farm is a great place, too, for more of a love-in with all kinds of critters. A collection of vendors offer just about anything you might want to buy in the early West, and for the tiny tots, there is a maze, saddled “broncs” and a “corn box” – just their size. Older ones may want to try their hand at riding the mechanical bull! Top it all off by watching the nationally-known horse trainer Kenny Harlow, from Cumberland, Virginia, work his “magic” training or re-training horses with problems in the front field round pen.
Enjoy the All Equine Parade at 12:30 and relax in the
picnic area shade with a tall cool drink, and a plate groaning with
chicken, BBQ, burgers, hotdogs, seafood, fries or fruit, ice cream, snow-cones
and lots more.
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Eagle Eye Ed, Big Buff, Sweet
Caroline, Doc James, Doc Sureshot, Rebel Sam, Izzy Fass, Curly Jack,
and kneeling are Lone Wolf McClintock, and Buffalo Chip |