Trainers to show off luxury living at horse expo at Spokane fairgrounds
The 131st “Run for the Roses” today at Churchill Downs makes it official – it’s horse season.
Just to confirm that, the spring “Ride the West All-Breed Horse and Trade Expo” is happening next weekend on the Spokane fair grounds.
Returning are a number of top-notch trainers and clinicians; many towing horse trailers with living quarters or driving diesel pusher motor coaches.
“Most of these trainers,” says event manager Susan Rae, “do expos and clinics all over the country. A lot of them are set up with unbelievable rigs.”
Horse trailers with luxurious living quarters are a growing segment of the RV industry. Styles come in two- to five-horse models with separate living quarters ranging from 7- to 15-feet, some complete with slide outs that extend the interior space.
The living quarters’ length does not include the sleeping area tucked over the gooseneck hitch that fits into the bed of a pickup truck for hauling.
“Ours is plenty roomy,” says Ted Blocker, of Blocker Ranch in Estacada, Ore.
Blocker and his wife, Jane, are bringing their line of Natural Horesmanship Equipment in their 2005 34-feet SilverLite living quarters three-horse trailer. The Blocker’s trailer includes a 12-foot living quarter space with a slide out.
Driving a Dodge 350 diesel truck, Blocker says his rig “pulls like a dream. You hardly know its back there.”
Coming in from Virginia will be horse trainer Dan Sumerel in his 2005 40-foot Newmar diesel pusher coach.
“I first started using an RV back in the 1980s when I was racing sports cars,” says Sumerel. “There’s been an enormous change in 25 years – especially in the areas of suspension and power.”
Both Sumerel and Blocker say they like staying on the fair grounds during the run of the show.
“The convenience is extremely important,” says Sumerel. “It’s a big deal from me to be able to walk from where I’m teaching a class and within a few minutes be in my private space and relax for an hour.”
Camping on fair grounds
A great service provided on the Spokane County Expo and Fair Center is RV parking during special events including the Ride the West Expo.
Receptionist Katy Bassen says there are 43 spaces with electricity and water hookups at $18 night; “a lot” of spaces with electricity only at $14 night; and many additional spots for dry-camping at $8 a night. There are restrooms, showers and a dump station nearby.
Reservations are encouraged, especially for the sites with utilities. Call Bassen at 477-2770 or e-mail kbassen@spokanecounty.org.
If you want to take your chances that a camping spot will be available, just stop by the Expo administrative office when you arrive with your RV. It’s on the right, just past the main gate off Havana Street (near Broadway). “The office is in a building that looks like a modular home,” says Bassen. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
If you go to the Expo
The three-day Ride the West All-Breed show opens Friday at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center at Havana and Broadway.
Day tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate (ages 9 and under are free). Saturday night “Spirit of the West” tickets are $6.
Gates are open on Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; followed by a free Josh Lyons’ “Colt Starting” demonstration at 6 p.m. On Saturday the hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; “Spirit of the West” show from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday the doors are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For information on where to purchase advance tickets call 466-9639 or visit the Web site at www.ridethewest.net.
For more information
• Contact the Blocker Ranch at 21111 S. Springwater Road, Estacada, OR 97023; (503) 631-2380; Web site is www.blockerranch.com.
• SilverLite Trailers headquarters is located at 1291 S. “A” St., Springfield, OR 97477; or go to www.silverlite.com
• Dan Sumerel can be reached at 3416 Hawkins Mill Road, Lynchburg, VA 24503; (800) 713-5861; or www.sumereltraining.com.
• Information on Newmar coaches and fifth wheels is available at www.newmarcorp.com.
Wheel question
With Memorial Day being the official kick-off of vacation season, what are your RVing plans for this summer? Weekends on the lake? Picnics in the mountains? Or a long cross-country trip to visit relatives? Let me know by calling (509) 459-5435 or e-mail juliannec@spokesman.com.