Will the Congress Move From Ohio?
by Kathy Lynn Gray, The Columbus Dispatch
The All American Quarter Horse Congress wants to build additional facilities at the state fairgrounds so the annual show can continue to grow and stay in Columbus.
Its contract with the fairgrounds runs through 2015. And Cam Foreman, the manager of the congress, mentioned the possibility that the congress might move.
“We’d like to grow, but right now we’re maxed out,” Foreman said of the congress, which is put on by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association. “The only way to expand is with added facilities.”
The congress is the largest single-breed horse show in the world and pumps an estimated $180 million into the local economy each year, according to an expositions commission study. The monthlong show, held in October, attracts more than 650,000 visitors and showcases about 8,000 horses from around the world.
Congress officials talked with the Ohio Expositions Center staff last week about possible additions.
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It would be a shame if this had to happen. I have attended every year since 1990 and always look forward to it.
It would be such a shame for Ohio not to have the Congress.
The Congress has grown SOO MUCH OVER THE YEARS DUE TO THE WONDERFUL PAST LEADERSHIP & FUTURE LEADERSHIP TO FOLLOW!! However some of the WONDERFUL ASPECTS & ATTRACTIONS OF OUR BELOVED ALL AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE CONGRESS IS BEING LOST….. We have MORE STATE OF THE ART BUILDINGS & FACILITIES than ever in the past & yet we need more! (I’m an exhibitor trust me I understand) but, it seems like the things that used to really ATTRACT PEOPLE & KIDS (KIDS OUR POTENTIAL FUTURE YOUTH) are no more…. FOCUSING ON THE YOUTH TEAM TOURNAMENT EVENTS, WALK-IN’s ETC.
OUR VENDORS ARE FALLING OFF,SOME ARE JUST TAKING UP MORE SPACE TO FILL THE VOID…..
NO MORE STALLION AVE….. SAD THAT USED TO BE “FABULOUS & REGAL” AT ONE TIME….. THEN IT JUST KEPT FALLING OFF MORE & MORE TILL NOW NONE.
THE ACTUAL CLASS NUMBERS ARE NOT WHAT THEY ONCE WERE, I UNDERSTAND ECONOMY JUST AS WELL AS AMYONE IF NOT BETTER!!
WINNING THE CONGRESS WAS ALWAYS MY DREAM… THAT CAME TRUE IN 2006 AFTER MANY YEARS OF HARD WORK. THAT TROPHY IS MY PRIZED JEWL!
IF THE CONGRESS IS MOVED & CHANGED EVEN MORE TO BE FOCUSED ON COMMERCIAL & LESS PEOPLE LIKE IT IS FEELING IT’S GOING TO FALL OFF IN NUMBERS LIKE OUR WORLD SHOW I’M
AFRAID……
YES IT TAKES MORE $$$ & WE MIGHT NEED ANOTHER BUILDING WHO KNOWS……. LET’S REMEMBER THE PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT & MAKE THIS THE BEST SHOW TOO, NOT JUST EXHIBITORS, WORKERS BUT, THE PEOPLE THAT COME FROM ALL OVER TO OHIO TO WATCH & ONEDAY BECOME AN EXHIBITOR (I WAS ONE OVER 30 YRS AGO!)
As a Canadian; myself and most of my horse friends make an annual trek to Congress and I’ve been doing this for 25+ years. Please don’t take this wonderful show away from us as it is affordable (within driving distance) and a wonderful getaway each year. Also it is a chance to buy the things we just can’t find here in Canada. Most of us wait til Congress to do our serious buying and it is wonderful to have access to such talent within the horse world.
If it goes to Oklahoma alot of us would not be able to go that far…please please please keep this show in Ohio!
My question is, who owns the show?
How can a show that was created by OQHA move to another state..?
Any thoughts?
I have been coming to the Congress since 1979 as both exhibitor and spectator. Reining used to be a premeier event at the Congress. When the Futurity finals were held in the colosium, you used to get in line at 5pm for the 7pm start to get a seat. Now the reining starts before the official opening of the show and vendors and the finals are in the middle of the week. WHY? Do you think you could remedy the situation? Please try.