Quarter Horse Congress Celebrates 50th Anniversary with Parade

10 October 2016 robynd

Press Release

WHAT:

The All American Quarter Horse Congress will celebrate its 50th year at the annual parade and press conference downtown featuring elected officials on horseback, mounted law enforcement units from around the region, youth roping competitors, mechanical bulls, rodeo clowns and more.

WHEN:

Wednesday, October 12, 2015 from 11:30-12:20 PM

Open to the public, rolling street closure on High and Broad Streets during the parade provided by Columbus Police

WHERE:

Parade steps off at Columbus Commons and travels down High St., takes a left on Broad St. and ends at City Hall’s Portman Plaza for a press conference

WHY:

Now in its 50th year, the All American Quarter Horse Congress is the world’s largest single-breed horse show. Over the past 50 years, it has grown from 4,000 attendees to over 650,000 attendees, making it the largest convention in Columbus and generating more than $275 million for the Central Ohio economy, according to a study commissioned by the Ohio Quarter Horse Association
This year’s Congress is Oct. 6-30 at the Ohio Expo Center and features 735 entries/competitors from Ohio alone. The tradeshow, open Oct. 7-30, features more than 225vendors, selling everything from jewelry to furniture, to the latest in Western apparel and horse products, many of which have local connections
This year’s show has more than 21,000 participants who will compete for more than $3 million in prizes and awards. This year, spectators will be entertained by a PBR Bull Riding on Oct. 14. Friday, Oct. 14, a special Heroes on Horses event to honor our service men and women and the horses helping them heal. Riders are disabled veterans or active duty “wounded warriors,” who are participating in Path Intl. Equine Services for Horses programs or who have a Department of Veteran Affairs disability rating.
To encourage Central Ohioans to come out and experience the sights, sounds and tastes of Congress, daily parking passes are 40 percent off on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the Congress, reducing the price to $15 per vehicle
For schedules and more information, visit http://www.quarterhorsecongress.com/

Parade

11:30 AM Parade steps off from Columbus Commons, including:

Participation by the following elected officials and civic leaders:

Ohio Quarter Horse Association Executive Director Dr. Scott Myers
Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther
Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Dave Daniels
President of the Ohio Senate Keith Faber
Speaker of the Ohio House Cliff Rosenberger
- Experience Columbus President and CEO Brian Ross
- Columbus City Council Member Shannon G. Hardin
- Representative Michael Stinziano
- Senator Jim Hughes
- Representative Cheryl Grossman
- Representative Stephanie Kunze
- Representative Andrew Brenner
  - Columbus Police Department Mounted Unit
  - Franklin County Sheriff Mounted Unit
  - All American Quarter Horse Congress Calf-Roping Competitors In Action
  - A Mechanical Bull
  - Horse Trailers and Trucks

11:50 AM Parade ends/arrives at City Hall

Press Conference

11:50 AM – 12:20 PM Press conference outside Columbus City Hall with remarks from:>Ohio Quarter Horse Association Executive Director Dr. Scott Myers