If possible, purchase your tickets in advance. You will most likely save some time when you arrive at the show if you don't have to wait to pay admission. This is especially important if you are planning on attending the earliest sessions scheduled on a given day. Tickets can be purchased in advance through the mail from Equine Affaire until January 19`". A ticket order form can be obtained by calling Equine Affaire or it can be downloaded from the Web site.

Purchase an Equine Affaire Program when you arrive. The geographic scope of Equine Affaire is quite extensive. The show occupies five of the tradeshow buildings at Fairplex and will utilize all three of the facility's outdoor arenas. The souvenir program will include a map of Fairplex-which will help you get oriented-as well as detailed layouts of each of the buildings occupied by the event. These maps will assist you in finding the various clinic, seminar, and demonstration venues and food concessions and in navigating through the tradeshow. The program will feature a comprehensive list of exhibitors and their locations, an updated clinic and seminar schedule, important emergency information for attendees, and biographical information on all of the presenters at Equine Affaire. The program will not only serve as an invaluable guide during your visit and as a handy place to take notes and obtain autographs, but it will also serve as a good resource upon your return from the show.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Sessions begin early in the morning each day and will continue non-stop throughout the evening, so it is important-above all-to be comfortable. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to cover a lot of ground through the tradeshow and between clinic and seminar venues. The seminar stage and demo ring will be indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. All of the clinic arenas are outdoors; two of the arenas are fully covered and the seating area of the third is also covered. You will, of course, want to be prepared for changes in temperature and conditions throughout the day.

Bring a pad and pen, your cassette recorder, camera, and video camera. You will surely want to take notes during many of the clinics and seminars. All sessions may be recorded on audiocassette; you will also be able to videotape most sessions. There will be plenty of great horses and activities to photograph-and you may want a picture taken of you with one or more of the "famous faces" at the exposition.

Bring plenty of "spending power." The tradeshow at Equine Affaire will provide a wonderful opportunity for horsepeople to prepare for next year's competition and pleasure-riding season and shop for all of their horse-related needs. Exhibits will range in size from 10'x 10' booths to large tack stores and trailer exhibits and will fill five tradeshow buildings at Fairplex. The show will offer tack, riding apparel, trailers, health & grooming supplies, barn equipment, jewelry, books, publications, videotapes, art, fencing, gifts and booths featuring information on horse breeds, clubs and sports. You are advised to come prepared for this "shopportunity", and there are ATMs on-site so you won't miss out on an unexpected find.

Participate in the Equine Affaire Raffle. At every Equine Affaire a free raffle drawing is conducted for several prizes of special interest to horsepeople. These prizes have included a new horse trailer, Stubben and Circle Y saddle and bridle packages, and $500 gift certificates to redeem at the show. The prizes that will be raffled at Equine Affaire in Pomona have not been finalized as of press time, but you can be sure that they will be worth completing a raffle entry at the show. By filling out an entry form-either by hand or at a computer terminal at the show-you will not only have a chance to win one of several great prizes, but you will also be automatically included on the list to receive information on future events. In addition, you will have the opportunity to voice your opinions regarding the clinicians and topics you would like to see at future Equine Affaires! Raffle entry forms will be distributed at the entrance gates of the show (to attendees who are 18 or over) and will include all of the details on how to enter.

Make Plans with Your Friends. Equine Affaire will be a perfect "getaway" for you, your horse-loving friends, and members of your horse-related clubs and associations. Let your friends and members of any club you may be affiliated with know about the great opportunities available at Equine Affaire. You may want to plan to travel together and perhaps share a hotel room. If you attend Equine Affaire with several other horse enthusiasts and you "split up" to see different things, please be sure to plan when and where to meet later in the day. It can be hard to connect with your friends at the exposition if you do not make a plan in advance.

To receive all the details on Equine Affaire, call (740) 845-0085 or consult www.equineaffaire.com for continuously-updated information.