If you’re a horse-lover or a Wild West fan or someone who’s just looking for a quality out-of-town adventure with the family, then you can’t miss showing up at Horsefest 2016 – the eighth Annual Clark Horse Festival at the El Kabayo State Fair Grounds and Competition Arena in the Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City, tomorrow and Sunday.
Chief convenor Sheriff Gabby LaO has lined up a slew of activities that will keep you in the saddle from morning to night this weekend. “The Horsefest is an event dedicated to the so many various horse enthusiasts, young and old, male and female, rich and poor, from all over,” said Sheriff Gabby who relives his dream of playing Wyatt Earp or Wild Bill Hickock in the yearly gathering. “We come from the generation of horse lovers in all genres, including Western, cavalry, equestrian, military in whatever manner, shape or form presented. As far back as the ‘50s, we’ve always found excitement, fun and entertainment in horses and ponies. Whether it was in Baguio, San Lazaro, Sta. Ana or Escolta, there was always that thrilling and exciting sensation. I remember my first Christmas Wish List for Santa as a boy, and I still have a copy of that letter, my No. 1 priority gift request was a true horse.”
Sheriff Gabby said the Horsefest is the platform to make every horse lover’s dream come true. “Our memories of the Lone Ranger and Silver, Roy Rogers and Trigger, Alexander the Great and Bucephalus, Ramon Magsaysay and Victory, the Phantom and Hero, Ben-Hur and his chariot of four white horses, Fury, Black Beauty, Secretariat, Sea Biscuit or what have you, live on as our dreams and wishes do come true, at least once a year at the Horsefest,” he said.
Sheriff Gabby said he expects to welcome a horde of visitors to this weekend’s festivities. He’ll be wearing his Stetson, a sheriff’s badge on his vest, his favorite cowboy boots and six-shooters in leather holsters strapped on his hips to greet the buckaroos.
Sen. Miguel Zubiri will be the main guest of honor to open the Horsefest with a neigh and a gallop. Enthusiasts from the Davao Horse Club, Baguio Horse Club, Cebu, North and Central Luzon and independent Metro Manila circles are coming to participate in a wide range of competitions, including the Association of Clark Horsemen, Inc. Hunter-Jumper Cup where riders go through an obstacle course of 12 varying jumps, the Barrel Racing Challenge where riders race against the clock, the Equestrian Ride to Music where a rider’s skills are tested with a choice of background music, the Horse Equitation where riders are judged on skills and positions while mounted and the ability to ride correctly with effective aids, the Horse Mounted Games where riders figure in a hockey race, balloon-bursting race, egg and racquet race, Billy Can race and flag race and the Harness/Tilbury or Tiburin Race where riders in a two-wheeled cart speed away in a one-kilometer stretch on a flat surface.
That’s not all, assured Sheriff Gabby. For those who’re shy to compete, there are other attractions to keep themselves busy. The Backyard Project is a gateway for chefs, homemakers and foodies to offer Kapampangan treats. Also in the agenda are the Annual Charity Poker Run, the Maddog cowgirl pageant, the open mic singing contest on karaoke night, bonfire, fireworks display by the Department of Tourism, selfie photo challenge, Western attire group photo contest, beer drinking contest with a Western twist, best-dressed Little Miss El Kabayo contest, art-coloring contest and lots more.
Sheriff Gabby said the first seven stagings of the Horsefest were big round-ups and it didn’t take a lucky horseshoe for thousands of visitors to enjoy the happy trails. “Nobody leaves without a smile,” he said. “We’ve got various exhibits of assorted products and services. We’re auctioning and selling horses and ponies. We’re selling unique souvenir items, horse tack, merchandise, horse vitamins and feeds. We’re conducting raffles and giving away prizes. We’ve set up horse-petting stations, a horse photo booth, a tiangge and food carts. If you come in a Western cowboy outfit, you get an instant prize. You get rewarded with your selfies with El Kabayo’s photo challenge and you can organize a group to take a Western-inspired photo for a prize.”
The hoedown starts tomorrow morning with the Grand Parade of horses, carriages, floats, iron horses and ponies. Then, it’s one activity after another with the Poker Run, horse exhibitions and presentation of contingents, the Hunter-Jumper Cup, art-coloring contest, beer-drinking contest, best-dressed Little Miss El Kabayo, cowboy and cowgirl contests, Maddog cowgirl pageant, Poker Run awarding, bonfire, open mic singing and the fireworks display to cap the first day. On Sunday, the events are the Horse Equitation, the Barrel Racing Challenge, the Horse Mounted Games, the Tiburin Race and the awarding and closing ceremonies.
Sheriff Gabby said the invitation to join the Horsefest is open to all. “El Kabayo Clark has transformed this annual event into a fun-filled gathering of horse enthusiasts over two days with a lineup of activities for the whole family,” he said. “The Horsefest is now one of the major crowd-drawing events in the Clark Freeport Zone. We draw in a crowd of locals from every point of the Philippines and tourists from all over the world. It’s not just an interactive horse experience, it’s also an opportunity for the whole family to live a Wild West adventure.”