Horse Fair at Callaway Sat.

With an eye toward the growing equine industry in the area, Wilkes County's first Annual Classic South Horse Fair will be held at Callaway Plantation on Saturday May 17.

The Classic South Equine Association planned their inaugural fair, Vice President Jeff Pendrey said, to promote the interests of horse owners, breeders and suppliers to the equine industry located in the Classic South region of Georgia.

"This fair is for people who have horses, for people who just like horses, and for people who would like to have horses and don't know where to start," Pendrey said. "We're trying to increase the awareness of horses and the benefits of the equine culture to Wilkes County."

To stimulate interest in next Saturday's horse fair, the association held a parade through the streets of Washington Saturday afternoon, with more than two dozen riders. "The parade was just an appetizer to get peoples' interest," said Pendrey, "and we really got a positive interaction with everybody along the route - the adults were smiling as big as the kids were."

The one-day fair next Satuday will feature demonstrations and educational seminars offered in morning and afternoon sessions. "Our sessions will get back to the basics of horse ownership," he said, "with talks on nutrition, maintenance, proper tack, and lameness issues."

Experts include Dr. Martin Adams, equine nutritionist and horse feed manager for fair sponsor Southern States, a feed and agricultural supply cooperative. Jill Trossen, owner of Gold Horse Ranch in Wilkes Co. and trained animal Bowen practitioner, will speak on Natural Horsemanship. John Mobley will address saddlery issues, and Dr. Stanley Brown, DVM, will speak on lameness issues.

The fair will also showcase vendors from the Classic South area who specialize in equine related products. "My company, Southern States, is the fair's biggest sponsor," Pendrey said, "and our business is going more and more to horses- it's not just all cattle now. We're seeing a market change that is bringing in more and more horses and horse people, and we're embracing that change."

Many of the newcomers to Wilkes County have horses, Pendrey said, or have land and want to have horses, so he feels that the equine industry is poised for growth in Wilkes County.

In addition to the educational seminars, the horse fair will include food vendors, pony rides and stick horse races for the children.

Officers of the Classic South Equine Association, in addition to Vice President Jeff Pendrey, are Bob Womack, president; and Peggy Anderson, secretary treasurer. Adam Bohler and Jill Trossler are board members.

For additional information on the horse fair or the equine association, e-mail Peggy Anderson at pm0114@hotmail.com.