Back in the saddle

Horse expo set to return to Sydney

After a successful inaugural event last year, the Sydney Horse Expo is set to return to Centre 200.

The three-day event, running from July 22-24, will feature riders and horses from around the Atlantic provinces competing in Western pleasure, hunte-runder-saddle, reining, barrel racing and pole bending classes. Melissa Hans-come of Fredericton, N.B., will be the competition judge this year.

The hunter-under-saddle championship final will take place in the evening of July 23, while the reining, Western pleasure and barrels championship will be held on the afternoon of July 24.

A trade show, with vendors from across the Atlantic Canada, will be in the main concourse area of Centre 200 from July 22 at 5 p.m. until the end of the expo on Sunday afternoon.

The expo will feature an appearance by Charles Etienne Menard, a self-proclaimed horse whisperer, and his equestrian extravaganza from Quebec.

“We are pleased and excited to have Charles Etienne join us this year,” said Sydney Horse Expo committee chair Joan Reid. “He has a variety of presentations that are suited for the entire family and I encourage people to come out and see it live.”

Terry Grant, the original “Mantracker” for the hit OLN television series, will also be in Sydney as a special guest at the expo. Grant, who starred on the series from 2006-2012, tracked contestants by horseback with a goal of catching them before they crossed the finish line. The show made an appearance in the Belle Cote area of Cape Breton in 2007. Grant, an accomplished horseman, will be available to meet with fans of “Mantracker” throughout expo weekend.

Belgian horses, owned by George Peters and family, will be featured in the show ring during the expo’s opening ceremonies.

Tickets for this year’s Sydney Horse Expo are now on sale at the Centre 200 box office or online at tickets.capebreton.ca. Daily and weekend passes are available.