UNIVERSITY PARK Pa. -- With a mix of new activities and popular attractions from past years, the Equine Experience at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 14-16, is designed to entertain and inform horse enthusiasts of all ages.

Presented by the Penn State Equine Science program and the Pennsylvania Equine Council, the event will feature performances, demonstrations, workshops, seminars and exhibits covering a range of equine topics, such as horse ownership, management and horsemanship. The activities will take place in the Ag Progress Days Horse Arena and in adjacent buildings.

Among features scheduled in the large Horse Arena are horse-training demonstrations by professional horsemen, breed clinics and mule-packing demonstrations. Diamond Lane Farms will show off its black Percheron draft-horse hitch.

In the Equine Exhibits Building, displays will offer information about equipment and facilities, equine diseases, stable management, and equine health and nutrition. Penn State's undergraduate education, extension, and research programs will be highlighted. Also, visitors can learn about breed and youth organizations, therapeutic riding, horseshoeing, and other aspects of the commercial equine industry.

In the Equine Learning Center, Penn State and equine-industry professionals will team up to offer seminars and demonstrations on a wide range of equine-related topics, geared to all levels of horse knowledge and experience. Workshops cover equine liability laws, care and feeding, trail riding, training and handling, showing, and more.

Other attractions at the Equine Experience will include:

--Pony Rides: K&B Stables will present "The Pony Express." Visitors can saddle up and ride a pony on Wednesday, Aug. 15. This is an opportunity for anyone who has always wanted to ride a horse or wanted to learn more about riding and horsemanship.

--4-H Skillathon: Co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association and Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, the skillathon will be held on Thursday, Aug. 16. The event includes a judging contest, a written test and identification stations. 4-Hers from across Pennsylvania will compete for savings bonds and ribbons.

For more information about the Equine Experience, visit the Web at http://downloads.cas.psu.edu/apd/equineflyer.pdf. To learn more about Penn State equine programs, visit the Web at http://www.das.psu.edu/equine, or contact the Penn State equine science team at (814) 865-7810.

Penn State's Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, nine miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 14; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 15; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 16. Admission and parking are free.

For information on Ag Progress Days events, visit the Web at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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Jeff Mulhollem Writer/Editor 814-863-2719 jjm29@psu.edu