UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Whether serving as a source of industrial power, a means of transportation or domestic pets, horses have a central position in Pennsylvania culture and lore. These powerful and graceful animals also occupy a prominent role at Penn State's Ag Progress Days, Aug. 15-17.

"We're trying to inform the public of new information in the equine industry and highlight Penn State's teaching and extension programs," says Pat Comerford, extension horse program coordinator and organizer of Ag Progress Days' Equine Educational Program. "Because horses are involved in so many varied functions of our society, visitors will be treated to a potpourri of activities. There's something here for everyone, from the most casual passerby to the professional equestrian."

This year's program features the return of a popular activity from past events. Experienced horse handlers Brian Egan, horse program assistant for Penn State Cooperative Extension, and Ward Studebaker, manager of the university's horse herd, will conduct horse-handling demonstrations with Penn State horses at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15 and at 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 16.

"We're reinstating these clinics after several years, because they were so informative," Comerford says. "Our experts demonstrate basic horse handling techniques and skills, and explain how and why these skills are used."

The intricate riding techniques of dressage will be presented at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 15. "These are very high-level maneuvers that require great coordination and training of horse and rider -- almost like gymnastics on horseback," Comerford says. "They're very intricate and subtle, and it takes a highly trained horse to do dressage correctly."

A highlight of Wednesday's events will be high-speed performances of barrel racing and pole-bending, beginning at 6 p.m. Instructors will explain how horses are trained for the high-speed racing events, then offer a demonstration. Earlier in the day, a trainer will demonstrate sheep dog herding techniques.

On Thursday, Aug. 17, the Ag Progress Days/Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association Youth Equine Skillathon will start at 11 a.m. The skillathon is a multi-phase competition that allows young equestrians to demonstrate their skills with a horsemanship competition, a written test and a series of identification stations.

"This year, we've added a division for 4-H members without horses to compete, so they'll show their overall knowledge instead of showing an individual horse," Comerford says. "We're also having a clinic on 'Preparing the Showmanship Horse,' which explains how you can train a horse to do showmanship maneuvers."

Penn State veterinarian Nancy Diehl will answer horse care and health questions at the "Ask the Expert" booth each day from 1 to 3:30 p.m. in the Equine Exhibits Building. She also will take part in "Insect-Borne Diseases" workshops at noon and 3 p.m. each day in the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building Theatre on Main Street.

Breed clinics throughout the event will present the history, uses and unique aspects of quarter horses, Freisians, Haflingers, Paso Finos, Hanoverians and trottingbreds.

Penn State's Ag Progress Days features more than 500 acres of educational and commercial exhibits, tours and machinery demonstrations. It 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 Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call (800) PSU-1010 toll-free through August 17 or visit the Ag Progress Days site on the World Wide Web at http://apd.cas.psu.edu.

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EDITORS: For more information about equine activities, contact Brian Egan at 814-863-3957 or Pat Comerford at 814-863-3657. For more information about Ag Progress Days, contact Jennifer MacIsaac at 814-865-3636 or Chuck Gill at 814-863-2713.

Contacts: Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708 814-865-1068 fax