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. 15-17, is designed to entertain and inform horse enthusiasts of all ages.

The program will feature performances, demonstrations, workshops 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 the featured events are draft-horse demonstrations by Rodger and Linda Thoms, who will show their "Ro-lin On Clydes" six-horse hitch on all three days. Also, Bud and Gwen Wills of the Pennsylvania Equine Council will present trail-riding demonstrations each day. Other schedule highlights:

Tuesday, Aug. 15: Events will include seminars on recently passed equine liability laws, newly proposed nutrient-management regulations, assessing your horse's health and nutrition, and poisonous plants and ornamentals. Demonstrations in the arena will feature the Keystone Dressage and Combined Training Drill Team, trail riding and packing, second careers for race horses and several breed clinics.

Wednesday, Aug. 16: Ward Studebaker, former Penn State equine herd manager, will offer two horse-training demonstrations in the arena. Other arena events will feature the Central Pa. Mounted Drill Team, the Pa. State Mounted Police, a demonstration of quarter horse versatility, and various breed clinics. Seminars will focus on equine dentistry and horse health.

Thursday, Aug. 17: The 4-H Youth Horse Skillathon will begin at 10 a.m., sponsored by Penn State and the Pennsylvania Quarter Horse Association. This event will include a judging contest, a written test and identification stations. 4-Hers from across Pennsylvania will compete for savings bonds and ribbons. Other Thursday activities will include horse handling, training and barrel-racing demonstrations, as well as seminars covering careers in the equine industry, trail riding, and horse health and how it affects farm pets.

For more information 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. 15; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 16; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 17. Admission and parking are free.

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

Ryan Szivos Writer

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Chuck Gill Editor Phone: 814-863-2713 E-mail: cdg5@psu.edu