Rural Heritage June/July 2025

Connie Rice took charge of the Suffolk promotional booth at the event.

Each day we moved to a different time slot and arena. It was imperative that everyone stayed on schedule. The well-run event was kept on schedule by countless volunteers and staff. Andrew and his wife, Jennifer, brought four of their Suffolk horses. I helped in the showring. I was also there to represent the NASHA board and help sell promotional items. The lady in charge of the promotions is my dear wife, Connie. We met several hundred people at our Suffolk Punch booth. We represented the breed, handed out information and answered questions during all four days of the event. Many people remarked that they had never seen a Suffolk horse in person. One dear lady with an English accent told us, with tears in her eyes, that she had come just to see the horses from her native land not seen by her since childhood. Our booth had a very neat feature, as did all the breeds presented in the “Breed Pavillion.” That feature was the ability to have a horse in a box

stall right next to the promotion’s booth. We could engage people as they got to admire and pet a horse in person. In the showring, the Nidy’s showcased their horses in three ways. They had a team hitched to a logging cart. Jennifer rode a big gelding Western pleasure style. I led a young filly “in-hand” complete with traditional braiding using raffia and bright blue rosettes. We all entered the ring at the same time. An announcer gave a prepared speech about the history of the Suffolk horse. It was an informative piece that described the breed very well. As we walked around the arenas, people were very entertained and perhaps amazed at the versatility of this old breed. The Equine Affaire itself is/was a giant event, well attended by horse-loving people from all over the state and country. We were but a small part of it, but I think we made a big impact. I am sure there were conversations started, dreams made and, in

June/July 2025

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