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Annual Fox Trotter World Show and Celebration Runs Sept. 3-9

Hundreds of beautiful Missouri Fox Trotting horses and thousands of their fans will arrive in Ava, Mo., from Sunday, Sept. 3 through Saturday, Sept. 9 for the 59th annual Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association (MFTHBA) World Show and Celebration.
Exhibitors and their registered Missouri Fox Trotters will compete for cash, prizes and the coveted title of 2017 MFTHBA World Grand Champion. Horses will be exhibited in more than 115 classes from Sunday through Saturday. Various events outside the arena will be held to highlight the versatility of the State Horse of Missouri.
On Saturday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m., a ranch sorting jackpot presented by Cornerstone Productions will be held on the MFTHBA grounds. Evening activities on Saturday will begin with the induction of members and horses into the Hall of Fame, followed by the final competition and crowning of the 2017 World Grand Champion.
Earlier in the week, attendees will be able to take advantage of a Western Dressage clinic scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 5 and ranch sorting clinics on Thursday and Friday.
There is a full week of competition that includes classes in model (halter), gaited performance, and versatility (ranch horse, horsemanship, showmanship, western pleasure, etc.) competitions.
Throughout the show, vendors will offer everything from food to fashion located throughout the 130 acre grounds. Guests may also enjoy visiting the Hall of Fame and Museum located in the headquarters building, or selecting official Missouri Fox Trotter items at the Fox Trotter Store in the Roy Williams Pavilion.
Regular admission daily tickets are $5, Monday through Thursday, and $6 on Friday and Saturday. Weekly passes are $30.
Any horse owner will enjoy trail rides departing from the show grounds on Monday through Friday mornings. Rides are open to all riders, regardless of the breed of horse and you do not have to be an exhibitor to participate. All horses entering the show grounds will need proof of their horse’s negative Coggins test and a certificate of veterinary inspection.
Call 417-683-2468 or visit www.mfthba.com/celebration for information.
The MFTHBA show grounds are located in Ava, Mo., on Highway 5, one mile north of the junction of Highways 5 and 14.
Trail Ride Information
Monday’s trail ride will leave at 10 a.m. across from the show grounds. Bring a sack lunch.
All other rides will meet and leave across from the show grounds at 8:30 a.m. and will leave the trailhead at 10 a.m.
Monday’s ride will be on the Letsinger farm near the show grounds. Tuesday, Sept. 5, the ride will be at Crystal Lake and on Wednesday, Sept. 6, the rid will be on the Carol Kutsko Farm. On Thursday, Sept. 7, the ride will be on the Assenmacher farm and Friday’s ride will be on the Trappist Abby property.
For information about the trail rides contact Jeff Alcorn 417-683-7929; Steve Assenmacher 417-796-2912; or Dale Lawson 417-712-4440.