Hendrick Durham Auto Mall is a proud participant in this weekend's Equine Extravaganza, the second-annual three-day equine expo and event at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

More than 50,000 people are expected to attend the festivities, which include horse training, horse-riding exhibitions and clinics and close to 100 vendors displaying "all things Equine."

Among the vendors will be staff from Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, showing off vehicles perfectly equipped for the traveling needs of equestrian and horse families and preaching about a product line geared especially for the horse community and similar demographic.

Among the highlights of the Extravaganza will be performances by Dusty, a 10-year-old gelding and modern-day "Mr. Ed."

Standing 16 hands tall and weighing 1,200 pounds, Dusty has been entertaining audiences most of his life and has a particular affinity for children (More information at www.dustypromotions.com).

The main event could well be the three-day East Coast Trainer Challenge. Professional trainers Gilbert Gonzalez, Brock Griffith and Phil Rogers will compete in the exciting colt-starting competition Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Each trainer will have one hour each day to use natural horsemanship techniques to get his colt ready to accept saddle and rider. The event is one of three preliminary competitions leading up to the finals in Virginia in October.

The Equine Extravaganza begins Friday at 9 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. Sunday in Dorton Arena and the adjacent Jim Graham building at the fairgrounds off Hillsborough Road in Raleigh. Come see Rick Hendrick's big trucks and take in the sights and sounds of equestrian life. All three days will be jam-packed with demonstrations, interactive clinics and training, kids' activities, more gear and equipment than you can imagine -- and, of, course, horses. Lots and lots of horses.

Come say hello to the RHC staff and talk about how to get a GREAT deal on your next truck. It is sure to be a memorable weekend.

Labels: big trucks, Brock Griffith, Dusty, Equine Extravaganza, Gilbert Gonzalez, Phil Rogers, Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, State Fairgrounds