Department 1: Horse

Event Day and Date
JudgingRefer to specific class in entry form for date and time of judging.
Deadline for all entriesAugust 1
Drop OffAll Stock: Sunday, August 16 after 1:30 pm to Monday, August 17 at 2:00 pm
Mandatory Exhibitors meetingMonday, August 17 at 7:30 pm
Contact Name Phone Email
Co-SuperintendentDebbie Oakes607-237-2731[email protected]
Co-SuperintendentSarah Carpenetti570-396-8280[email protected]

Department Rules

Exhibitors must adhere to the General Rules for the Harford Fair listed here.

Exhibitors must adhere to the IAFE Code of Ethics which can be found here.​

For a complete listing of Shows and Show Programs, please click on the "Download the Entry Form" link below.​

Department is sponsored by Greenfield Power Equipment, Clothing, & Footwear! Thank you! 

  1. To enter: go to www.harfordfair.com, click on the link and follow the instructions to enter online or use the Horse Entry Blank below. Please include the entry fee of $20.00 per animal (for horses staying Sunday, August 16th – Sunday, August 23rd).
  2. The rules printed herein are made a part of the conditions under which all entries of exhibitors are made. Exhibitors are respectfully requested to read them carefully, thereby avoiding any confusion before, during and after the Fair.
  3. Horses to enter Sunday, August 16th, after 1:30pm to Monday, August 17th at 2:00pm. Upon your arrival at the fairgrounds, check in with one of the superintendents who will direct you to the stalls or space your stock is to occupy.
  4. If you desire any information concerning the business of the exhibition, pay no attention to rumors or hearsay, but go directly to the superintendents who will take pleasure in giving you all the information you desire.
  5. If stabling facilities are filled prior to closing date, we will close halter class entries at that point.
  6. All entries must be made by the owner, and no animal will be admitted or stabled unless properly entered. If someone else will be showing the horse, note name on entry blank.
  7. There will be a limit of two (2) horses per owner who must enter & participate in halter classes or be turned away next year. This applies to all saddle horses on the fairgrounds Sunday, August 16th to Sunday, August 23rd, 2026.
  8. No stallions born before January 1, 2026, will be allowed on the fairgrounds. This only applies to the horses staying for the week.
  9. All entries must be broke to tie & lead or be disqualified.
  10. No one under the age of 18 years will be allowed to show stallions.
  11. Registered horses & ponies must be shown in the registered section and can only be entered under one breed.
  12. Any animal that appears to be sick or not serviceably sound, will be excused from fairgrounds. Decision of the superintendents will be final.
  13. For horses staying Sunday, August 16th through Sunday, August 23rd, a fee of $20.00 per animal will be charged.
  14. A number will be assigned to each animal upon entry. That number must be displayed whenever the animal is shown. Entry number may be picked up from the Superintendents after stall assignment.
  15. All stalls must be cleaned and limed before leaving the Fairgrounds. Entries staying on the fairgrounds from Tuesday to Saturday may be allowed to leave Saturday night with the superintendent’s permission or must leave Sunday, August 23rd by 10am. This will be strictly enforced.
  16. Anyone making entries and failing to show without notifying superintendents will be disqualified for the following two years.
  17. Only original bedding will be furnished. All entries must furnish their own hay, grain, straw, wood chips, &/or sawdust.
  18. The superintendents reserve the right to change the order of classes before or during the fair. Horses stabled for the week must enter the Halter Classes.
  19. The decisions of the judges will be final.
  20. All attendants in charge of animals will be subject to the orders of the superintendents. Any owner neglecting to properly feed, and water his/her animal(s) will be required to take his/her animal(s) home.
  21. All exhibitors are notified that any act of discourtesy or disobedience on the part of the exhibitor, owner, rider, or driver to the judges and/or other officials, will result in the disqualification of the animal. The owner shall thereby forfeit his/her entry fee and all premium awards.
  22. Fire Law regulations prohibit the roping from aisles or any parts of aisles.
  23. NO SMOKING at any time in the horse barns.
  24. No horses are permitted on fairgrounds beyond the Horse Barn. All horses must be exercised in the arena, not in the barn area.
  25. No one is to let a horse loose in the arena. Horses must either be ridden or on a lunge line.
  26. Helmets must be worn by all exhibitors, ages 18 and under as of January 1st, 2026.

Department 1 - Horses - 2026 Health Rules

Requirements for Equine Animals (Pennsylvania) Entering the Fairgrounds:

1) The Animal Exhibition Sanitation Law requires attestation that a VCPR exists for all animals to be exhibited.  This attestation states that the owner or caretaker of the animal has assumed responsibility to consult a veterinarian and has agreed to follow the instructions of the veterinarian in relation to animal diseases and implementing best management practices intended to reduce and prevent disease. This requirement can be fulfilled by any of the following means:

  1. A Veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR) form with a veterinarian’s signature, signed and dated after January 1, 2026. The VCPR must be printed out and presented for inspection as a hard copy at the time of unloading of the exhibit animals.
  2. A current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI or “health certificate”), issued within 30 days of the Harford Fair. The CVI must remain on the Fairgrounds with the exhibitor and be available at any time for inspection.

2) All animals will be inspected upon removal from the trailer by the Fair Veterinarian or Department Superintendent, and must be free of infectious or contagious diseases.

3) All animals must test negative for EIA (Equine Infectious Anemia) by an official test (negative Coggins Test), completed after January 1, 2026.  Laboratory test results must accompany each animal (a copy of the original lab report is acceptable). Foals less than six months of age accompanied by a dam which meets the above requirements are exempt from EIA testing requirements. If the foal is not accompanied by the dam, a copy of the dam’s test results must accompany the foal.

4) A current rabies vaccination administered by a licensed veterinarian is required for animals three (3) months of age and older. If a mare was currently vaccinated against rabies when she foaled, the foal is not required to be vaccinated until six (6) months of age. All rabies vaccinated equine animals must be accompanied by a rabies vaccination certificate (or a copy), or the rabies vaccination information must be printed and attached to the VCPR or included on the above required paperwork.

5) It is strongly recommended that equine animals are vaccinated against: EEE & WEE (Eastern & Western Equine Encephalomyelitis), Equine Influenza, Tetanus and Rhino (EVH-1 & EVH-4) by using a 5-way vaccination, West Nile Virus and Potomac.

Requirements for Out of State Equine Animals Entering the Fairgrounds (in addition to the above listed requirements):

1) A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued within 30 days prior to the start of the Harford Fair. If an animal comes from a state in which Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) has been identified, or a bordering state, the CVI shall include a statement verifying “All animals identified on this CVI have been examined and found to be free from Vesicular Stomatitis. During the past 90 days, these animals have neither been exposed to VS nor located within 10 miles of a site where VS has been diagnosed.”

2) If an equine animal has resided in Texas or New Mexico for a cumulative total of 30 days or more within the six (6) months preceding the date of entry into Pennsylvania, that animal must test-negative for Babesia caballi and Theilleria equi on a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) test, or a PA Department of AG approved equivalent test, with the test occurring within 30 days preceding entry into Pennsylvania. The date of test and the test results shall be written on the CVI.

 

Enter Online Here

(opens in new tab)

Download the entry form.

(opens in new tab)

Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship Form

(opens in new tab)