One of the largest horse-related events of its kind in the country will no longer call Salina home. Equifest is leaving in 2026.
Saline County Administrator Philip Smith-Hanes told Saline County Commissioners he received a letter from the Kansas Horse Council on Tuesday notifying him of the decision to move the event.
Smith-Hanes said the reason Equifest is leaving Salina is because of space, or the lack thereof. Organizers feel like there is not enough room for growth of the event.
Equifest had called Salina home since moving from Topeka in 2020. The multi-day event, which filled the Tony’s Pizza Events Center and the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center, is Kansas’s Largest Horse Exposition featuring clinicians, competitions, shopping, and entertainment.
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The Kansas Horse Council released the following statement:
The Kansas Horse Council would like to address recent public conversation surrounding the relocation of EquiFest of Kansas.
The decision to move EquiFest to a new venue was made solely by the Kansas Horse Council Board of Directors and EquiFest Executive Committee to support the continued growth and future needs of our event, including expanded vendor space and the need to have an earlier date to avoid conflicting schedules with other similar events. This move was not a reflection of dissatisfaction with anyone in leadership or venue management in Salina, and therefore they should not be vilified.
We are incredibly grateful to the City of Salina, Saline County, and the teams at Tony’s Pizza Events Center and Saline County Expo Center for their years of partnership, support, and outstanding hospitality. For 6 years, Salina has been a vital and valued home for EquiFest, and we utmost appreciation and respect for the community and its commitment to our event.
We ask supporters and attendees to join us in thanking Salina for being a crucial part of EquiFest’s success story. We also encourage other events and organizations to consider Salina as a host location—it is a community with much to offer.
Please refrain from negative comments toward Salina, as they do not reflect the spirit or the truth behind this decision. We look forward to what is ahead, while always honoring where we’ve been.
