SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show from Nov. 10-12 will offer more than 25 educational opportunities, including hands-on programs relating to horses, cattle, sheep and goats.

 “This will be the first year we will offer the San Antonio International Farm & Ranch Equine Expo,” said Lyle Larson, one of the show’s founders. “We will be offering both educational and entertaining opportunities for equestrians throughout the day on Nov. 12.” 

 Larson said previous shows have included hands-on demonstrations, but that this year’s show will have additional live educational opportunities focused on livestock management.    

 “The equine programs will be a great opportunity for new horse owners to glean important information about horse care and training, said J.D. Folbre, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent for agriculture and natural resources in Karnes County. “All those programs are hands-on and use live animals in the demonstrations, so this will be a lot different than regular classroom instruction.”       

 Equine programs on Nov. 12 will begin at 9 a.m. with “Straight from the Horse’s Mouth,” a comprehensive educational program on equine dentistry presented by Dr. Clay Stubbs, DVM.

Stubbs, a Texas A&M University graduate, operates the Stubbs Equine Dental Clinic in Johnson City, which specializes in equine dentistry. Since 1966, he has built and managed five veterinary practices, and has expertise in equine sedation, restraint and pain management, as well as dentistry. He has researched and developed instruments and systems for equine dentistry, and through Stubbs Equine Innovations, Inc., develops, builds, and markets equine restraint and power dental equipment.

At 10 a.m., Dr. Kelsey Sapp, DVM will present “No Hoof, No Horse,” a program on the importance of maintaining the proper horse hoof angle. Sapp is a graduate of Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, and an associate at Bracken Equine Clinic of San Antonio. She and has expertise in internal medicine, neonatology and musculoskeletal disorders in animals.

That afternoon, well-known horse trainer Dan Keen will present two equine programs. The first, “Dan Keen’s Equine Extravaganza #1” begins at 1 p.m. and focuses on Keen’s method of horse training, known as ‘Wenglish’ -- a combination of best horse training practices of Western and English horses. The second, “Dan Keen’s Equine Extravaganza #2,” begins at 4:30 p.m. and addresses additional horse training and control after a proper foundation has been established.

Keen and his wife, Kelley, of Round Top, Tex. will host the a new television series, Keen Horses International, for which they travel the U.S. and other countries, visiting horse shows, equine ministries, charities, youth competitions and more, and introduce the viewer to the best in world-wide equine experiences. He also was selected as one of the 200 trainers to receive a wild mustang for the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover competition in Fort Worth, where he was given only 100 days to prepare a wild mustang for competition. He tied for second overall in the competition and, after it ended, purchased the mustang, Troubadour, with whom he continues train and perform.

Bryan Davis, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Bexar Country and show education coordinator, said hands-on programs in sheep and goat handling will also provide a unique instructional experience for this year’s show attendees.

 “Dr. Rick Machen, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist in Uvalde, will be giving cattle handling demonstrations, including one for finding the proper injection site for vaccination, as well as the programs on sheep and goat handling,” Davis said.  “And another agency expert will give a demonstration on hoof trimming and drenching for sheep and goats.”

Davis said while equine and hands-on educational offerings related to smaller livestock animals may be of particular interest to show attendees, there also will be other educational opportunities.

 “We’ve tried to include a variety of topics and educational opportunities that will be relevant and timely for farmers, ranchers and others at the show,” Davis said. He added that some of the additional educational programs of interest will include: 

•  Cattle-handling demonstrations involving use of squeeze chutes for restraint.

• A private applicator training and testing by a Texas Department of Agriculture representative from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 12.

• Educational programs and demonstrations on sprayer calibration, as well as brush and weed management and control.

• Wildlife programs feral hog control, including proper fencing construction methods for feral hog exclusion.

Davis said this year’s show will have more than 25 educational programs and will offer 15 Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units – in general, laws and regulations, drift, and integrated pest management -- for private pesticide applicators, as well as credits or units for beef quality assurance and certified crop advisers.

For more information on the 2011 San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show, go to: http://www.farmandranchexpo.com or call 210-226-1177.