Your Guide to Congress

Welcome to Congress!

Your first Congress is exciting — and it can also feel a little overwhelming. With hundreds of classes, multiple arenas, barns, shopping areas, special events and thousands of exhibitors, there is a lot to take in.

That's where this guide comes in.

Whether you're preparing for your first trip to Congress or simply want to make navigating the show a little easier, this guide will help you know what to do before you arrive, what to expect once you're here, and where to find the information you need throughout your stay.

Consider this your first-timer's roadmap to Congress.

Before You Arrive

Know The Details

• Review the current Horse Show Schedule
• Check out the Congress Entry Book
• Congress has many divisions, classes, activities, and deadlines, so it’s important to know exactly what applies to you and your horse. You can determine your eligibility for different divisions by checking with the appropriate sanctioning organizations, such as the American Quarter Horse Association, National Snaffle Bit Association, National Reining Horse Association, and the International Professional Rodeo Association.
• You can find more information about the Congress Futurity and Stakes programs here.

Complete Your Entries

• Entries open July 15
• Entries are due August 25
• Entries are completed online through HorseShowTracker

Prepare Your Horse

• Gather health documents. The Congress requires that all horses entering the grounds must have a current Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI/Health Certificate) issued within 30 days of arrival, including horses originating in Ohio, AND proof of a negative EIA/Coggins within 12 months.
• Reserve your stall mats from Elite Stall Met Rentals.
• Pre-order shavings, grain, and hay from Wayne Davis Quality Bedding.
• Review your stall assignment, released in mid-September each year.

Plan Your Stay

• Use the facility map to also familiarize yourself with the parking options for the Ohio Expo Center. The Congress offers 2 parking pass options, and parking passes are purchased at the gate upon arrival.
• Make your hotel or camping reservation. For the best hotel rates, book through the official Congress booking site. To reserve a camping spot, book a spot in the Purple Lot. All other camping is on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Submitted your golf cart rental through Eagle Golf Cars. Bringing your own golf cart? Don't forget to pick up your cart pass upon arrival.

Once You Arrive

Find Your Way Around

• Review the facility map familiarize yourself with the various competition and warm up arenas, longeing areas, stall barns, shopping, and other amenities at the Ohio Expo Center.
• Parking, Camping, or Electrical Concerns?
  • Please contact Metropolis at 614-294-9336 or visit their office onsite by Gate 4 near the Adequan barn.
• Check out the Congress Essential Services to learn more about the many amenities available to help you feel more at home!

Showing at Congress

• Find your patterns here
• Class draw orders are posted daily, and can be found here. If you have a class conflict, please speak with the paddock masters of both arenas you are competing in.
• Check out the nightly riding schedule for each arena, updated daily and posted here.
• After your class, view scoresheets here.
• Watch the livestream here.

Need Help?

• The show office is located in Congress Hall and is open daily, starting 1 hour prior to the start of the show until 6:00pm.
• The stall office is located just past the ticket booths when you enter the grounds, and operates 24 hours a day throughout the show.
  • You can reach either office by calling 614-505-7200.

There's More to Congress Than Showing

• Take some time to walk through the two premier shopping buildings, Congress Hall and Marketplace! Both are open daily and you can view a list of vendors here.
• Vist the Congress Classroom, presented by Huntington Bank, located in the Ohio Ag Center Barn and offering free wifi and a quiet space to complete schoolwork or work remotely.
• Freestyle Reining, presented by dac Vitamins & Minerals. Purchase your tickets here.
• Professional Bull Riding, presented by Edge Nation. Get your tickets here.
• Pro Horsemen Perspective Series, presented by PulseVet & Zomedica. Check out the online series ahead of the show, which reviews the Congress patterns for that year, and then enjoy the live demos onsite.
• Wine Down Wednesdays, held in partnership with the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture and Ohio Wines. This wine-tasting is held every Wednesday in the Ohio Showcase Building.
• Live entertainment in Schmidty's Saloon, located in the Ohio Showcase Building (schedule determined by Schmidt's).
• Congress Super Sale, held in the Lausche Building.
• Puppy Alley & Rescue Row, presented by Tractor Supply Co., is located in the Rhodes Building and is open daily every Friday-Sunday.
• Cowboy Church, held every Sunday morning in the Dairy Building.

First-Timer Tips From Experienced Exhibitors

• Keep important information together:  folder, binder, or digital folder on your phone can make it much easier to find entries, health records, schedules, stall information, and other important documents.
• Wear comfortable shoes. You will probably walk much farther than you expect!
• Bring layers. Ohio weather can change quickly, and Congress takes place over a long period of time. Be prepared for changing temperatures and conditions.
• Give yourself extra time. Almost everything takes a little longer when you're navigating a huge show for the first time.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions. This may be the most important tip of all!
• Enjoy the experience. It is easy to become focused on your next class, your horse, and your schedule. Remember to look around and enjoy being part of Congress.

Need a Little Help? Meet the Congress Ambassadors

The Congress is excited to partner with the AQHA Amateur Ambassadors program to help connect exhibitors with liaisons that help make your experience even better! Listed below are this year's Ambassadors and their contact info. They are an excellent resource to help make your Congress experience less stressful!

• Brister Shum: 901-486-3197
• CeCe Campbell: 805-434-7451
• Jessi Jo Boulter: 989-619-1324
• Kyle Vinyard: 337-378-5625

Most Important: Have Fun!

Your first Congress doesn't have to be perfect.

Maybe you win a class. Maybe you don't. Maybe your horse gives you the ride of your life; or teaches you something you didn't expect to learn. That's the magic of the Congress.

Take it all in. Learn something. Meet people. Make memories.

Your first Congress is just the beginning.

Welcome to Congress. We hope you have a great show!