HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - The 28th annual Gulf Coast Winter Classics begins Thursday at the Harrison County Fairgrounds, bringing hundreds of horses and riders for six weeks of competition.
Riders from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico will compete for prize money, awards, and national points.
In the weeks leading up to the competition, riders exercised their horses at the fairgrounds. Show manager Bob Bell said this is a major event.
“I think of horses as kind of like NFL players. There are only so many that have that much talent to be able to compete at this level and jump over the jumps and do this,” said Bell. “It takes a lot of special training and a lot of love.”
The Gulf Coast Winter Classics offers free admission for the entire six-week period, but organizers encourage early arrival as parking and seating fill quickly.
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“Come out and watch these horses compete. Even if you really don’t know a lot about them, it’s fun to come watch,” said Bell.
The event runs from February 12 through March 22. The Harrison County Fairgrounds is located at 15321 County Farm Road in Gulfport.
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