Horse Show To Pump Up Economy

By Jeffrey Smith, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The National Arabian Horse Show at the fairgrounds is just days away. It's the first time Tulsa will host the event and for local businesses the real show is already taking place outside the arena.

The horses first started arriving at the fairgrounds on Saturday.

The competition is five days away and there's a lot of cash to spend in the meantime.

Nicole Ferrell drove 1,200 miles with her horse, from Buffalo to Tulsa and she had a big craving.

"We just got here yesterday, so I ate at Sonic last night because we don't have Sonic in New York," said Ferrell.

Ferrell is part of the U.S. National Arabian Horse Show. The competition starts Friday, but most out-of-state horses are already here and their owners are trying out the local flavor.

"McAlesters. McGallaghers? No, McCalesters. Well, whatever it's called, we ate there yesterday," said Ferrell.

Richie Gault made the trip from Greensboro, North Carolina with 18 horses. He says Arabians are definitely prima donnas. That means they come with a big posse.

"You've got owners, riders, family, groomers, assistants. They come in, and hotels, and foods and rental cars, and flying in. so it, yeah, it brings a lot of money to the area," said Gault.

This show is as big as it gets and stables bring in clients to show off the horses. Those potential buyers, need to be comfortable.

"We rent this for the two weeks that we're here. We call ahead, and then they deliver it," said Gault.

Expo Square spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for this inaugural event. Officials say it's worth every penny.

"They're also eating in our restaurants, shopping in our community. So it's a great thing for Tulsa," said Amanda Blair of the Expo Square.

"We'll buy lumber, flowers mulch and then the TV and furniture we'll rent for the 18 days that we're here," said Ferrell.

The show is seven days. Ferrell is in Tulsa for almost three weeks and there are about 8,000 people in town just like her.

An executive for the Arabian Horse Association out in Colorado says the nationals will bring in about $25 million to the local economy. She says that's the impact this event has had recently in cities like Albuquerque and Louisville.