Fair horse show held Thursday
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on October 7, 2016 10:02 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Madison Williams, 3, gives her miniature horse Daisy a kiss during competition Thursday night at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair. Thursday was Madison's first time showing.
Maggie Lancaster, 2, dances from side to side and blows kisses to her family in the crowd.
Her mother, Natalia, minds the animal next to her daughter.
Maggie's miniature horse, Dillon, is larger than she is.
Overcast skies and rain did not dampen the spirit of competition at Thursday night's Open Pony and Mule Show at the Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair.
Maggie is part of a family that has shown ponies and other equines for three generations.
And this is not Maggie's first rodeo.
Last year, when she was only 1, she competed in the open class for the pony and mule show, also.
She's competing with her cousin, Eli Grady, 2.
Madison Williams, 3, gave her miniature horse, Daisy, several kisses throughout the competition as the judge circled the small children and miniature horses to determine the winner.
The competition was called for Maggie Lancaster.
And Eli Grady.
And Madison Williams.
Everyone in the open class for miniature horses walked away victorious.
Other classes for ponies and mules, as well as equines in the Open Horse Show, were more competitive.
Brittany Tart, who showed her mule, Dolly, said it was her first year competing.
She said she got involved because she wanted to try something new.
"It was just something different," Tart said. "This is someone else's mule, and they asked me to show her so I figured why not."
Tart said while mules are difficult animals -- something they are notorious for -- getting them competition ready is all about the bond a person develops with the animal.
"It's about getting to bond with them. You have to teach them to stand up, square up and be show appropriate," Tart said. "It takes a lot of time and patience."
Tart said she enjoyed her first competition.
"It was just fun," Tart said. "I just enjoyed getting out there and spending time with Dolly. She's just like a big puppy dog."
Savannah Moore, 14, has been competing for nearly her entire life.
As she exits the livestock shelter, her horse, Jack, is huffing and neighing and walking in circles, anxious to leave.
But Moore handles Jack calmly, bringing him under control after an intense competition.
"I've been competing since the 6 and under class," Moore said. "We've always had horses and we've always been doing this."
Moore called showing horses a family tradition.
"He (Jack) did pretty good," Moore said. "He did better than I thought he would. I was surprised we got second."
Moore said the key to Jack's success Thursday night was bringing him to the fair early to acclimate him to the other horses, loud noises and flashing lights.
"I got him ready and brought him out here early so he would be used to everything going on around him," Moore said.
Yoshi -- a 6-year-old Appaloosa horse -- was standing in wait with his owner, Kristi Welke.
Welke said Yoshi was competing in the English Halter class Thursday night.
The Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair was Yoshi's first competition, and he was a natural.
"I've only had him two months, but he's behaving so you can't ask for more," Welke said. "I've always wanted to compete in this class and he's bred for it. I'm a little nervous, but I gave him a bath and a braid and we're ready to go."