2 - TETON COUNTY FAIR Jackson Hole News&Guide Wednesday, August 1, 2012
TRAVIS J. GARNER / NEWS&GUIDE
Keith Holmes, 16, and his horse lope Saturday during the 4-H Horse Show. Holmes was named grand champion in the senior division for Western horsemanship.
Age is no excuse not to saddle up Young equestrians trot their stuff during two days of intense fair competition. By Taylor Williams
T
hirty-two riders, none older than 18, participated in the Teton County Fair in a variety of horse events, including showmanship, riding and dummy roping. Riders were split into three groups based on age: seniors (14-18), intermediates (11-13) and juniors (8-10). The contest also included a “walk and trot” division for younger kids just starting out. The show began, appropriately enough, with showmanship. Riders led their freshly bathed and groomed horses around the corral, gently working the reins as they attempted to convince the judges that they and their animals were on the same page. While the horses’ appearance and the condition of the equipment were important factors, judges’ final decisions reflected more on the riders, show organizer Gwen Hansen said. “Kids are judged on how well they handle their horse,” Hansen said. “Like if the horse stands still during the leading, which is bad, or if he squares up instead of standing with one leg cocked, which is good. But it’s not really on the horse, and they can tell if the kids have practiced.” Participants then saddled up for performance classes, where their skills were put to a more complex test. Riders began with Western horsemanship, maneuvering their horses through a pattern of circles and turns laid out before the show. Each rider’s routine was also evaluated on the smoothness of the horse’s stride and
PRICE CHAMBERS / NEWS&GUIDE
Emily Smith hopes to impress the judges with her horse, Teton, during the 4-H horse showmanship event on Saturday.
the ease and relaxation of its gait, known as “Western pleasure.” Judges included a separate category for reining skills, also tested through pattern duplication. “It’s technical,” Hansen said. “They have to do the pattern correctly, or they’re disqualified. But we try to concentrate more on the child than the horse.” The Western riding competition saw kids dart their horses around a series of cones. The key factor was changing leads between cones, or alternating the set of legs — left or right — that advance farthest during a gallop or canter. Riders also recreated a trail ride
on the grassy arena as a performance class, and capped the show with some ground and dummy roping for kicks instead of points. Performance classes were scored on a six-point scale and combined with showmanship scores to determine highpoint winners for each age group. Jamie Lucas won among seniors. Tanner Colson topped the intermediates. Ryley Hasenack was first among juniors, and Derek Grant took first in walk and trot. All first- and second-place finishers were invited to compete Aug. 11-18 at the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas.