Young riders like Hayley Laidlaw start out in the peewee flag race. chips, but he did a lot better on horse feed.” Dust plumes as the music plays and the riders take their horses around the track. Walk, trot, reverse, walk the rail. The paints, appaloosas, and quarter horses are put through their paces as their riders, dressed in sparkly blue, purple, and black shirts, rock with ease in their saddles. The Saddle Club Annual Show is in full swing at the Posey County Fairgrounds. It doesn’t take long to see that the real stars of the show are the young people; parents and other adults play mostly supporting roles. Sara O’Neil, a fifteen-year-old freshman at
Mt. Vernon High School, is one of the enthusiasts, although she doesn’t own her own horse. “I actually ride my friend’s aunt’s horse.” However, Sara hasn’t let this stop her from accomplishing her goals. “I place a lot. I placed second in Keyhole, and Grand Champion in Halter Class my first fair year. I love it. I really wish I had a horse.” One of the most fearless young participants is Teele Temme. As the horses line up to begin the Rope Race, Teele’s appaloosa, Spunky “D”, dances in anticipation. He is not to be disappointed. They wait for the signal. He charges forward, plows his way to the dan-
gling ropes, and stops just in time to let Teela grasp the loop before spinning and racing for home. “I started riding by myself when I was four years old,” explains Teele. “Before that, Mom would lead my horse around on a rope. I started gaming when I was six.” By gaming, Teele means participating in Pole, Barrel, Flag, Arena, and Rope Races, as well as the Keyhole Competition. She has competed in state contests three times, finishing 6th, 8th, and 14th in her class. Altogether, Teele has won over 300 trophies and enough ribbons to fill four albums. She is especially proud of being named “High Point Rider Champion” at the Posey County Saddle Club Awards Banquet. One of the youngest competitors of the day is 7-year-old Jackie Reed. She has been riding since she was 7 months old and showing since she was 2. On Shelby, the horse she named after her great-grandmother, Jackie has been successful in competitions, placing fourth in the Flag Race the second time she ever competed in the event. Jackie also has definite ideas about what she wants to do when she grows up. “I still want to ride horses, and I want to be a doctor, too.” Sammie Schroeder started riding when she was 8 or 9. “I had an old friend who got me into horses. I started off with English, but I got tired of that. I don’t like the saddles.” She then attended the P-5 Equestrian Center in Evansville for Western riding. “I took riding lessons there for a good two years before I ever got my horse.” Apparently the lessons paid off. Sammie has won the Arena Race four times in a row. “I love the speed. I’m going for my fifth, to get my High Point Trophy this year.” Sammie definitely has a connection with horses, especially Pepper, her double gray quarter horse. “If I have a bad day, I go out and talk to my horse. If I lie down in the field, my horse will lie down five feet from me.”