Sisters youths perform at horse fair

Mac Gould on McKie, her seven-year-old paint gelding. photo by Kathryn Godsiff

It's fair time again and the Deschutes County Fair and Expo Center horse barn was humming with activity last weekend. The 4-H horse fair was on, and Sisters riders were represented in at least four clubs.

Sisters Stompers, Sisters Outriders, and Terrebonne Troopers each fielded several local riders. High Desert Horsemen of Bend includes Annie Hancock of Camp Sherman in their membership.

Horse fair is a summer highlight for these kids. For some, it's the only time they get to show. For others, it's a welcome relief from the pressures of open and breed-circuit showing.

Kelsey White, 13, a Sisters Outrider who lives in Camp Sherman, had her first fair experience this year. A 4-H member for only a few months, she was showing Skeeter, a 24-year-old Leopard Appaloosa. He is willingly embarking on a retirement career as a 4-H horse. White said that on a scale of 1-10, fair would rate about a 10.

Mac Gould is a Terrebonne Trooper who will be a freshman at Sisters High School next year. She shows her paint gelding, McKie, in several local shows each summer. Her view of the fair is that "it's really laid back compared to other shows. I love it; it's just so much fun."

But just because it's laid back doesn't mean it's a cakewalk. Early morning starts and long, hot days are hallmarks of the fair.

As well as performance judges, 4-H utilizes the services of 'herdsmanship' judges. These folks stroll through the barn, assessing the care the kids are giving to their horses, themselves, the barn and to others, awarding points and ribbons at the end. Consequently, a whole lot of sweeping, scooping, and smiling carries on throughout the day.

Candi Botham, 4-H Program Coordinator, reminded parents that for them "fair is a spectator sport." All the work and all the achievement belongs to the kids.

Competition took place in a wide array of classes. Showmanship (at halter), English and Western Equitation, where the rider is judged on style and control, and Trail Horse, where the horse and rider negotiate a series of obstacles, were held on the first two days and had the largest number of entries.

In 4-H show classes, competitors don't just prance around looking good. Each class also contains a segment in which the horses are shown individually while executing a set pattern.

This is a test of the rider's skill in communicating with the horse, and also challenges the rider's poise and ability to memorize. Some riders were memorizing up to three patterns in one day. There were also ground driving classes for those with young horses, cart driving classes, and equitation over fences.

Sunday's competition included Ranchmanship, Ranch Horse, and gaming. Ranchmanship tested horses on more practical aspects such as being tied to a trailer, walking past a pen with farm animals and being led over and through various other obstacles. Ranch Horse incorporated a riding pattern. The gaming events were pure speed and fun.

Several Sisters equestrians qualified for the Oregon State Fair in August.