Riders, animals endure heat for state 4-H horse show

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The heat and humidity didn’t stop the herds of people and horses that flocked to the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education this
past weekend for the 2009 Michigan State 4-H Horse Show.

Crowds gathered to watch 4-H exhibitors and their horses trot, canter and jump their way toward ribbons and medals.

4-H helps connect young people with the “country life” through hands-on learning, according to the organization’s Web site.

Taylor Tenlen, an equine graduate assistant and one of the event’s organizers, said there were about 600 participants, which is “right in line” with previous years.

The show features riders from 55 of the 83 counties in Michigan. The exhibitors have to be chosen from their county, Tenlen said.

“They’re chosen by their counties and each county has a specific delegate selection process,” Tenlen said. “Some are knowledge-based or some are based on writing — it varies.”

The show classes were divided by age group — with groups ranging from 13 to 19 years of age — and by style of riding.

For Megan Mearing, a junior exhibitor from Van Buren county, the weekend event was her first state show.

“I definitely hope to come back next year,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun; there’s a lot of nice people.”

To be chosen for the show, Mearing had to qualify in a pre-show and complete
an essay and community service.

“There’s a lot expected from them,” said Lisa, Mearing’s mother. “Our county gives us a lot of community support.”

The heat, which hovered at about 90 degrees Sunday, with about 60 percent humidity, was a minor annoyance for some of the riders.

Paige Koning, an exhibitor in the 15-year-old class from Kalamazoo County, said the heat was a little bothersome but didn’t stand in the way of the show.

“(The heat) slows me down a little bit and makes me tired, but you still show,” she said.

The heat also prompted exhibitors to keep a closer eye on their horses.

“You have to make sure you monitor the horses and make sure they’re drinking and after they’ve been working to get them back and make sure they have fluids,” Lisa Mearing said.

Koning said one of her favorite parts of the show was watching others perform.

“The best thing that’s happening this year was getting to watch the older kids ride yesterday,” she said. “I got to see
how they work with their horses and use that in my own riding.”

This year’s show was Koning’s third year at the state show.

Megan Mearing said people who aren’t used to being around horses can benefit from events like the 4-H Horse Show.

“I think it’s a good thing for people who don’t know much about horses because you can learn a lot just watching a class,” she said.

“Everybody here is willing to answer questions. … Like you can walk up to anybody and say, ‘Hey, what breed is your horse?’ and they’ll right away tell you, ‘Oh, this is an Appaloosa. She’s really clean, want to pet her?’”

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