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The 4-H horse show, which took place Monday, takes hundreds of hours to put together, said Nate Balstad, Moffat County Fair coordinator.

"It takes all year to do this," said Stan Martinez, Moffat County Fair Super-Superintendent. "You have to get all the judges together and hope that they show up."

The show, which is the last of the fair, features English, Western and Jim Connor Rodeo events.

"The fair is in our blood," said Lorrae Moon, mother to three boys who participated in the horse show.

"Today is going to go fast," Moon said of the horse show.

Other shows have lasted until midnight for the mother who has been taking her sons to the fair for 10 years.

Her oldest son, Doyle, received reserve horse in the 14-and-older halter class with his horse, Forest.

"My favorite event is roping and flags," Doyle Moon said.

4-H is the most competitive horse show of the fair, Martinez said. The youth are more focused for the show, which is a culmination of their horse projects for the summer.

"This show is important so that the kids can show off their skills and the things they have learned," said Alisa Comstock of the Arena of Dreams Riding Academy. "These kids have the responsibility for the daily care of their horses and this is showing off that hard work."

Kacey Snowden won first place in the 14-and-over Dally Team Roping event with her horse, Salty.

"I feel tough," she said of winning the roping event. "Roping is the toughest event."

For her, the 4-H horse show is about being around 4-H participants and learning.

"Winning isn't everything," Snowden said. "Staying accurate and not messing up a pattern," is the hardest part of the horse show, she said.

Snowden said practice makes perfect when it comes to riding a horse.

"It is just stressful on everybody," Martinez said of the show. "Parents are the worst. The kids are usually happy-go-lucky."

Liz King is an intern with the Craig Daily Press. She can be reached at 824-7031 or eking@craigdailypress.com.