craigdailypress.com

Horse riding at the Moffat County Fair is no joke, a fact competitors in the 4-H and FFA Halter and Performance Horse Show on Monday were well aware of.

Riders were broken up into three age groups: 8 to 10, 11 to 13 and 14 and older.

The event was all about the children, volunteer organizer Kathy Winn said.

Winn said that the horse show was broken up into several divisions, including gym khana, jumping and Western and English riding.

"The judging is based on all aspects of the horses," Winn said.

She added that most of the children who participate are entered into more than one division.

"Quite a few of them do everything," Winn said. "It's more fun for them to do more than one (event)."

Children may compete in all the events, but Winn said that for the most part, their favorite events are the ones that involve going fast.

"Speed events are the most fun because they just aren't as tedious," she said. "It lets the kids and horses get out a lot of pent up energy."

Some of the more tedious parts of the horse show include taking reign orders from judges and keeping the horses at a slow pace.

"They require more concentration," Winn said. "There are certain maneuvers that are more difficult."

Dario Georjiou agrees.

"I'd have to say my favorite events are the speed events," he said. "I can get the full potential out of my horse."

Georjiou, 12, added that he really likes the competitive side of horse riding.

"If I'm in a good mood, (my horse) has a good day," he said.

Georjiou is in the Cedar Mountain Saddle Slingers 4-H group, but he said he might join FFA in high school.

Winn said that she was in a 4-H horse club when she was younger, and she was also a group leader for a club.

She said that raising and competing with horses is great for children.

"There is a lot of general care involved with raising a horse," Winn said. "Having a horse teaches responsibility, camaraderie and sportsmanship."