Youth saddle up in Belton for 4-H District 8 meet

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Ashton Bellville, from Johnson County, poses with her dad, Bill, and her horse, Impulsive Pleasure, after winning first place in Horsemanship. Ashton also won first place in Western Pleasure. Photo by Mindy Poehl

June 24, 2004 -- The grounds at the back of the Bell County Expo Center were filled with horses, trailers, parents, kids and dust. 4-H'ers were competing in the District 8 Horse Show, on June 14 and 15, in Belton.

The hustle and bustle was kept to a minimum as the girls were perfecting their makeup and securing their bobby pins underneath their cowboy hats, and the few boys attending the event were adjusting the saddles on the horses and gluing their hats to their heads.

Tessa Ruberg of Grandview prepares to compete in the District 8 4-H Horse Show. Photo by Mindy Poehl

The first day, Monday, was the invitational. The kids competed in Hunter Showmanship, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunter Equitation and Hunter Hack. Futurity classes were also held, including events such as Yearling Lunge Line, Two-year-old Western Pleasure, Three-year-old Stock Horse, Trail and Reigning. The Drill Team exhibition also took place on Monday, in which the riders performed choreographed moves on their horses. One team consisted of girls and boys wearing white shirts accompanied by red, white and blue bandanas and ties. Another team wore white button down shirts with sparkling green accessories that matched the accessories on the horses.

The second day consisted of the qualifying classes. 4-H'ers competed in Showmanship, Halter, Western Pleasure, Western Horsemanship, Western Riding, Poles, Barrels and Stakes.

"This was a very successful show," said Marty Vahlenkamp, coordinator of the horse show and Hood County Extension agent. "The 4-H'ers should be commended for their hard work and for getting their horses ready for the show."

The judges at the horse show were Wes Allison, Heart of Texas Fair and Rodeo coordinator, and Dr. Mike Martin, a veterinarian at Texas A&M University.

Around 100 kids entered the show and the winners of the individual classes received ribbons and monogrammed chairs. The high point award winners won belt buckles. The contestants who competed in the invitational, on Monday, are eligible to go to the state horse show. The participants in the qualifying classes, who received at least one point, are also able to compete at the state show.