While there are many ways to demonstrate your equine athlete's prowess in the show ring, parents of young horse owners agree on one thing: caring for a horse is a great life lesson for a child.

"Having horses definitely teaches them responsibility," said horse owner Sharon Perschke of Center Township. "It's not like feeding the dog."

Children must spend years doing the daily feeding and cleaning stalls twice a day along with practice sessions and the actual competition.

In Butler County, horse enthusiasts mainly participate in one of two types of horse showing. Gaming riders participate in speed events such as barrel racing, pole bending and down-and-back, where the rider simply streaks down the length of the ring, goes around a barrel, and streaks back "home."

Gaming shows also include other, nonspeed-related classes, or segments of a horse show, such as western pleasure. In that class, horses are specially trained to move at a slow pace with their necks parallel with the ground, traversing the ring's inside railing while an announcer instructs riders to have the horse walk, trot, jog, lope or canter.

Gaming and western riding usually require participants to wear western attire that includes a long-sleeved western shirt. In western pleasure classes, riders normally are dressed to the hilt, donning colorful, sparkling shirts or vests, cowboy hats, jeans and cowboy boots.

Quarter horses are the most frequently used equines in gaming and western riding, although many other breeds participate as well.

An altogether different class

The second type is English horse showing, which differs greatly from the western discipline. Riders atop thoroughbreds and warm bloods, or large, sturdy equine athletes bred for the stamina required in English events, sport jodhpurs, smart blazers, white tops with a pin at the neck, gloves, high black boots and black velvet helmets.

The "tack," or equipment worn by the horse also varies greatly between the two disciplines. Western riders use a saddle with a horn and matching leather stirrups resembling those seen in cowboy movies. Western bridles are normally ornate, often adorned with silver or gold Conchos, or decorative, shiny metal covers for buckles and ends of the pieces of leather that make up the bridle.

English riders use a plain black or brown leather bridle and an English saddle, which is without a horn and much smaller than the large, squeaky western saddle. Saddles in both styles of riding come in specialized varieties for different types of riding.

A barrel-racing saddle, for example, has a higher front and back to hold the rider in his seat. A hunt seat saddle in English riding differs from a dressage saddle in that the leather between the saddle and stirrups, or knee rolls, are positioned farther forward.

A plethora of bits are also available in both disciplines, and are used depending upon the style of riding and the control requirements of the horse.

Horse shows in the area normally feature both English and western classes. In some classes, horses from both disciplines are judged in the same ring.

Building a family tradition

Patty Turner, who, with her husband Scott, owns Rocky Ridge Farm in Renfrew, passed her love of showing horses on to her husband when they were dating in the early 1980s. So it was only natural that riding continued in the family.

"Amy got her first pony when she was 2," said Patty Turner of her oldest child, who is now 19. "It was a cute old pony that was safe with kids that the neighbors were looking to get rid of right at the time when we were looking for a pony for Amy."

The Turners went on to have three more children, and the girls, Amy and Erin, display the most interest in showing and competing. Their son, Max, "rides if there are girls around" and their youngest, 9-year-old Brian, competes and participates in Green Meadows 4-H horse club.

Turner said showing horses, which the family does at the Butler Fair Grounds and other regional venues, takes more than skill. It takes time, money, organization and patience.

The day before a show, the Turners collect and organize the tack, clothing and other equipment they need for the show. In most cases, a small room in the front of a horse trailer serves as a sort of closet where bits, bridles, hay forks, water buckets and neatly hung show clothing are stored.

Because the Turner children compete in both western and English riding, several outfits must be assembled and hung in the portable "tack room." Then brushes, buckets, horse shampoo, hoof picks, saddles and blankets, horse feed and other items must be collected for use at the show.

Because most shows last all day and late into the evening, Turner often packs a cooler with food and drinks for her crew as well as easy-to-grab snacks for in between classes.

Right before the Turners load up the horses and/or ponies, another overall check is done to be sure they have everything they need. From large safety pins to attach a rider's number to the back of their shirt to the velvet covering for an English helmet, everything must be available to grab and use in a hurry.

Once the family arrives at a show, their diesel fifth-wheel truck is parked and the trailer detached. If horse stalls are available, the Turners place the horses there and gather the items needed to bathe their equine athletes. Then one by one, the horses are led into wash racks, or concrete platforms where the horses are bathed.

While the riders bathe and groom their charges, Scott and Patty proceed to the judge's box to get a copy of the show bill, which lists the competitions or classes to be run that day. After consulting with their young riders, the Turners then enter the children in the appropriate classes. The process, especially when registering multiple riders, can be an arduous one, as two forms must be filled out for each child in each class.

Depending on what entity is putting the show on, classes are separated according to rider age, size or breed of horse, type of riding, or height of the horse. In a show that is not breed-specific, a show bill can list up to 20 classes.

It can also be expensive, as costs for each class plus a grounds fee are charged for each competitor.

Turner estimates that during the 10-day Big Butler Fair, she has paid just shy of $100 per child for registration for classes. She said her stint at running the concession stand at the annual event over the last few years has helped offset those costs.

At many shows, Turner said, the halter classes come first. In those classes, riders in their western or English garb lead their squeaky-clean charges into the ring to be judged on their appearance and constitution.

Lining up for the judge

Once a rider puts his or her chin into the air and ceremoniously leads the horse into the ring for display, a judge with a clipboard approaches the lined-up duos one by one.

The judge, who must be duly certified for the job, looks over each horse to make sure its whiskers and ears have been shaved, and that there is no unsightly long hair on their legs. The judge then asks the rider to make the horse move backward or to lead the animal in a tight circle.

Riders who plan to have any success in halter classes must train their horse to pivot in such a way that one rear hoof stays in exactly the same spot during the entire pivot. Horses must also stand "square," or with their front and back hooves evenly side-by-side.

The judge then hands his choices to the announcer, who proclaims ribbon winners. Maintaining their composure, the riders receive their ribbons on the way out of the ring.

After the halter classes, the western and English riding classes begin in earnest. Shows are rarely boring, as classes in the two disciplines are normally alternated throughout the event, which can last from early morning until 10 or 11 p.m.

Gaming classes are timed, and riders simply must traverse the three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern or weave in and out of a set of six poles in the fastest time possible. For safety, younger riders compete in the gaming events at a walk or trot only. If the horse breaks stride and canters, the rider is disqualified.

Several classes exist in which riders simply ride their horses in a circle along the ring's railing, and walk, trot or canter their horse en masse when instructed to by the judge in the center of the ring.

Showing off in the ring

Perschke, whose son and daughter, Kyle and Gretchen, have both shown horses in English classes, said once in the ring, riders are either judged according to "pleasure" or "equitation."

Perschke said in pleasure classes, the judge observes the horse, studying its movement, head position and general ability. Perschke said the judge does not observe whether the rider's feet are correctly placed in the stirrups or if he or she is riding correctly.

In equitation classes, riders get to show off their prowess in controlling their horses. One important aspect of equitation classes is for the rider to keep the horse on the correct "lead," or leading a canter with the correct hoof.

For English riders in an equitation class, riders must "post" while at a trot. That means they must rise up out of their saddle a few inches when their horse's hoof closest to the judge is up, and sit back down when the hoof falls. If they post with the incorrect hoof, they are on the wrong "diagonal."

Many times, English and western horses compete in pleasure and equitation classes together. Western horses move in a completely different way than their English counterparts in that their necks should be parallel to the ground and they move in slow, measured steps.

Shirts and vests worn by western riders are usually ornate, with colorful patterns and beads or sequins to accentuate the rider. The western horse is also adorned, with silver or gold accents on its bridle, saddle and chest strap.

Some horse shows have monetary prizes, which riders get with their ribbons. The number of ribbon winners also varies according to the show's sponsor. Turner said 4-H horse shows give ribbons up to sixth place in each class, and there are often just that many riders.

Turner and Perschke agree that horse ownership teaches children responsibility and the concept that you get out of your horse what you put in. Perschke and Turner said their young riders spent years feeding their horses and mucking out stalls twice a day in addition to any practice time they put in.

The two horse mothers agree that their offspring appreciate any ribbons or trophies they receive in the ring.

"They get back what they put into it, and they learn that lesson," said Turner.