Butler County 4-H horse club members received 13 awards at the 45th annual State 4-H Horse Show held Oct. 8 to 10 at the State Farm Show complex in Harrisburg.

More than 900 winners from various county and district competitions within the state vied for awards. Butler County had 10 4-H members entered into the competition.

Horse Show events tested skills in showmanship, equitation, pleasure, jumping, driving and timed events.

In the performance division, Cayla Boyd of Saxonburg captured first place in Raised Box Keyhole Horses.Additional placings in the division were:Stephanie Larry of Butler: 8th in Hunter Seat Equitation and 10th in Hunter Under Saddle Horses.Pam Pivaronas of Saxonburg: 6th in Pleasure Pony Driving.Amanda Dillaman of Slippery Rock: 7th in Pleasure Horse Driving.Joshua Dillaman of Slippery Rock: 9th in Pleasure Horse Driving.Jessica Watson of Sewickley: 9th in Cloverleaf Barrel Race Horses.Also participating in performance were Justin Lackey of Chicora in the Pole Bending Ponies and Francine Maitland of Butler in the Hunter Seat Equitation Over Fences.

In the 4-H horse production division, members exhibit project animals that have been raised by the member. Amanda Dillaman earned first place in Palomino Colt or Gelding of the Year. Amanda also placed 6th with her entry in the Three Year Old English Pleasure Futurity.Lindsey Schick of Butler captured first place with her entry in the Tennessee Walking Horse Yearling and Two Year Old Filly class.Additional placings in the division were:Gabriel Alcorn-Abbot of West Sunbury: 2nd in Stock Type Horse Filly of the Year.Ginger Ullrich of Slippery Rock: 4th in Quarter Horse Yearling Fillies.Elizabeth Radke of Cranberry Township: 6th in Hunter Type Horse Two Year Old Gelding.Also participating was Elaina Rader of Connoquenessing with an entry in Quarter Horse Colt or Gelding of the Year.The primary purpose of the state's 4-H horse program is to develop skills in horse management. Through competition, the 4-H members develop riding skills, gain self-confidence and learn proper care of animals.The state 4-H horse show culminates the year for about 7,500 4-H members enrolled in horse and pony clubs. To be eligible for this show, 4-H members had to advance through qualifying competitions at county and district levels.

In addition to the efforts of our Butler County 4-H horse project members at the State Horse Show, 28 members earned 46 awards at the District X 4-H Horse Show held in September at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds.Awards presented to Butler residents include:Kayla Protzman, 8th in English Grooming and Showmanship Sr. Division, 8th in Hunter Under Saddle Horses; Stephanie Larry, 1st in Hunter Seat Equitation Jr. Division, 2nd in Hunter Under Saddle Horses, 4th in Hunter Hack Horses, 4th in English Pleasure Pairs; Francine Maitland of Butler: 2nd in Hunter Seat Equitation Over Fences, 7th in Working Hunter Horses; Heather Corbett, 3rd in Beginners Walk-Trot Trail, 4th in Beginners Walk-Trot English Equitation, 5th Beginners Walk-Trot English Pleasure.Also placing in the District X competition were:Cayla Boyd of Saxonburg, 1st in Raised Box Keyhole Horses; Harley Boyd of Saxonburg, 5th in Pole Bending Ponies, 7th in Raised Box Keyhole Ponies; Erin Turner of Renfrew, 1st in Raised Box Keyhole Ponies, 2nd in Clover Leaf Barrel Race Ponies, 5th in Western Pleasure Ponies; John DeCaria of Mars, 8th in Raised Box Keyhole Ponies;Jessica Watson of Sewickley: 1st in Clover Leaf Barrel Race Horses, 6th in Pole Bending Horses; Elaina Rader of Connoquenessing: 4th in Clover Leaf Barrel Race Horses; Adam Schettler of Connoquenessing: 5th in Clover Leaf Barrel Race Horses; Justin Lackey of Chicora: 2nd in Pole Bending Ponies, 4th in Clover Leaf Barrel Race Ponies; and Kelsey Lackey of Chicora: 3rd in Pole Bending Ponies.Additional awards were presented to:Stephanie Sybert of Chicora, 7th in Clover Leaf Barrel Race Ponies, 8th in Pole Bending Ponies; Amy Turner of Renfrew, 5th in Four Corner Stakes; Paula Pivaronas, 5th in Open Trail Ponies; Dominique Ellis of Natrona Heights, 4th in English Pleasure Pairs, 6th in Miniature Horse Driving, 8th in Miniature Horse Obstacle Trail; Chrichelle McDeavitt of Slippery Rock, 8th in Beginners Walk-Trot Trail; Grace LeFevre of Kennerdell, 7th in Beginners Walk-Trot Western Equitation, 8th in Beginners Walk-Trot Western Pleasure; and Dannielle Spencer of Cabot, 8th in Stock Seat Equitation Sr. Division.In addition, the following 4-H members were award winners:Melissa Schettler of Connoquenessing, 5th in Stock Seat Equitation Jr. Division, 8th in Western Pleasure Horses; Seth Randolph of Portersville, 6th in Western Pleasure Horses, 8th in Stock Seat Equitation Jr. Division; John Campbell of Cabot, 7th in Western Pleasure Horses; Krissy Fowler of Chicora, 7th in English Grooming and Showmanship Sr. Division; Michelle Rodgers of West Sunbury, 6th in Hunter Hack Horses; Amanda Dillaman of Slippery Rock, 1st in Pleasure Horse Driving, 7th in English Pleasure Pairs; Joshua Dillaman of Slippery Rock, 2nd in Pleasure Horse Driving, 7th in English Pleasure Pairs; and Pam Pivaronas of Saxonburg, 1st in Pleasure Pony Driving.Also participating in the district horse show were 4-H members:Carly Lazzo, Marie Noah, Lindsey Shick, Laura Brown, Kelly Brown and Brande Lunz, all of Butler; Colt McDeavitt, Ginger Ullrich and John Rihel, all of Slippery Rock; Kimberley Dow and Jason Zang, both of Evans City; Michelle Hughes and Jessica Stewart, both of Hilliards; Breanna and Collin Fowler, both of Chicora; Bradley Ripley Jr. of West Sunbury, Michele Schnur of Cabot, and Angela Vecchio of Zelienople.4-H in Pennsylvania is coordinated by the Penn State Cooperative Extension through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 4-H programs are open to all youths.This material is submitted by Donna Zang, Extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Nursing Home complex.