4-H riders prepare for State Horse Show

Laura Bakker made the trip from Missoula to help local county riders prepare for their state show appearance in Lewistown later in the week.

Michele McGuigan, a big supporter of the 4-H horse program, said that Bakker had come over twice during the summer to help the kids prepare for the recent county fair and now for the state show.

“We have about the same numbers as usual. It’s a big state and it is expensive for a lot of families to travel,” said McGuigan of the three girls attending the show. “This is great for the girls to have Laura down here to help clean up a few things before the big show.”

The girls, though all competing in different classes, McGuigan feels should be able to hold their own and hopefully come home with a blue ribbon each.

Last year Sadie Sweet brought home three buckles from three different mounts she competed on.

“This will be her [Sadie’s] last year with Reno at the show, she has done a great job starting this colt. We really hope that she can come home with another buckle,” said McGuigan.

Another seasoned competitor is newly crowned Thompson Falls High School Homecoming Queen Jessica Bronner.

Bronner has been seen to be another hard worker this year on her Grey Gelding Ben. She will compete in both Western and English disciplined classes.

During the practice Bronner was seen to be working on a few distinct moves that could really put both her and Ben into the winner’s circle in more than one class.

As they say, the devil is in the details and that can’t speak more true for equine events.

As the girls work through the levels, Bronner was working on the finer commands that she gives to ensure that Ben can pick up and move into the transition she is wanting.

The final competitor heading to the state show is Sydnee Wilson and her mount Rain.

Wilson is at a level one/two and has been showing great amounts of progress with her riding. She will only be competing in the Western classes, but this is a strong start for the young cowgirl.

All three riders took turns in a round-robin style of working with Bakker, then taking the drills to work on their own in other parts of the arena.

“There are a lot of riders that go to the state show, from ranch level, beginner to some competitors competing on an elite level. I have a lot of confidence in what our county team can do overall,” said McGuigan. “We’ve done really well in the past, and I think this team is really great as we get set to head off to the show this week.”

The excitement and nerves would all be wrapped into one thriving emotion for all the girls. Even seasoned competitors can get into the game state of mind, and as McGuigan said it comes down to the day, the pattern the competition. It can go your way or it may not; and that is all a part of the fun of competition.

“I’m really looking forward to the show, I don’t really know what I’m really excited about but I am excited to go and hope I get a blue ribbon,” said Wilson.

Bakker had also offered the girls support during each day of the show. It was easy to see from the practice at the fairgrounds that all coaches involved with the competitors have high hopes for the talented girls and their horses.