Clackamas County 4-H Horse Fair showcases horsemanship, sportsmanship, and community

By Peter Zinn, for The Canby Chronicle

Brightly sequined riders, decorated stalls, and horses of all breeds filled the Clackamas County Fairgrounds July 6-12 as young equestrians gathered for the annual Clackamas County 4-H Horse Fair. Throughout the week competitors tested their skills in Jumping, Trail, Gaming, and other disciplines with one goal: to claim blue ribbons in the hope of earning the right to represent the county at the Oregon State Fair Aug. 26-30. Competitors who did not meet 4-H standards were awarded participation ribbons, while those who met progressively higher benchmarks earned white, red, or coveted blue ribbons.

That event extended well beyond the arena as participants were also scattered across the grounds to demonstrate their general equine knowledge. 4-H members prepared educational displays across the stalls. Among the educational displays was “Kinesiology (KT) Tape on Horses,” highlighting that the program emphasizes learning as much as riding. Helpers also embodied the culture of 4-H, as one “H” is “Hands.” Clubs volunteered throughout the week to maintain the grounds they were using. Helpers were found all week with parents and club organizers volunteering to draw chalk markers for events and even the youngest of 4-H members hauling wheelbarrows to deal with the unglamorous work of shoveling manure.

Throughout the week, the focus was still on demonstrating the necessary trust between horse and rider as competitors challenged themselves with a variety of contests. Judging covered a wide range of horsemanship in events such as Trail, which involved tasks such as winding through posts, moving small packages through a gate while mounted, and small crossings. One particular obstacle challenged rider and horse with nothing more intimidating than a narrow bridge with a tree branch on the ground at the end, but for some horses, that was challenging enough. Horses naturally hesitate around unfamiliar objects, making simple objects such as the branch, or even non-obstacles like chalk lines on the ground, a much more meaningful test of trust and training.

Closing out the week on Sunday was what many would consider the highest energy event, Gaming. Gaming includes several high-speed competitions that include Texas Barrels and Pole Bending, where riders traverse through obstacles in a predetermined pattern. It also includes a Flag Race which requires not just excellent control of the rider’s horse, but also excellent personal manual dexterity as the rider must grab a flag at the end of the arena from a small barrel while moving at high speed. Throughout each event, the rider must be careful in order to avoid knocking down any posts or barrels or incur a time penalty. The fastest rider in each division goes on to represent Clackamas County at the Oregon State Fair later this year. In the event that the rider is unable to participate for any reason, the runner-up reserve for each event can choose to stand in for them. To ensure a fair shot for every rider, events are intermittently stopped so that a crew can come into the arena to “rake.” Raking entails bringing in a team with handheld rakes to level the ground as well as an ATV equipped  with a drag harrow which one attendant was heard fondly referring to as the “Cowboy Zamboni.”

By the end of the week, ribbons had been awarded, stalls were packed away, and riders were preparing for either the next stage of competition or a well-earned break. The fair showcased more than speed or precision in the saddle. Educational displays, volunteer work across the grounds, and horsemanship all reflected the values of 4-H as much as the competition itself.