Dear Horse Youth, Parents, and Advisors,
Thank you to everyone that attended the Pre-Fair Informational Meeting last night. As promised, here is a re-cap below of the items discussed last night as well as the committee's decisions regarding Tack Inspection and the Horse Costume Class.
1) The costume class will be held on Saturday evening September 12th starting a 1/2 hour following the last Roping Class.
2) Tack Inspection Sunday at 8:30 am (located just outside of the practice arena near the South Barn) - Contest Showmanship exhibitors may carry their tack and lead their horse to the tack inspection area so not to disrupt the cleanliness and prep work of the horse for contest showmanship. Exhbitors are permitted to have someone assist them in carrying their tack but the exhibitor must also be present at the inspection area with their tack and their horse. Everyone else who is not competing in contest showmanship must come to the inspection area with their horse tacked.
3) Stall Assignments - will be posted in the barns on Tuesday September 8th. Decorating can begin once stall assignments have been posted. There will not be a tent this year. All exhibitors wanting a stall for their first horse have been assigned a stall. A lottery drawing by seniority was conducted for any remaining extra stalls that may become available.
4) Proper Tack and Bits - Beth Harper Shisler from the Horse Committee explained that her, Linda Wright, and Karla Forrer will be working together as stewards for this year's horse show. Exhibitors were reminded to double check their tack and bits per the 2015 Uniform Rules for Horse Shows publication. Anyone with questions about the legality of their tack or bits is encouraged to talk with a steward well in advance of show day.
5) Show Schedule - please take note that some classes and events are being held on different days this year, please review the full schedule listed below:
Saturday September 12th
9:00 - 11:00 am - Distribution of Horse Show Books, area between the two barns
2:00 pm - Opening Ceremonies
3:00 pm - Versatility, Freestyle Reining, Not So Extreme Trail, and Roping
1/2 hour following the roping classes, the Horse Costume Class will be held
Sunday September 13th
8:30 am - 10:00 am - Tack Inspection
10:00 am - Contest Showmanship Classes followed by all regular Contest Classes
2:00 pm - Horse Youth of the Year Award Applications Due in the Announcer's Booth
Stick Horse Races in the Horse Arena this year following contest classes
Sunday evening - Summer Fun Show Awards and Horse Youth of the Year Awards presentation
Monday September 14th
9:00 am - Senior Western Classes
Tuesday September 15th
9:00 am - Junior Western Classes
Wednesday September 16th
9:00 am - English / Jumping Classes
Thursday September 17th
7:30 am - Dressage Classes
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Northern Ohio Outlaws Mounted Shooters Competition
6) Horse Youth of the Year Award - applications are now available online and must be turned in to the Announcer's Booth at the Horse Arena by 2 pm on Sunday September 13th. This prestigious award will be presented to one junior and one senior Sunday evening of the fair following Fun Show awards.
7) 4-H Code of Conduct - remember to obey the 4-H Code of Conduct which includes wearing school or show appropriate attire at all times in or around the Horse barns and arena. For your safety, please don't wear flip flops around horses. Also, remember no foul language, smoking, alchohol, unsportsmanlike conduct, or disrespectful behavior toward other exhibitors or show officials.
8) 3 Scratches Rule - remember that a new rule in place for this year is that each exhibitor is permitted up to 3 scratches. Additional scratches must be substantiated with a doctor's excuse, veterinarian's certificate, or documentation that you were showing in another Jr. Fair class at or near the same time as your horse class. We are offering a grace period from now through Friday September 4th at 5 pm in which exhibitors may make "scratches" without them counting toward the 3 scratch rule. Please contact your advisor to let them know of any scratches you wish to make. Advisors should then send an e-mail to Jr. Fair Secretary Marcia Brueck at wcjrfair@hotmail.com with a listing of all scratches for their club.
9) All patterns will be posted the night before each show in the bulletin boards located in the horse barns. Please review the patterns posted in the barn to become familiar with the pattern the judges have selected.
10) Show books will be distributed on Saturday morning from 9-11 am in the area between the two horse barns. Please don't go to the Announcer's booth during this time as they will be busy conducting the open contest show.
11) Preparing for Thursday evening's Mounted Shooters Competition - Please review the tips listed below to help you proactively prepare for the Mounted Shooter's event on Thursday. Working together and preparing ahead of time will help to reduce the possibility of problems during the shoot.
- Close all windows on the east side of the barns (side facing the arena)
- Keep your horse inside it's stall and absolutely no horses are to be on the east side of the arena during the shoot.
- Consider placing cotton ear plugs in your horses ears prior to the 6 pm show.
- Feed and water your horse at or prior to 5:45 pm to decreas the need to enter your horse's stall during the Mounted Shooters compettion.
- Be aware that the horse committee plans to turn-off the loudspeakers inside the barns during the Mounted Shooters competition.