Young riders took to the Wyoming County Fairgrounds on Aug. 29 for the Children’s Horse Show, coordinated by the Endless Mountains Riding Club (EMRC) and sponsored by the local businesses of northeastern Pennsylvania. The 57 sponsored divisions included English, Hunter, Western and Ranch, as well as trail exercises and opportunities for beginners.
The event got off to a wet start as remnants of Hurricane Laura moved through the area. The rain may have impacted participation a little, EMRC president Jacqui Hunter suggested, but it couldn’t stop the show. “We just rode through it,” she remarked. “And we do have a very good crowd here today.” Horse shows are as much ceremonial as they are an exhibition of skills and intelligence. These kids take handling horses seriously, and also focus on other key aspects of the sport including their appearance and conduct.
The EMRC was formed this summer with the purpose of keeping young riders active in the sport after many events had been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was the fifth event that the organization had conducted at the fairgrounds.
“This is the only place that has had consistent shows,” said Bailey Millard of New Milford, who sat astride her horse, Danny. She and her friend, Saige Bach, of Meshoppen had also taken part in a sorting competition the previous week. Other EMRC activities, like a full-slate ranch show earlier in the month, have allowed the girls to see more of their friends.
Jamie Johnson of Wyalusing agreed that there was not a lot for her daughter, Kayden, to do earlier in the summer. She thanks the EMRC volunteers and their financial supporters for keeping the youths engaged.
The Bach sisters would normally be camping and going to the beach, their mom, Sam, explained. But Sage and her younger sisters, Aspen and Brooke, have applied themselves instead to their horses and ponies.
Parents from Bradford, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties collaborated with the EMRC to provide the prizes for the children, while Cabot and a wide variety of businesses, including tack suppliers, boarding farms, veterinarians and breeding facilities, helped cover operating expenses and other materials costs.
We are continuing to look for ways to support the communities in which we work to offset the many life challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic. Seeing the pride on the faces of the young contestants made the Children’s Horse Show particularly special for us.
