By LINDA McGURK
Indiana Correspondent

VEEDERSBURG, Ind. — The horse and pony show may not be the biggest project at the Fountain County 4-H Fair. But what the group lacks in numbers, it makes up for with hard work and enthusiasm.
“A lot of these kids have been really committed,” said Fred Booe, board member of the Fountain County 4-H Club, about the group. “They’ve been a really good bunch of kids.”

About 30 children and 45 horses participated in the horse and pony show at the fairgrounds in Veedersburg, Ind., a pretty typical number according to horse and pony superintendent Wendy Medley-Davis. The group has been meeting at least twice a month since March, sometimes under the guidance of an invited clinician. “The kids have worked really hard even though they’ve had other things to do. You can really see that they’ve improved, especially the juniors.”

One of them was 11-year-old Lauren Bowling of Veedersburg, who’s in her third year of 4-H and entered her bay quarter horse Jake in the 4-H show for the first time. “I haven’t been riding very often this year because I’ve been pretty busy, but normally I ride once or twice a week,” she said. Lauren said her biggest challenge was keeping Jake from munching on the wet grass, and seemed relaxed as she was grooming him before the start of the halter class. “I feel OK. My mom helps me stay calm.”

Meanwhile, Creston Beasley, 11, of Veedersburg was anxiously waiting to make his debut at a 4-H horse show. Coached by his trainer, Carl Minick of Wallace, Ind., Creston practiced for the halter class by leading his horse in circles in the grass near the arena. “Don’t let her lead you,” Minick urged him. “Bump her, bump her. Pull back as you turn. Great!”

“She’s used to work on cattle,” Minick said about the horse, a 6-year-old registered paint that belongs to Creston’s grandfather, Ed Beasley. “Creston has worked hard to get her to slow down. He’s doing an excellent job,” Minick said. Grandpa Beasley was also accompanying Creston at the fairgrounds. “I was in 4-H when this place moved from Covington (Ind.),” Beasley said about the fairgrounds. “My five kids have all been in 4-H and now we’re starting on the grandkids.”

While Creston was preparing for his first show, Nikki Minick, 18, of Wallace, Ind., was getting ready for her last. A 10-year member of the Fountain County 4-H Club, Minick was going through the familiar routine of getting her hair braided and putting on makeup before the show. “A big part of the show is grooming the horse and taking care of yourself. The judge likes to look at people who dress up a little bit,” Nikki said. Having shown goats, horses and photography over the years, Nikki had mixed feelings about leaving 4-H. “It’s bittersweet. I’m excited that it’s my last year, but I know I’ll miss it next year,” she said.