For The Love Of Horse Shows

2014 Marquette County Fair Horse Show. Figure eight barrel race. (Photo by Roweena Langin)

Marquette, MI – On Friday August 8 the Marquette County Fair and the 4-H Club presented the skill and knowledge of young horse riders found throughout Marquette County. The show is set up in two classes, pleasure riding and the speed events.

A group of riders await their turn to compete in the arena. (photo by Roweena Langin)

The pleasure show features the skill and harmony of horse and rider. The shows are made up of a variety of competitions presenting many styles of riding and halter classes. While growing up I showed off my riding skills at our local fair until I turned 18. It was one of the yearly events that I prepared for and looked forward to every year.

The pleasure classes require you to dress up in the fanciest clothes and tack you can afford. Your horse is cleaned from top to bottom with ear and whiskers are shaved, hooves coated in black polish making them sparkle, and all the silver on your tack is polished to the point that you can see your reflection.

The cleanest your horse will ever be is just before the two of you enter the arena for the first competition of the day. The instant the two of you enter it, you begin to get covered in dust and the sparkle slowly fades. The competitions are judged by a neutral party and you behave as if you are the best team in the arena demanding that all eyes should be on you.

2014 Marquette County Fair Horse Show. The flag race. (Photo by Roweena Langin)

The speed show is a far more laid back affair made up from a variety of pattern races divided into age groups. Creating age divisions gives the younger and less confident riders a chance to succeed. The competitors in the speed shows are just as determined to win but in my opinion there is far less pressure.

Upon entering the arena there is just you, your horse, the obstacles, and time. The gate opens, the two of you enter. The adrenaline kicks in and both you and your horse ride the excitement.

You pick your attack route, line your dancing horse up, and when ready, give the command to go and hold on tight. You let your horse run as fast as he or she can; maintaining just enough control to follow the pattern.

2014 Marquette County Fair Horse Show. Figure eight barrel race. (Photo by Roweena Langin)

The wind rushes past and you eat up ground at an alarming rate as the first barrel gets closer and closer. You run around it hugging the sides as close as possible without knocking it over while sighting the next barrel. You reach the next one and run around it sighting the final barrel at the far end of the arena.

There are faint echoes of voices cheering in the distance. You reach the final barrel, circling it and heading back to the gate picking up more and more speed. The timer is tripped and as the race ends and you fight to regain control slowing the horse down to a stop. The gate opens. The two of you leave the arena to wait for your time and the next event to start.

2014 Marquette County Fair Horse Show. Even the best fall off sometimes. (Photo by Roweena Langin)

by Roweena Langin

When I was a little girl my parents taught me how to use a camera. I spent my photographic childhood in 4-H taking photos so I could enter them into the yearly county fair and have them judged. I have a BFA in photography from Northern Michigan University. My favorite photographic subjects are sports and nature. My dream career is to be a sports photographer working for a big name team or media. I have been a volunteer photographer for the Beacon House in Marquette for some of their fundraising events. In May 2014 I became a contributor with marquettemagazine.com.

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