MORE THAN 400 WILL SADDLE UP FOR THE HORSESHOW ON SUNDAY

One of the biggest draws for crowds at the SEMO District Fair is the horse show.

There's something about beautiful animals and the way they relate to their owners that draw thousands of enthusiastic fans whether they've ever sat astride a horse or know the difference between a quarter horse and a paint.

Becky Huck, who helps organize the fair's horse show each year, is as enthused about the event as any horse owner could be.

"We're real proud of the horse show," Huck said. "This is the fifth year and it gets bigger, with more entries, each year.

"We had over 400 entries last year, and we expect that many and more this year."

With 19 separate classes that are nearly equally divided between western or stock horse and gaited or English horses, prize money will total $100 in each class.

But most people who show horses don't do it for the money, Huck said.

"We've got something for everybody in the show," she said. "There's something for the guy who has a weekend horse that's a smooth-riding, gentle horse that does everything you want it to do you're proud of that horse.

"These exhibitors are proud of their horses and they want to show them off; what better place than in front of hundreds of people in the grandstand."

From quarter horse, paint and appaloosa to Tennessee walker, fox trotting and American saddle horses and Morgans, the fair will have something for every horse lover.

Exhibitors will come from a five-state region, including Kentucky, Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri.

"We think we really have one of the best one-day horse shows in the state," Huck said.

The show begins at 1 p.m. Sunday in the grandstand. Huck said the show usually doesn't end until 6:30 or 7 p.m.

The fee for exhibitors is $3 per entry, and a first place trophy will be presented in addition to ribbons for first through seventh places in each class. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five places in each class.

Also, a photographer will be available to take photos of exhibitors with their horses.

The horse show also includes many other activities that add to the family fun. For children ages 8 and younger and for senior citizens, there's a pet show.

"A lot of times older brother or sister has a show horse, and the little ones feel left out," Huck said. "If they've got a pet they can show it. It's a lot of fun."

Awards are presented to everyone who enters for such creative categories as the "pet with the most spots," the "pet that looks most like its owner," or the "most disobedient pet," Huck said.

Dogwood Veterinary Hospital sponsors the pet show. Another popular event is the "stick horse" class for young children.

The idea is for the youngsters to "show" their stick horses, using their imaginations to emulate the goings on of the real horse show. "It's kind of like watching the church program at Christmas," Huck said.

Tri-State Therapeutic Horsemanship will again sponsor the flag ceremony, in which handicapped children will present the colors on horseback.

Also, several companies have donated prizes for drawings at the end of each class. And MSA Agribusiness of Jackson donated a saddle that will be raffled off at the show.

Huck said organizing the horse show has been relatively easy because of the quality and dedication of other committee members. She predicted the event will continue to be one of the most popular at the fair.

"You don't realize how many horses there are in this area," she said. "When this show starts the grandstand will be full.

"I think that there is in every person, a desire to see a magnificent, pretty animal like a horse. They like to see a good working relationship between a horse and exhibitor."