FILLMORE : 4-H Group Trains for Horse Show

Half a dozen Fillmore girls are among the 100 young riders who will compete in the annual 4-H horse show next Friday at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Recently, they gathered at a Fillmore equestrian center to practice the skills they hope will earn them blue ribbons. Dust rose in puffs as one young rider after another loped her horse in easy circles around the arena.

The competition opens with the showmanship category, a non-riding event in which handlers display the horses. The next day, the youngsters ride Western style and compete in several trail events, including opening a gate from horseback, or backing through an L-shaped space. The show finishes next Sunday with jumping and English riding.

The six Fillmore girls preparing for this year’s show range in age from 10 to 14. Some learned to ride before they could read, and others are novices with one year’s experience.

Most of the group’s 12 members own and care for their horses, although two members are presently without mounts. Those not planning to ride in the show will act as grooms and cheering sections for their teammates.

Getting there is half the fun--and plenty of work. There is an obvious bond among the assembled riders, and no one has grumbled about the semiweekly meetings that precede the show, or about the individual practice sessions each rider is expected to schedule on her own.

There’s plenty for the girls to practice. The smooth Western jog and lope contrasts with the more vigorous English trot. Riders usually specialize in one style of riding, but the casual air that characterizes the 4-H show inspires many to try both disciplines for the occasion.

“They look forward all year to this,” said Joy Padilla, who has coordinated the group for a year. “The 4-H show has a relaxed atmosphere, and they have a really good time.”

Paula Sanchez, 14, one of the members, estimates that she has been riding 10 years. Like some of her teammates, she attends open horse shows nearly every weekend, but finds more camaraderie in the competition at the 4-H event.

“I enjoy the people. All my friends are there,” Sanchez said.

Despite all the work, there is a vacation air to the 4-H show. Like most groups, the Fillmore crew will camp for the weekend, rising at dawn to clean stalls and feed the animals before the day’s competition.

Special preparations precede the trip. In the coming week, bridles and saddles will be cleaned and oiled. Ear fuzz and chin whiskers will be clipped from horses’ heads to complete a sleek look. Each group brings decorations for its row of stalls, and competition is fierce for the best-kept barn award.

“We’re going to beat everyone this year, “ vowed 14-year-old Amy Degroote, another group member.