Horsing around with flair at the fair
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CANFIELD -- It seemed that no matter where Jayleigh Gillespie went, blue either followed or surrounded her -- blue skies, a blue pair of pants and an even deeper blue top.
And you might wish to add a blue ribbon.
"She is fantastic and her instinct is fantastic," Jenna Asebedo of Sebring said, referring to her daughter, 4.
An additional sense of pride that coursed through Asebedo was from Jayleigh being awarded a blue-purple ribbon for having taken part in a Cloverbud horse show and performance Monday afternoon on the final day of the 180th Canfield Fair.
Monday also marked Jayleigh's first full year in the lead line, not to mention the girl's bravery and confidence in riding a large horse, her father, Josh Gillespie, added.
Ideal weather with temperatures in the low 70s, low humidity and scattered clouds greeted the competitors in the ring at the Junior Fair section. Jayleigh and the others performed in a lead line class as several members of the Mahoning County Junior Saddle Horse and Drill Team served as their horses' handlers.
The lead line offers the young riders an opportunity to get a better sense of, and appreciation for, riding rules and patterns, Kate Felger, one of the drill team's advisers, said. The riders and handlers also wore matching outfits, she added.
Cloverbuds are the youngest 4-H members and are for those 8 and under; at age 9, they are able to compete with the older 4-H members.
For many of the Cloverbuds, Monday's event marked their first time in a saddle, Felger said, adding that drill team members worked throughout this summer to develop performance and riding skills, along with the ability to better work with one another as a team.
Of course, the Cloverbuds were happy to take home ribbons, but that sense of pride and accomplishment didn't stop there.
"It was a lot of work, but really fun to see her get the ribbon. It feels really good to see the younger kids get ribbons," Amara Yerke, 13, of Canfield, said.
Specifically, Amara, a two-year 4-H member, served as Jayleigh's horse's handler and has three ribbons to her credit.
Following and piggybacking on the conceptual goals behind the lead line competition was a stick horse race in the ring in which the young participants were given foam swimming pool noodles shaped like horses, then challenged to simulate riding a horse while running around three orange cones in the shortest amount of time.
Among the competitors was Maelee Kirkner, 14, of Beloit, who also is a Junior Fair board member. For her part, Maelee, a six-year 4-H member, posted a time of 12.88 seconds.
The Cloverbuds also were to take part in a graduation ceremony Monday evening on a stage outside of the Michael Kusalaba Event Center.