It's Fair Time

We all know how much I love to go to the fair, and Cache County, Utah has not disappointed.  We concentrated on the 4H Horse Show with this one, and there were a couple of twists that we had never seen before. 

I actually got up early to go see kids hit pigs with sticks; it's more fun than it sounds.  We actually had two strange pigs in this competition:  There was a run away pig; a small black porker ran like a gazelle back and forth across the small pen dodging pink piggies like the ones in the picture with his bedraggled owner chasing him back and forth in vain.  My favorite pig was the one suffused with evil.  I captured this on film. This is pretty self-explanatory.  The surrounding people are pretty oblivious to the danger in their midst. 

Evil Incarnate

Notice how Evil Incarnate has his nominal mistress cornered in the pen.  I expected her to go up in flames at any minute, but I guess the pig decided to wait until he could incinerate more people at once.  Shuddering, we decided to MOVE ON. 

Our next stop was the Rodeo Arena for the 4H Horse Show.  We saw several classes, both halter shows and Western Pleasure.  Western Pleasure sounds like a country and western swing band, doesn't it?  "Here's Bob Wills and Western Pleasure playing for your dancing enjoyment!"  

A couple of Western Pleasure riders

It really doesn't have anything to do with music; it's all about dressing up in cowboy/cowgirl outfits and riding your horse in various gaits as they are called out over the loud speaker. "Now, everybody jog!" - News to me, but apparently horses can jog.  We did see one horse with leg warmers.  The contestants are mostly girls since we saw the classes from ages 9 - 18, the mad about horses stage for country girls.    The 11 - 14 age group was so big they had to judge it in two groups.   (The classes are divided into age increments - the riders' ages, not the horses' ages) 

We also saw the "Matched Pairs" competion.  Two horses matched in size and coloring ridden by two kiddos wearing identical garb.  These sisters were my favorites, and they came in second in this competition.  One of the 'skills' was to be able to ride together while holding hands.  This pair has just finished their trot around the ring, and are lining up to hear the judge's verdict on their prowess. 

Hands down my favorite part of the horse show was the costume competition for kids ages 7 and under.  Little kids wearing costumes rodes their horses around the arena.  It was charming, and hilarious and enchanting.  Tiny children dressed as indians, princesses, hula girls, Woody from Toy Story, Spiderman, Batman, Zorro and my favorite - The Pink Bandido.  Not only was she masked with a bandana, so was her horse, and she never dropped her hand holding the gun the entire time she was in the arena.  

We were sitting with a family whose grandson was in both the 5 - 7 year old halter class as well as the 5 - 7 year old western pleasure class.  He rode a pony in the costume contest with his cousin who was dressed as Jesse.  Here is Cooper dressed as Woody getting ready to compete in the costume competition. 
Cooper is a real cowboy.  He's about 40" tall, and out of costume, he was one tough little dude controlling a horse so big that his feet didn't even reach half way down the horse's flanks. 

This was another fun day, and a send off to our time in Logan.  We will be leaving here in about a week.  Get ready to experience Montana. 

If you want to see more Cache County Fair pictures including flowers, quilts and needlework, click on the link:
https://picasaweb.google.com/jalyss1/2012UtahCacheValleyFair?authkey=Gv1sRgCJjxvbmNsev0xgE#