(SEDALIA, Mo.) – The Missouri State Fair 4-H and FFA Horse Show begins Thursday, followed by the Society Horse Show Tuesday, July 29.
Both events are part of the 2014 State Fair competition schedule and are open to the public at no charge.
“Horse shows are an impressive part of the Missouri State Fair competition schedule,” said Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe. “The 4-H and FFA Horse Show and the Society Horse Show are held in advance of the Fair, in part because of the significant number of entries hosted during the 11 day fair.”
Show classes for 4-H and FFA youth will be held July 24-27, under the direction of the fair’s equine Superintendent Jamie Daniel. The events will begin at 2 p.m. July 24 in the MFA Arena, with an 8 a.m. start time July 25 in the Mathewson Exhibition Center. Start times for shows will be 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 26-27, in the Coliseum and Mathewson Exhibition Center, respectively. Orscheln Farm and Home is the sponsor of the T-shirts worn by the youth during these shows and during the 11 day fair.
Society Horse Show events will be held July 29-Aug. 2, managed by Superintendent Lenard Davenport. The Walking Horse, Spotted Saddle Horse and Open Gaited Horse Divisions will kick-off events at 6 p.m. July 29. The equine competitions will continue with start times of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily July 30-Aug. 2. All events will be held in the Mathewson Exhibition Center.
“There will be some new additions this year that should be entertaining to watch, including the Open Gaited Breed Division,” Wolfe said.
The Society Horse Show will again host two long-running ceremonies. The first ceremony will be held prior to the 6 p.m. equine show Friday, Aug. 1, recognizing Cathy Harris of Richmond for her years of participation in the horse show. She will be entering Parade Horses in this year’s show. The second ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, recognizing the Five-Gaited Grand Championships.
Start times are tentative for both the 4-H and FFA Horse Show and the Society Horse Show, due to variances with competitions. Complete schedules for the shows are available at www.mostatefair.com/equine-schedule.
The 112th Missouri State Fair will be held Aug. 7-17 in Sedalia. For more information about other equine competitions held during the 11-day fair, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the fair on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3427).