No horsing around: Shows draw riders from across U.S.

By Ed Mahon

FERGUSON TOWNSHIP — Erin Bair, 19, returned to Kocher Farm for the fourth year in a row. Her horse, officially named Central Park but called Eugene, was more of a novice.

CDT/Melissa Doss

Riley Flinn, 7, of Landenburg, Pa., waits patiently as her horse Cookie nibbles on grass during the State College Classic horse show at Kocher Farm in Ferguson Township, on Sunday, June 28, 2009. The three horse shows continue through July 5, 2009 and are free to the public. CDT/Melissa Doss

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“This is his first real year of showing, so he has good days and bad days,” Bair said after dismounting from the 6-year-old brown Hanoverian.

Bair can put Sunday in the good column, as she placed second in one of the adult amateur contests at the State College Series.

The 12-day event draws about 500 horses from across the country, whose riders compete in the State College Classic, Mount Nittany Classic and Lion Country Horse Show. More than $80,000 in prize money is awarded throughout the two weeks.

Kristin Kocher’s family has organized the shows since 1985.

“The parents have come in saying, ‘You know, my child has been coming here since they were 5 years old and now they’re 25, ’ ” said Kocher.

She’s asked parents to bring pictures next year, so they can set up a collage.

Bair planned on staying for the entirety of the contest, competing in several classes. Bair, a Dickinson College student from Lititz, started training with horses in middle school.

“I begged my parents for riding lessons,” she said.

On Sunday, she competed in an under saddle class, in which she and about 20 other entrants rode in the ring at once. They’d switch back and forth from walking to trotting to cantering. Judges looked for fluidity of movement, as well as manners.

“Since it’s a large class he in particular gets pretty nervous. So you kind of have to keep him happy,” Bair said. “Because they get judged on their expression and how pleasurable they look to ride. So that’s the hardest thing.”

Her solution to keeping her horse happy was to keep him as far away from the other horses as possible, not an easy task but one that proved successful.

Several competitions and practices took place in six different rings on Sunday.

“We love it because it’s close to home for us. And because they have so many rings, they have something for everybody,” said Emily Zientek, an instructor at the Grier School in Tyrone.

Zientek has been coming to the State College Series for seven years. Over the course of the week, 15 of her students will be competing.

At a practice ring across from the one where Bair competed, Zientek prepared one of one of her students for a jumping competition.

“Watch those feet,” she yelled to Kirsten Keubler, who was getting ready to compete in the 15-to-17 age division. “Put your heels down and be tall.”

Keubler, an exchange student from Germany, was working to adjust her styles. She’s more used to competing in speed events.

“She’s actually learning a new event,” said Zientek. “So she’s trying to learn how to make the horse look desirable in the hunter ring.”

During the warm-up session, Keubler made the switch from jumping one bar to two. Zientek offered advice and encouragement throughout.

“Continue to count. One, two, one, two, one, go,” Zientek said as Keubler and her appendix quarter horse jumped on that last word.

Ed Mahon can be reached at 231-4619.