Missouri State Fair Society Horse Show welcomes public

The Missouri State Fair Society Horse Show was at a full canter Wednesday morning with exhibitors taking to the show ring in the Mathewson Exhibition Center. The annual pre-fair show is free and open to public.

The show, featuring exhibitors with approximately 200 horses, began Tuesday and will be hosted through Saturday. Show personnel said they encourage the local community to come out and watch the exhibitors and their horses.

Society Horse Show Office Manager Marcia Turner said this week’s show is different from other horse shows in the respect that it has been a staple at the fair for five decades, and features a variety of horse breeds. The show features Walking Horses, Spotted Saddle Horses, Morgan, Arabian, American Saddle Bred, and ponies Hackney and Shetland.

“We also have the futurity classes, which are the babies,” Turner said. “So, we have a little bit of something for everybody. It’s the tradition of the Missouri State Fair to have the Society Horse Show.”

Turner said exhibitors are from all over the state of Missouri and also from Kansas this year.

Although each day has great classes to view, Saturday evening may be the most enjoyable for visitors to watch during Stake Night or Championship Night.

On Stake Night, winning exhibitors received challenge trophies, many that have been in the Society for years. Some of the trophies are silver platters, some are silver tea sets on platters, and some are specially-made traditional trophies.

“They are used year after year,” Turner said. “They are in memory of former trainers, former exhibitors and amateurs who have made great contributions to this show.”

The special trophies, dating back decades, are kept at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Turner said the Society keeps the entire listing of challenge trophies in what they call the “bible,”with some trophies dating back to 1962.

“This is a tradition of the Missouri State Fair that is time-honored and beloved,” she added. “I’ve loved it since I was a child …”

Saturday evening’s shows will feature the Parade Horse Championship, which was brought back this year, and the Arabian Native Costume Open Championship. Turner said both are spectacular to watch. Both classes are included in the 6 p.m. show inside the Mathewson Exhibition Center.

“It’s two classes that people really love,” Turner added. “It’s free, and you can’t get any better than that.”

Society Horse Show exhibitor Brenda Benner, of Columbia, canters her horse, Globetrotter’s Majestic, in the show ring Wednesday morning inside the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The Society Horse Show began Tuesday and will be hosted through Saturday evening.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_TSD080317SocietyHorseShow-1.jpgSociety Horse Show exhibitor Brenda Benner, of Columbia, canters her horse, Globetrotter’s Majestic, in the show ring Wednesday morning inside the Mathewson Exhibition Center on the Missouri State Fairgrounds. The Society Horse Show began Tuesday and will be hosted through Saturday evening. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

During the Tennessee Walking Horse/Spotted Saddle Horse Stallions/Geldings Class, exhibitor R.D. McCoy, of Wellington, holds his horse’s reigns high as a judge looks on Wednesday morning. Society Horse Show classes began at 10 a.m. with a weaning filly championship and ended later in the day with an open trail class.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_TSD080317SocietyHorseShow-3.jpgDuring the Tennessee Walking Horse/Spotted Saddle Horse Stallions/Geldings Class, exhibitor R.D. McCoy, of Wellington, holds his horse’s reigns high as a judge looks on Wednesday morning. Society Horse Show classes began at 10 a.m. with a weaning filly championship and ended later in the day with an open trail class. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Randi Adams, of Columbia, holds her horse steady as a judge with the Society Horse Show looks over it Wednesday morning at the Mathewson Center. Adams received the Pleasure Equitation Medallion for her performance in the show ring.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_TSD080317SocietyHorseShow-2.jpgRandi Adams, of Columbia, holds her horse steady as a judge with the Society Horse Show looks over it Wednesday morning at the Mathewson Center. Adams received the Pleasure Equitation Medallion for her performance in the show ring. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat

Society Horse Show Office Manager Marcia Turner holds a silver challenge trophy plate, donated in 2000, that will be awarded during the show. She noted that trophies are recorded as far back as 1962 in what the show calls its “bible.” Challenge trophies are kept at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

http://www.sedaliademocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_TSD080317SocietyHorseShow-4.jpgSociety Horse Show Office Manager Marcia Turner holds a silver challenge trophy plate, donated in 2000, that will be awarded during the show. She noted that trophies are recorded as far back as 1962 in what the show calls its “bible.” Challenge trophies are kept at the Missouri State Fairgrounds. Photos by Faith Bemiss | Democrat