Horses rein 'em in at Moose Jaw Hometown Fair

There's just something about watching horse competitions during the Hometown Fair that Weyburn's Kerry McKerricher couldn't get enough of on the weekend.
"I like horses. It's just the pride they take in themselves," she told the Times-Herald while observing heavy horse competitions on Saturday, which McKerricher said are probably her favourite.
"It's the communication between the owners and the animals."
Among the many competitors in the various horse events over the weekend was Carlyle's Dale Brady. His heavy horse, Cindy, a Percheron, won the jackpot cart competition, which Brady said involves judges simply picking out the best-harnessed horse, based on the driver's control of the animal and esthetic appeal.
"It's a combination of things," said Brady.
The 64-year-old said working with horses is "in his blood," as his family has been involved with the animals for years. He added big horses are his favourite, simply because their temperaments are very manageable.
"It's their gentleness. They're so easy to work with."
Brady attends a couple horse shows each summer and said he knows many of the competitors, who he sees at events year after year. However, he added there are some younger competitors also taking part in Saskatchewan horse events, which Brady hopes will keep the pastime from fading into obscurity.
"We're kind of a dying breed, so it's good to see the young people at it."
Among those young people competing in another horse event Saturday was 13-year-old Audra Cooper, dressed up like Winnie the Pooh, with her horse, Chico, dressed up as Tigger. The pair, from West Bend, Sask., won the costume class competition in the light horse show.
Cooper said she participates in horse-and-rider costume competitions throughout Saskatchewan and she has a particular style preference with which she tries to adhere.
"I've just been sticking with the cat theme and I wanted to do Tigger this year," she said, adding previous seasons have seen her horses dressed up as the Pink Panther and the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz.
"It's really fun. We come every year."
Not all horse riding at the fair was part of competition. In fact, not all the horses ridden were even real.
Regina's Kayin Patel, 5, jumped around with excitement after riding a green pony on the carousel set up among the other amusement rides and games in the midway on Saturday. He said the carousel was both "spinny" and "good."
However, as much as he enjoyed riding on the inanimate pony, Patel said he simply had too many other things to enjoy to be bothered riding the carousel again.
"No. I'm doing different ones."

Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.