Horse Show

HARRODSBURG - The Mercer County Fair and Horse Show has not survived these 179 years by doing the same things over and over year after year. The oldest continuous county fair in the country will have traditional events as well as new features and new structures when the fair opens Saturday with a traditional event on a different day. The fair's parade has been moved from Monday evening to Saturday afternoon, getting under way at 3 p.m. ...

Monday 4 p.m.: Youth poultry and rabbit show, livestock show pavilion. 6 p.m.: Downtown parade. 7 p.m.: ATV and motorcycle racing, motor sports arena. 8:30 p.m.: Talent show, center ring. Tuesday 5 p.m.: Dog show, livestock show pavilion. 7 p.m.: Pet show, livestock show pavilion. Wednesday 7 p.m.: Horse show, center ring; KTPA truck and tractor pull/open truck and tractor pull, motor sports arena. Thursday 10 a.m.: Goat show, livestock show pavilion.

Danna and Ron Sharp were fixtures in the Lincoln County Fair Walking Horse Show for many years. Whenever the annual event rolled around, Danna Sharp, who served as manager of the show for 10 years, and her husband, Ron, a committee member, were actively doing their part to help the show grow. Both passed away this past year and, while they had dropped out of an active role with the horse show prior to their deaths, their service has not been forgotten. To honor their longtime dedication and their contributions, the Lincoln County Fair Walking Horse Show Committee memorialized the couple with the Danna and Ron Sharp Challenge Trophy.

When the Boyle County Fair moved its dates up by about a month, its two horse shows had little choice but to come along for the ride. But once they settled into their new home on the calendar, show officials realized they had landed in a comfortable place. Horsemen from close to home and from a few hours away flocked to the shows Friday and Saturday in numbers greater than they had seen in their July shows in recent years. "It's just exciting to watch," walking horse show manager Margaret Bailey said Saturday.

Ryan Owens, newly-elected president of the Boyle County Fair and Horse Show, has released dates and the name of a new entertainment company for the 2008 event. Citing increased competition among county fairs for patrons and the desire to elevate the Boyle County Fair to top-level status in the area, Owens announced fair dates will be June 16-21, with the annual horse show scheduled for July 18-19. "Moving the dates for our fair to an earlier summer slot will make the Boyle event among the first in the area.

LIBERTY - Mark Shelton of Waynesburg, and his horse, Over Yonder, took the Pleasure Racking championship, and Caleb Wilson of Somerset, with Keep Me Posted captured the Pleasure Walking championship Saturday night at the Casey County Fair. Josh Wilson with Game Time, placed second, and Linton Cress with Ellison Ridge Tahoe placed third in the Pleasure Racking class. Clayton Carrier with Push Botton at the Ritz, placed second, and Russell Brown with Pushers Snow Maker placed third in the Pleasure Walking class.

HARRODSBURG - Mitchell Clark has been in the horse business pretty much his entire life and seen just about everything. So he wasn't too concerned when his horse, Imperiaptor, was a bit wild Tuesday during the amateur five-gaited class on the opening night of the Mercer County Fair and Horse Show. "He's excited and he's very, very game. And he's a very, very high-strung horse. That's part of it; that's why we're here," Clark said. "Practicing, trying to get to know the horse better, trying to figure out what makes him tick so that we can give him what he needs when he needs it. "That's the hook, I think, in this in that it's so difficult to get all things right.

It was obvious that they weren't horse show regulars, yet they didn't look entirely out of place. They had the same gaits, the same mannerisms, the same grooming as the horses that paraded around the show ring all night long. The stage was theirs for only a few minutes, but they proved they belonged. After all, they're part of the family, too. Mules got their turn in the ring at the Boyle County Fairgrounds for the first time Friday night, as an open pleasure mule class debuted at the Boyle County Fair Pleasure Horse Show.

Monday through Saturday Garrard County Fairgrounds Today 6 p.m. — Western & miniature horse show — horse show ring Monday 7 p.m. — 4-H/FFA open goat show, market and breed (weigh-in 6 p.m.) 7 p.m. — Jr. Preteen/Miss Preteen Pageant — pavilion 8 p.m. — Clementsville Motorsports truck pull — motor sports track Also: Drill team demonstration — horse show ring Tuesday 6:30 p.m. — Tiny Miss and Mister/Little Miss and Mister — pavilion 7 p.m. — Poultry/swine show (weigh-in 6 p.m.)

FRIDAY, JULY 25 7 p.m. - Horse Show begins 8 p.m. - Demolition Derby SATURDAY, JULY 26 9 a.m. - Horse Show (Academy Classes) 7 p.m. - Horse Show begins 7:30 p.m. - Clementsville Mud Race