Erie 4-H horsemen compete and win at state horse show

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Erie County 4-H horse members received several awards at the 44th annual State Horse Show, held in late October at the State Farm Complex in Harrisburg.

Real performers. County winners in the 4-H performance classes were:

Kate Morosky of Cranesville, Cloverleaf Riders 4-H Club in open trail ponies and pleasure pony driving;

Kristin Pacansky of Girard, Trailblazers 4-H Club, in western pleasure ponies;

Amber Parobek of Albion, Trailblazers 4-H Club, in pole bending horses; and

Suzanne Mountain of Corry, Equine Affairs 4-H Club, in western pleasure horses, junior rider.

Production. In the 4-H production classes, members breed and raise their own project animal.

In the stock type horse yearling filly category, Erie County dominated the top three spots.

Local winners were Shannon English of Albion in stock type horse, two-year-old gelding;

Mindi Lee Goodwill of Columbus, Equine Affairs 4-H Club, in paint, filly of this year and Quarter Horse, yearling of this year;

Matt Learn of Edinboro, Cloverleaf Riders 4-H Club, in stock type horse-yearling filly;

Desiree Parker of Albion, Trailblazers 4-H Club, in paint-colt or gelding of this year;

Brandon Stafford of Edinboro, Cloverleaf Riders 4-H Club, in stock type horse-yearling filly; and

Jennifer White of Albion, Trailblazers 4H Club, in stock type horse yearling filly and stock type horse two-year-old filly.

Special recognition. Stephanie Rzepka of Erie was nominated as one of five semi-finalists for the 2003 4-H Program Outstanding Member Award.

Kate Morosky of Cranesville won the Open Trail Ponies class for the third consecutive year.

Other winners. Other Erie County Horse members who competed in the show were Carolin Cooper, North East; Andrea Klemm, Girard; Stephanie Rzepka, Erie; Hallie Strohmeyer, Erie; and Rebecca Wheeling, Waterford.

Events tested skills in showmanship, equitation, pleasure, jumping, driving, western riding, trail and timed events. A therapeutic division for riders with disabilities was also included.