Youth-focused equestrian show features range of events, breeds
Debbie Andrews loved horses as a child, but a two-legged creature prompted her to first participate in the All American Youth Horse Show in 1971.
“I started competing only because I heard that ‘Little Joe’ Cartwright (actor Michael Landon of “Bonanza”) was going to be there, and I had a huge crush on him,” said Andrews, a Grove City resident who was 12 at the time.
Landon likely caused many hearts to flutter that year when he rode into the Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum on a black-and-white mare, similar to the horse he rode on the show.
At the time, the event was in its third year; 46 years later, it is still going strong.
The four-day competition, which begins today and runs through Sunday at the Ohio Expo Center, is expected to attract between 700 and 900 children age 18 or younger to compete in a wide variety of classes and on any breed of horse (or pony) they own.
“It is one of the largest allbreed, all-discipline youth shows around,” said Keith Osborne, a Circleville resident and a member of the show’s board of directors.
The show is free (the fairgrounds charges a $5 parking fee) and run by volunteers. Proceeds from entry fees and stall fees charged to competitors help fund several annual scholarships.
Organizers say competitors come from all over the Midwest and compete in events such as trail, reining, Western riding, equitation, showmanship, ranch-horse riding and barrel riding.
Vickie Byrd, president of the show’s board, said that today and Friday might be the best days for spectators to see the widest variety of events. Action occurs simultaneously in three or four arenas, she said.
Many families have stayed involved since the early years of the event.
Andrews competed for about six years, she said, although she skipped the championship round in her class the year she was 18.
“I chose my senior prom over the championship,” she said.
She got a second run at the show from 2000 to 2007, when the youngest of her five sons, Garrick, competed.
Andrews, 58, is now a show board member.
She has five grandchildren and is keeping a close eye on two of them who have taken up the sport of riding: Madelyn Russolillo, 6, of Hilliard, and Ellie Andrews, 5, of Grove City.
“I am hoping they will be ready for the show next year,” Andrews said. “It is definitely a family thing.”