Valley club places at horseshow
April 8, 2009
By Michael Rowe
The Snoqualmie Valley 4H Club’s first horseshow was a big success, said horse trainer Tom Estes.
The group competed at the King Donida Farm in Auburn in its first official horse show and won 32 ribbons, including eight first-place ribbons.
The 4H horse program, called the Mt. Si Sidekicks, started last year. The Mt. Si Sidekicks range in age from 11-16.
Many of the students had little riding experience before last year, but now many own their own horses and are riding like pros, Estes said.
“They’ve been working really hard all winter and now it’s paying off,” Estes said.
Members of the Snoqualmie Valley 4H Club show off their awards.
Jane Barry appreciates Estes’ hard work with the 4H group. Barry’s 13-year-old daughter, Kelly, was one of the winners at the Auburn horseshow.
“Tom is a great teacher. He spends a lot of time with the kids, getting ready for the shows,” Barry said.
Barry said that she likes how the Sidekicks don’t have to own their own horses, which sets the group apart from similar equestrian 4H programs.
“It opens it up to anyone who has an interest in horses,” Barry said.
The program goes beyond just showing the students how to ride horses. Estes has also taught them some of the basics of horse care, such as wrapping legs and knowing how much to feed the animals. Even the students in the Sidekicks who don’t participate in the shows get involved by helping to groom horses before the competitions. Barry said that she was really proud of the way the group of students was learning to support each other.
“They show great respect for each other and the horses,” Barry said.
Estes has been the owner of Mt. Si Stables for two years. He likes sharing his love of horses with the Mt. Si Sidekicks.
“I’ve been in the horse business all my life, and I’ve been working with kids for about 50 years,” Estes said. “So many kids in this group love horses. It’s very gratifying when they go to a show and win so many ribbons.”
He said that the Mt. Si Sidekicks did well in English and Western Pleasure riding style competitions and in other events. The group rides a cross section of different horse breeds, including an Arabian, a Rocky Mountain Saddle Horse, and a Quarter Horse.
The group will compete in four other shows this year, before going on to the county and state fairs.
Reach reporter Michael Bayless Rowe at mrowe@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434, ext. 248.
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