WESTERN RESERVE CLASSIC Charity horse show opens bigger, better

Donations benefit theAnimal Welfare League of Trumbull County.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Participation increased this year at the 18th annual Western Reserve Classic Charity Horse Show.
The event started Friday and runs through Sunday evening in Perkins Park. Admission is donation-only, and donations benefit the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County.
The league receives no funding other than donations and fund-raisers.
"We're way up this year," said Jane Schubert of Liberty, show chairwoman. "We have about 90 more [participants] than last year, and that's not counting the hunter ring."
Schubert has been involved in the show since its beginning.
Shows are conducted in the main and hunter rings. The saddlebred horse classes draw the most participants, Schubert said.
Other popular events include the mounted native costume, where riders dress in native Arabian costume; roadster ponies; and two-and-four-wheel buggies.
"The ladies side saddle is always a crowd pleaser," Schubert said.
Today's schedule
Today's events include an exhibition of classical baroque dressage by Champion residents Terry and Janet Tenney. Janet Tenney will ride an Azteca stallion, and the saddle and clothing will be a Spanish riding school style.
Terry Tenney will ride an Andalusian stallion and dress in the style of a working cowboy of Spain.
Most of those competing at the show are from Ohio and Pennsylvania, though some travel from Kentucky, Michigan, New York and West Virginia.
"We also have a barn of 12 horses from Canada," she said. "That's a first for us."
They compete in amateur, open and champion classes.
Teresa Moore, director of Second Baptist Church Pre-school of Warren, brought 32 children from the school to watch the show Friday. Moore said she brings the children, ages 21/2 to 5, every year.
The kids, seated on bleachers outside the main ring, waved and chimed "'Bye," as horses and their handlers left the ring.
Keevon Harris, 4, of Warren, pointed to a dark brown horse with a long black mane as his favorite.
Brianna Robinson, 4, of Warren, picked a brown horse with a white spot on his nose. She said she'd like to have a horse, but she doesn't think her parents would go for it.
"They'd probably kick him out," she said.
dick@vindy.com