WARREN Western Reserve horse show benefits Animal Welfare League

Admission is free, but donations are accepted.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Proceeds from last year's Western Reserve Classic Charity Horse Show helped more than 6,600 dogs, cats, horses and other animals that had been abused, injured, abandoned or unwanted.
The annual horse show benefits the Animal Welfare League of Trumbull County, which operates a shelter and offers an emergency rescue team, which is on call 24 hours a day to help sick or injured animals.
The 19th annual show started Friday and runs through Sunday in Perkins Park. Admission is free, but donations to benefit AWL are accepted.
"A lot of people work very hard for the Animal Welfare League, and we're extremely grateful to them," said Barbara Busko, AWL president.
Jane Schubert, Western Reserve Classic president, said the effort started about 20 years ago when a group viewed the park in downtown Warren as an ideal setting for a horse show.
Because they were all animal lovers, they selected AWL as the charity to be involved. It took about a year to plan that first show, and it "just took off from there," Schubert said.
Weather complications
Entries range from 300 to 400 each year with 325 entrants from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Michigan signed up this year to compete in the various categories.
Both Schubert and Busko credit the volunteer plumbers, electricians, food workers and others for bringing the show together. Many volunteers have been involved since the first event.
Volunteers had even more work cut out for them this year. The July flood covered much of the park with several feet of water. Schubert said it took about a month to get ready.
Flood waters had taken out a power line that supplied portions of the park, but volunteers and city workers were able to get it reconnected in time for the show.
Traditional offerings
This weekend's event features traditional show offerings, a silent auction, pony rides for children, food and vendors.
Main show ring sessions are at 8 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. today, and at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday. Hunt ring exhibitions run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today.
Spectators can view competitors in the western halter, American saddlebred and other categories.
In the Arabian native costume class, participants ride in Arabian-style veils and costumes.
"People go crazy when they see that class," Schubert said. "It's a really exciting class."
Families comprise the bulk of visitors to the show each year, and Schubert says it appeals to people who aren't horse enthusiasts as well as die-hard fans.
"It's just exciting to see the different classes and the different breeds of horses," Schubert said.