Familiar face at Canfield Fair is horse family favorite

CANFIELD

Betty Vernon swings open the door to her camper and the sparkly “Hello Horseman” door slogan glimmers in the sun.

Inside, she quickly finds a cooking pot for a friend in need.

Vernon, 81, of Salem is a staple of the fair, and her trailer is where her horsemen family goes for pots, saddle pads and to gab.

“They are wonderful,” Vernon says. “The horsemen are great, great people.”

She should know. Vernon has been here in several capacities working with the horsemen.

She was an “outrider” for 25 years or so. That meant she would ride the horses to the starting post and if a horse broke loose and got away, she would have to safely stop it. She also used to help train horses “many years ago.”

“I am too old now,” she says. “I still ride a lot.”

Vernon was later asked to take on making (numbered) saddle pads and matching head numbers for sulky horses, so the bettors knew what horses to place bets on during the harness races.

Read more about this Canfield Fair horse community favority in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.