STATE FAIR: These Riders Aren't Horsing Around

Two of Lutherville-Timonium's finest young equestrians emerged as two-time champions this year during the pony competitions that have long been a staple of the Maryland State Fair's horse shows.

Jack Sullivan,12, who won a title in 2008 but skipped last year's competition, repeated as a champion this year in the small pleasure pony event last week. He was also declared champion of his class in Monday's Welsh Pony event.

Barbara Ann Merryman, 15, was declared the champion of the large pleasure pony division last week. The national competitor won the champion's title for her age group's Welsh Pony challenge on Monday.    

Both Sullivan and Merryman train at Tack N' Trot, a riding school based in Lutherville-Timonium operated by Merryman's mother, Frances. Two other Timonium-area students who train with Frances Merryman turned in stellar performance. 

Catie Wevner, 13, placed behind Sullivan, and Hannah Himmelfarb, 10, won two blue ribbons for the Under-12 category for "equitation," a contest that judges a rider's form. 

"These competitions are a great way for the kids to see how they measure up against other riders," Frances Merryman said. "That way, they know if their efforts throughout the year have paid off."

Equestrian competitions have been a staple of the Maryland State Fair throughout its 129 years.

Beverly Abbott, secretary of the state fair, has been organizing the shows in the horse ring for three decades. She said this year's pony performance, the first horse show of the fair, attracted 78 riders.

"It's always that big," Abbott said of the number of participants. "They're all excited to be here. They look forward to coming here."

Sullivan was excited but anxious to see if he could repeat as champion.

"I am a little nervous but it's mostly an adrenaline rush," he said before the competition.

He wasn't the only one.

On Friday morning, the riders were lined up with their ponies after each event as judges determined how many ribbons to award each competitor in 12 divisions The ages of the riders range between 4 and 18. 

The younger riders participate in the "lead line" division. Their horses are led around as they display poise in the saddle. The older riders must navigate the horse ring with grace and ease while, at the highest age level, jumping eight fences.

Riders are judged on their abilities to control their horses and their postures while riding. Riders and horses are also critiqued for whether they are a good match. It's a measure called "suitability." For example, it is generally not appropriate for a meek, tall teenager to ride a small, rowdy pony.

Keeping a pony calm at the state fair is no easy task considering that the barns and the horse ring stand within the shadow – and within earshot – of the clanging rides, the buzzing carnival games and the boisterous booth operators.