Kids and horses are a fair tradition

MARION – Ellia Stumpo, 8, rides a painted pony; her mother, Kirsten Stumpo, rides an Arabian that she's trained to barrel race.

The pair are connected in all the ways a mother and daughter can be, including a love of horses that's often passed down from one generation to another.

The Stumpo family's horse habit is a common story around the Horse Arena at the Marion County Fair this week. Ellia dressed as a French artist and painted her paint pony for the costume portion of Horse Fun Classes on Wednesday.

The competition is lighthearted, and is designed as a no-pressure reward for the kids who competed in the intense horse showmanship, horsemanship and speed classes earlier in the week. Kids and their horses trotted while trying to balance an egg on a spoon, rode in goofy costumes, and rode two to a horse while the driver fed their riding companion with a baby bottle.

Proud parents, and several grandparents, hung on the fence rails and cheered the silliness going on in the arena. Many of them had competed there or in similar dusty arenas as children.

"I showed horses younger, like since I was 4," Stumpo said. She graduated to barrel racing as youngster, and is now a licensed equine therapist.

Riley Endicott, 9, dressed as Uncle Sam for the costume contest. She rode Shelby, a silver Arabian that was a gift from her grandmother, Tabby Lemaster. Lemaster was 2 years old when she got her first pony.

"I started riding Cookie, a miniature horse, but I wanted a horse of my own," Riley said.

Childhood activity

Robin Townsend has advised 4-H clubs for 32 years. She remembers her first horse, Breezy.

"He was actually a cart pony, but we rode him," Townsend said.

By the time Townsend was old enough for 4-H, she her own quarter horse.

"I loved it so much as a kid. I just stuck with it. It's still exciting to me to see these little kids learn and accomplish through the year," said Townsend, whose son, Hayden, 18, came in second in barrel racing at this year's fair.

He placed third in Monday's professional bull riding competition. Both Hayden and his older brother, John, grew up riding and competing in their 4-H club Dusty Tails.

"I've been doing this so long, I've got kids in my club whose parents I also advised way back when. It's nice to see the generations continue," Townsend said.

She said she thinks kids and horses have a natural affinity for each other, but laments the declining numbers of kids in her club, now at 18 members. Dusty Tails had 40 members just eight years ago.

"Most people don't get involved unless they have a family member that has a horse. People can't afford it, especially if you have to board a horse," Townsend said.

"Horses take a lot of time. Stalls must be cleaned and the animals must be fed and groomed. And riding time is important to horsemanship, for both the rider and the horse," she said.

She estimates it takes about two hours a day for a single horse, and many families keep more than one animal. But Townsend said she thinks the time is well spent for kids.

"It builds a good work ethic in children. And they learn to care about the horse, not just care for the horse. Plus, it keeps them out of trouble. We call our place 'Boys Town' because it's become a hang out for a lot of kids over the years, and not just boys. It's not unusual to have six or more kids hanging around, and some of them are not from farm backgrounds at all. I put them to work, and many have learned to ride," she said.

Making the investment

Austin Chivington said he's learned as much about himself as he's learned about Major, his 7-year-old quarterhorse, which he compares to Donald Trump for his grumpiness and temper.

"You've got to have a lot of patience to learn to cooperate with another organism that doesn't know what you are saying. Plus, it's a lot of physical work to push around a 1200-pound animal. You've got to know what you want, and how to get your horse to respond to you," said Chivington, who took second-place ribbons in both English pleasure and English equitation at during this year's fair competition.

"I've been kicked, been reared and bucked, but for a few moments it's really fun. You've just got to keep your cool and not lose your temper," Chivington said.

A family can spend anywhere from $100 to $1,200 for a 4-H type horse, but a top-quality show prospect quarter horse can go for $5,000 and up, Courtney Buckland said.

Her son, Jordan, competed in the horse associate class designed for kids age 8 and younger, too young for 4-H. Jordan rode Dusty, a gentle 13-year-old, while Buckland led him through shortened versions of lead line, walk-trot, barrels, poles and trails.

"My mom taught me to ride, she showed when she was little. I grew up with it, and my kids will, too," Buckland said.

Rob Stumpo grew up in Philadelphia row house but married a horsewoman. Now he and his wife, Kirsten, are considering a third horse now that their daughter, Ellia, has outgrown her pony.

"It isn't cheap. But it's a good investment, and some things you can't put a price on," said Rob Stumpo, who also has goats, chickens, dogs, and until recently, a llama.

"It's great that my kids got to experience the animals," he said as he watched Ellia trot around the ring on the family pony.

"When you see the smiles on their faces, you know it's all worth it."

jsmiller@gannett.com

740-375-5148

Twitter: @motionblur56

Friday at the fair

•Free veterans breakfast, 8-10 a.m.

•Rides open, noon.

•Tug of war, 2:30 p.m., Evers Arena.

•Pie auction, 3 p.m., picnic pavilion.

•Demolition derby, 7:30 p.m., grandstand.