Three area riders put their skills to the test during Wednesday’s Allen County Fair 4-H Horse Show inside the rodeo arena at Riverside Park.
With events that tested their skills from horsemanship to timed races, Rohan Springer, Crew Shannon and Ryan Arnold were up to the challenge.
Springer, a senior year Iola High School, won titles in horsemanship, trail and trail riding and came in second in timed events. He credited his 12-year-old horse, Strider, for doing much of the work.
“Strider is a pretty good horse,” Springer said. “He’s definitely very experienced. I felt good. I’m pretty glad the temperature stayed down today,” he said of the almost balmy mid-80s weather.
Shannon was the most decorated competitor Wednesday. He received honors for his champion gelding and champion mare, as well as several recognitions while competing individually.
He credited his wins to an experienced horse as well as his family, who was supporting him in the stands and behind the scenes.
“Our family has rodeoed all of my life. We have a lot of horses that are broken and have been trained for a long time,” Shannon said. “They’re just really good horses. My horse is getting old. He’s 26 and that’s almost retirement time. Actually,
