Horses and riders relied on one another in their quest Sunday for ribbons and trophies in this year’s Open Horse Show at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds.

About 50 horses and 20 riders competed in the show arena in 25 different events. Those events included barrel racing and other riding contests as well as leading the horse on foot in halter contests. That is a lower number of riders and horses than previous years.

“I think it’s a little smaller this year but I think it is because of the heat,” said Bill Wood, agricultural agent for Kansas State Research and Extension-Douglas County, who helped manage the event.

The heat didn’t bother Madeleine Stegman, 5, and her small horse, Star. They won the grand champion halter award in the 5-year-old and under category.

Madeleine, daughter of Leroy and Khristina Stegman, Baldwin, said she practices with Star every week. But there’s one thing Star does best that isn’t a competitive event in horse shows, Madeleine said.

“She eats,” Madeleine said.

Terry Sharp, 44, Stilwell, said she started riding horses in high school. The first show she rode in was the Douglas County Free Fair.

Sharp said she worked daily with the gelding paint horse she has been riding for two years.

“We just go out and exercise them for an hour, sometimes two hours, every day,” Sharp said.

Judges look for several things when judging a horse in halter competitions, where the horse is led by its rider, Wood said.

“They’re looking for a horse that is nicely balanced; that isn’t limping,” Wood said. “They look for great strides.”

Each of the competitions in the Open Horse Show has its own grand champion. There is no single, overall grand champion.

About a hundred people sat in the bleachers or milled about in the arena while watching the horse show. It is one of the early events in this year’s Douglas County Free Fair. Setup for activities at the fairgrounds continues today, with judging of exhibits beginning Tuesday.

¢Douglas County Free Fair¢Schedule of events

The fair continues through Sunday.

Madeleine Stegman, 5, waits for her first horse competition with her dad, Leroy Stegman, Baldwin, and her horse, Star, in the Douglas County Free Fair Open Horse show at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds. Sunday's event kicked off the annual fair in Lawrence. Entries in livestock and all non-livestock except flowers will be accepted Tuesday.