Shannon Litz/Nevada Appeal
Danielle Balderson has a way with horses and a way of winning competitions with them.
The 12-year-old Carson City girl won 15 awards as a novice at the state fair - now called the Nevada Territory Wild West Fair - last weekend in Reno.
"This was my first state fair, and the day after, I was really tired, but then I felt good. I think we did awesome," Balderson said.
By "we" Balderson is referring to her 4-year-old registered paint, Juju Queen, and a 14-year-old quarter horse named Smokin' Josie.
"I've pretty much been riding horses my whole life, and I ride pretty much every day," she said.
As a member of the High Sierra Riders 4-H group, she spent Aug. 25, 26 and 27 competing at the fair. There were about 17 showing from her group, she said.
The first day of competition was devoted to gymkhana and speed events where Balderson rode Juju Queen. She won the following awards:
• Barrels - grand champion
• Speed barrels -
2nd place
• Poles - 3rd place
• Big T - grand
champion
• Figure 8s - 2nd place
The second day was devoted to Western pleasure classes where she placed on Smokin' Josie as follows:
• Showmanship -
1st place
• Showmanship expo -
1st place
• Horsemanship -
2nd place
• Horsemanship expo - 2nd place
• Western equitation -
1st place
• Western pleasure -
2nd place
On the final day of competition, also riding Smokin' Josie, Balderson won:
• Trail - 1st place
• English equitation -
2nd place
• English pleasure -
2nd place
• Balderson also was awarded a silver buckle for having the highest overall score in the novice class.
But there is more to a state fair than competitions.
Kids in 4-H clean the stalls, feed the horses every morning and night, groom them at night and keep their water filled.
"We also have misters there so they can stick their heads out of the stalls to cool off," she said. "It takes lots of practice, and there's a lot of responsibility. 4-H parents aren't supposed to help, so we do everything ourselves."