NEW RINGGOLD - Horses from Schuylkill County are ready to lift their hooves at the 98th Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.
"It takes a lot of dedication," Jeanne Hamerly, 66, of Orwigsburg, a rider with the Open Gate Equestrian Team said Tuesday.
Today through Saturday, nine horses in two local teams will carry flags, trot and run to music and showcase their equine grace and ability at the farm show. Five horses are part of Hamerly's team, which practices in New Ringgold, while the Bear Creek Equestrian Drill Team, Auburn, will present four horses. The riders of both teams range in age from 12 to 70, while the horses range from 8 to 24.
Like humans, each horse has its own personality.
"We have one that, when he gets in front of a crowd, he's a show-off," Hamerly said, about her horse, Sundance, 18, a quarter horse appaloosa.
Open Gate formed in 2012 and first went to the farm show in 2013. The group will perform in the Equine Arena, in a building near the Food Court, of the 20 acre complex. Riders and horses will strut their stuff twice each day, for about seven minutes, during the opening ceremonies and a drill called "Celtic Cowgirl Dream."
At 6 p.m. today and Friday, the team's five horses, four carrying flags, will come out to the song "I'm Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood. Four of the five riders will carry a flag in a holder attached to a stirrup.
They will stand to the song "You're A Grand Old Flag" and the national anthem during the opening ceremonies. The second drill at 6:30 p.m. takes about 5 minutes and involves Celtic and other styles of music.
Saturday's performances of the same drills will be 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Three of the horses are not new to the spotlight: Lady, 16, a quarter horse; Maddy, 24, a Belgian; and Sundance. However, Jule, 12, a paint, and Mickey, 12, a mustang, have never been at the farm show. That doesn't mean they can't handle crowds.
"The Schuylkill County horses have all been in parades," Hamerly said of both teams.
The horses from Open Gate reside at the ranch, except for Mickey, who lives with his owner.
Hamerly owns two horses, Lady and Sundance, and has been riding horses for at least 30 years.
In anticipation of their time in front of the audience, the group has practiced once a week between 1 to 2 hours since September. Hamerly said she has confidence they will be ready.
"Once you're moving, believe it or not, the horses know the drill," she said.
Still, the horses can surprise you. They don't like to be standing still, she said.
"When you work with animals, anything can occur," Hamerly said. "They have a lot of pent up energy, and they want to go."
A visit to an event by Karen Orloff-Yatsko, director of the equine showcase at the farm show, sparked Hamerly's interest in drills.
Patty Engasser, a member of the Bear Creek Equestrian Drill Team, and three other riders will perform for five minutes, starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:15 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
"This is actually our fifth year there," Engasser, Pine Grove, said.
The riders will wear 18th century costumes during their drill called "Masquerade Ball."
Maria Infanti, 17, of Cressona, choregraphed the drill. She will ride Java, an 11-year-old pasofino Mexican mustang. Engasser will ride Glaeder, an 8-year-old perscheron cross.
"We love horses," Engasser said.
Hamerly said she likes the relationship she has with the horses.
"It's just awesome to see the grace" of the animals, she said.
Hamerly said people should visit the farm show and see the event because it's "just lots of fun to watch."