Poudre River Riders, 2000 Larimer County 4-H Horse Club Image Award
Poudre River Riders, 2000 Larimer County 4-H Horse Club Image Award

I was so proud of these hard-working 4-H youngsters at this moment in the summer of 2000. They triumphed to win the 2000 Larimer County 4-H Horse Club Image Award after days of making pre-fair stall decorations, being welcoming to fair visitors, some of whom were spies evaluating them, and keeping the club stabling area pristine, all on top of competing in three days of horse show classes, sometimes in a downpour. Some of you will chuckle, remembering the old fairgrounds, which have since been replaced by The Ranch on I-25. These 4-H horse kids’ efforts inspired me to write “Winning Bet” years later, which in part, explores the true meaning of winning. That’s me in the Poudre River Stables ball cap. I’ll leave it to you to figure out the others… Visit https://larimer.extension.colostate.edu/4-h-horse/ for details about the Larimer County 4-H Horse Project.

Poudre River Riders making stall decorations before the county fair.
Fair feeding photo: How much hay does it take to feed a horse? 4-H'ers know: One to three percent of body weight.
Fair feeding: How much hay does it take to feed a horse? 4-H’ers know: One to three percent of body weight.
Photo: Poudre River Riders get out there and show, even in a downpour.
Poudre River Riders get out there and show, even in a downpour.
Photo: Poudre River Riders' motto: "A rainbow of talents".
Poudre River Riders’ motto: “A rainbow of talents”.
Photo: 4-H fair horse show: The "dance" of the showmanship "quarter system" is a stretch for little legs.
4-H fair horse show: The “dance” of the showmanship “quarter system” is a stretch for little legs.
Photo: Adding the hard-won 2000 Larimer County 4-H Horse Club Image Award to the rainbow decorations.
Adding the hard-won Larimer County 4-H Horse Club Image Award to the rainbow decorations.

— Karin Livingston