Folks come to Polk County from all over for equestrian activities both to compete and to enjoy the action.

Now there is another reason for riders and spectators to come to our area for equestrian fun. The Friends of FENCE Open Horse Show will entertain on May 11 at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center (FENCE) Show Grounds, located at 3381 Hunting Country Rd. in Tryon.

This show will feature riding styles from western to hunt seat and equines from mules to Icelandics and many other breeds.

“Our area is home to a great diversity of horses and riders and this is an opportunity for all to come out, show off their hard work and have a fun time with mom,” said FENCE executive director Carrie Knox.  Friends of FENCE Open Show committee member, Sally Rock elaborated.

“This show is exciting because it introduces a new element of competition for FENCE. There literally is something for almost every rider,” she said. “At our last show, the adult high point award was won by a champion mule from Raleigh named Queen Elizabeth.”

Plans for the series of Open Shows (another is planned for Nov. 2), include showcasing unusual equine breeds. Last year’s show presented mules. The upcoming May show features Icelandic Horses. The fall show plans to feature miniature horses, known as minis. Mothers will also be featured at the May 11 show in honor of Mother’s Day. A fun event planned for the day is the mothers Lead line class. Moms will be in the saddle and kids will be on the ground leading moms around the arena in a reversal of typical roles. The Ranch Horse Pleasure class will be another unusual event. Part obstacle course, part precision movements and all partnership between horse and rider, this event will test horses and riders over a course of typical cowboy/ranch activities.

Open Horse Shows are just one new event being held at the well-known FENCE Equestrian venue. Other new events for FENCE include dog training clinics, warmblood (a generic term for European horse breeds) kuerings (special judged events to determine a warmblood horse’s eligibility for registration into breeds such as Friesian), western horsemanship clinics and more.

FENCE is actively seeking to expand usage of its extensive facilities and welcomes inquiries about its facilities. Additionally, FENCE offers horse, art, science and nature day camps and hosts an Annual Earth Day event that teaches sustainability and techniques for living in harmony with nature.

The Foothills Equestrian Nature Center’s mission is to provide facilities and focus for education, recreation and preservation in nature studies and equestrian activities with the aim of enhancing these endeavors to enrich the quality of life for the community.

For more information, about FENCE programs and projects call 828-859-9021 or www.fence.org.

– article submitted by Carrie Knox