BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
CHEVIOT -- Dressed in tan riding pants, black hats and knee boots, local equestrians looked as if they came straight from Britain. But they were in Cheviot on Saturday for the Harvest Home Fair's 53rd annual horse show and competition.
Hunting and jumping is like any hobby, though it is especially time-intensive, enthusiasts say.
"It's just like a full-time job," said Deena Sedler, 18, of Delhi Township, a rider for 14 years. "Just like playing soccer, you just go out and play soccer when you practice."
During the competitions, rider and horse worked together to walk, trot and stop on command. In other classes, horses ran a course of 3-foot jumps.
Joan Denman, a horse trainer from Columbus, judged the competitions. Ms. Denman sat atop a picnic table as she rated the horse-and-rider duos for appearance and teamwork.
An important element, she said, is that the rider's signals to the horse not be obvious.
"You don't want to see the signals, you just want to see it happen," Ms. Denman said. "You're looking for really good suitability, where the rider and horse match."
She said the sport has a long way to go before it reaches the level of popularity in Europe.
Springfield Township resident Amanda Hauser, 18, perched atop Mystical Lory, snagged a first-place ribbon in a timed jumping class.
"I like to jump, he likes to jump, too." she said. "He's a good boy. I do it for him."
