Top-notch state horseback riders will face off Friday through Sunday at the Oklahoma Reining Horse Association's OKC Fairgrounds show.
Varying levels of riders, from amateurs to advanced performers, will compete in reining, a type of riding in which judges score horses and riders on a certain set of maneuvers performed in a pattern. Each rider competes in the arena separately.
"This is our first year to do here it in Oklahoma City," said Heidi Arvidson, vice president of the organization. "It's something that anybody can participate in. We have levels from beginner all the way up."
Participants in every class will compete for prize money, and anyone wishing to participate can register to enter the competition the day of the show.
"It could be appreciated by even beginners," Arvidson said. "The quality of the maneuvers and the finesse with which the horses perform is pretty amazing."
The Oklahoma Reining Horse Association is an organization that works with reining horse enthusiasts around the state. An affiliate of the National Reining Horse Association, the organization plans shows, clinics and banquets every year to promote reining as a local, regional and national sport.
The show begins 8 a.m. Friday and continues all day Saturday and Sunday inside Barn 6 at Oklahoma State Fair Park, 3001 General Pershing. Admission is free, but participant entry fees vary.
"Caitlin Harrison
