Pony Rides Return to Folk Festival to Aid 4-H Group

by Jonathan Weaver

Among the food booths, electricity and artist displays being set-up last night for tonight’s opening night of the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival in Kittanning was one of the event’s newest – and successful – attractions.

The Royal Riders 4-H Club will offer pony rides again this weekend after a successful debut during the 2012 Festival.

Project Volunteer Sandy Seefeld said the $5 ride will go toward several community and club events during the remainder of 2013.

“This is our biggest fundraising project for the year. We are primarily a horse club – some people do other things, like rockets or rabbits, but in our little club, we’re primarily horses. Horses are expensive; the shows are expensive – there are entry fees, there are stall fees, there is transportation, there’s special clothing you have to wear, special tact for the horses, so we use this money to help pay for the shows that the kids are required to participate in,” Seefeld said.

The exact amount needed is hard to determine since participants compete in different disciplines.

“For example, my daughter (Jenn, 16) pays $40 per lesson, $400 to get her horse trained and I just spent $400 at the tack store – and all I bought was a halter and a lee and a show shirt. They’re very expensive,” Seefeld said.

While all 10 Riders qualified for the five-county district showcase in Fayette County September 7-9 and the state show in Harrisburg in October, each required an entry fee of at least $20 – not including stalling horses, lessons or classes, among other personal expenses.

Two ponies will be available for children or adults to ride each night. Of those switching off tonight will be “Sky” (owned by Royal Riders Secretary Sydney Joyce) and “Chip” (owned by Royal Riders Historian Mikaela Layhew).

“It doesn’t matter – last year, we had adults that wanted to ride them. Some of our ponies are big enough that they can carry an adult,” Seefeld said. “It’s a small area, so it’s not safe to have more than two in here at a time.”

16-year-old Mikaela, 13-year-old brother Noah and 17-year-old sister, Alisha – all of Templeton - all qualified for the district and state competitions.

Mikaela – who will be a junior at West Shamokin High later this month – will compete with a leased horse “Easy” at the upcoming competitions but fondly remembered her time with “Chip.”

Hope Dailey of New Bethlehem grew up in 4-H and trained “Chip” last summer – and also several Royal Riders on their individual disciplines, according to Seefeld. Dailey spoke highly of Mikaela’s preparations for the upcoming competitions.

“(Mikaela’s) horse has come far and she has completely changed her approach to riding to what she needed to,” Dailey said. “What she rode May 25 to now, she’s a completely-different rider. It takes a lot of work and a lot of hours.”

Alisha – who will leave this December for the U.S. Navy after graduating from West Shamokin in June - said last year’s rides were both financially and socially successful.

“It went great – besides the one day that it rained.” Alisha said. “We did real well, all the horses were good, and all the little kids loved us.”

Count Executive Director Jessica Coil’s children as two of them. She said the committee knew it would be successful once Mikaela, Noah and Alisha’s mother, Heather, brought up the idea to President Keith Livengood.

Coil looks forward to continued success tonight.

“It’s really a popular thing for parents to bring their kids – it’s a nice attraction (across from St. Mary’s),” Coil said. “(Last summer), we thought it was a great idea and would be a big attraction for families.”

Alisha’s 24-year-old pony, “Hershey,” will be available for rides on other days. Alisha qualified for awards with “Hershey” for nine years before retiring him this summer due to hip and back problems.

She now competes with “Pride.”

President Devin Malarik coordinated the pony rides.

“This is a lot of teamwork because it gets really busy down here,” mother, Heather Layhew said.

In addition to the competitions, the Royal Riders used some of the donations last year to buy Christmas presents to nursing home residents in Slatelick.

“Lily,” a three-year-old miniature horse who belongs to Noah, will be led along North Water Street this weekend as well, to attract participants to the pony rides and to answer questions about 4-H.

The pony rides will be available from 5-9PM tonight and tomorrow, and from noon-9PM Saturday and Sunday. Handmade posters will be displayed along the roadway to remind Festival-goers about the pony rides across from St. Mary’s, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

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