Whether it’s galloping, making split-second turns around barrels or performing a measured, stately gait, the quality of any perform­ance by rider and horse at this year’s Lorain County Fair Queen and Horseman Show is a testa­ment to the bond between the two.

Each of this year’s seven con­testants are judged on a series of activities ranging from written essays and public speaking to tak­ing part in four different horse shows over the summer. Points are accumulated for each activity, with a King and Queen selected based on point totals, according to Spencer Reid, a Junior Fair 4-H member who coordinates the competition.

The royalty also consists of a court comprised of first-, second­ and third-place runner-ups.

The king and queen each receive a 4-foot trophy plus prizes ranging from personal items and gift cards to horse grooming sup­plies. Members of the court also win prizes.

The court will be announced 7 p.m. Monday in the Junior Fair’s Horse Ring A.

STACEY REASER

• Age: 19
• Years in 4-H: 13
• Education: 2010 graduate of Lorain County Joint Vocational School
• Hometown: Oberlin
• Parents: Brenda and Charles Reaser
• Horse: Chaser Breeze

Stacey Reaser never had a chance. Her fate was sealed before she was born.

“My mom was riding while she was pregnant with me,’’ she said.

“I guess I had it in my blood.”

On horses since she was able to walk, Reaser has devoted herself to Chaser Breeze, a 10-year-old Paint she has ridden since he was 2 or 3.

“He’s extremely laid back. He’ll run right up to you if you have any candy,’’ she said. “Anybody can ride him. He’s a real sweetheart.”

But like any couple, the duo has had its share of problems. An example was the Paint’s longtime fear of barrels.

From 12 “He was scared to ride around them,” she said.

Not good for a horse that competes in barrel racing, an event in which horse and rider rip in and out around a set of barrels as fast as they can without knocking any over.

But Chaser Breeze is cool with barrels these days, thanks to Reaser’s patience and regular practice times when she isn’t working at her job at Rhenium Alloys Inc., an Elyria company that makes wire.

Reaser’s plans for the future include becoming a veterinary technician, and showing and riding horses in rodeos and at National Barrel Racing Association events.

“I may do it for the money, but more for the fun,’’ she said. “I just love going into arenas and having fun.”

HEATHER PERRY

• Age: 18
• Years in 4-H: 8
• Education: 2010 Vermilion Highhome schooling graduate
• Hometown: Vermilion
• Parents: Bill and Marilyn Oliver
• Horse: Misty

Typical of most of her fellow contestants in this year’s competition, Heather Perry has been in the saddle since she was 3. Competing in her final county fair, she will be aboard Misty, her 17-year-old quarter horse, in barrel racing.

“Some people don’t like it but it’s fun,” she said.

As opposed to the slower, more measured pace of English and Western-style riding, Perry likes the speed.

“We do other things but I really like this because it’s so fast,” she said.

Though her family lives on a farm, she boards Misty at another location where she goes to ride and practice.

Like fellow contestant Stacey Reaser, Perry plans to take a twoyear online veterinary tech program to eventually get a job with a local veterinarian.

“Later on, I’d like to go back and study to be a vet,” she said.

AARON STERK

• Age: 17
• Years in 4-H: 10
• Education: Senior at Firelands High School
• Hometown: Wakeman
• Parents: John and Shelly Sterk
• Horse: Darlene

Aaron Sterk has a cousin to thank for his love of horses and riding.

“I had seen her do shows and thought it would be really cool to do that,’’ he said. “She put me on her horse and taught me to ride.”

He has — for the past nine years. This year he’ll be on Darlene, an 11-year-old Paint who has been his partner for some years. For Sterk, it’s the thrill of competition that pumps him up.

“I love hearing my name called, and especially when you place or win at the state fair,” he said.

That kind of payoff is great but takes a lot of perspiration and time.

“It takes a lot of dedication to find the time to ride and practice,” he said.

Sometimes, that practice time has to be spent working with a stubborn horse.

“She doesn’t want to cooperate sometimes,” Sterk said of Darlene. “Some horses like to test you so you stay out an extra hour. Darlene is one of the worst. She likes to test me — a lot.”

Since Paint ponies typically live longer than horses, Darlene will likely be able to compete — and bedevil Sterk — to age 22 or 23.

In the meantime, he plans to enter the culinary program at Lorain County Community College to prepare to take over the family business, Sterk’s Catering in Vermilion.

ANGELA GORKA

• Age: 19
• Years in 4-H: 11
• Education: Second year at Lorain County Community College
• Hometown: Sheffield
• Parents: Mike and Karen Gorka
• Horse: Rio

Whatever else she does in her life, Angela Gorka will always make room for horses.

“They will always remain with me,” she said.

One could probably chalk that up to Rio, her 21-year-old quarter horse. Riding since she was 7, Gorka describes Rio as agile, healthy and “one of the most lovable horses ever.”

Talking about the strong bond between them, Gorka said her horse “just listens to everything and remembers everything.”

Rio’s apparently good ears and memory once produced a firstplace finish at a show where he and Gorka competed in such diverse events as English riding, barreling and versatility.

“Most horses are only good in Western riding or English,’’ she said. “Rio is good at everything.”

Living on the village’s only farm, which boasts 40 acres, Gorka is surrounded by a bunch of animals — but horses are tops with her.

“You can do a lot more with horses,’’ she said. “They’re more fun and exciting.”

After this, her last year in 4-H, Gorka plans to go on a major horse show circuit where she could win money and prizes.

“It’s the next level up,” she said.

CHEYENNE HOLT

• Age: 15
• Years in 4-H: 7
• Education: Sophomore at Columbia High School
• Hometown: Columbia Township
• Parents: Christa and Ron Holt
• Horse: Ace

Living on 26 acres, Cheyenne Holt has “plenty of room for all the animals,” including turkeys, pigs and her horses: Ace, a 13-yearold quarter horse, and Splash, a 12-year-old Paint.

She’ll be on Ace at this year’s fair.

“I’ve raised turkeys for about six years and pigs for two to three, but I have a special fondness for horses,” she said.

And that fondness is especially strong when it comes to Ace.

“He does anything I ask him to do, and that makes the bond between us that much stronger,” Holt said. “We enjoy our time together. He trusts me.”

Echoing a theme mentioned by all contestants, building and maintaining trust with an animal is critical to success in the show ring or rodeo circuit. But it can be tough to come by sometimes.

“Some animals have been abused or abandoned and don’t have that sense of trust,” she said.

Such was the case with Splash.

“I think she was abused,’’ she said. “She had no sense of trust.

I’m trying to build that back up.”

Holt and Ace will do the more regimented English riding, as well as showmanship and pleasure riding for the fair, with the focus on riding patterns and railwork “to see how well he listens to my commands.”

The teen is thinking about a career in interior design, but that doesn’t mean she’s done with riding.

“It’s hard for me to think of a time when I would never have horses,” she said.

ERIN MCCARTY

• Age: 14
• Years in 4-H: 6
• Education: Sophomore at Firelands High School
• Hometown: Henrietta Township
• Parents: Barbara Kewish and Mike McCarty
• Horse: Parker

Erin McCarty hasn’t been with her quarter horse Parker long, but no matter. They’re still as one when competing.

“I’ve been riding Parker for three to four years now, but we’ve developed a bond like you would with any animal,” she said.

Trust between horse and rider is a big issue, due in part to the animal’s sheer size.

“If they wanted to, they could take off with you or hurt you but they don’t,” she said.

That’s because the pair spend a tremendous amount of time with each other.

“We do everything together, including cleaning stalls. I spend every day with him,” she said.

Since McCarty and her 11-yearold horse compete in several events including Western riding and showmanship, the more time together, the better.

“Western riding has a more wide-open gait while showmanship is comprised of slower, more controlled movements,’’ she said.

McCarty looks to attend college, with possible career goals as a veterinary technician, a vet or even a painter.

For now she’s staying close to Parker.

“He’s really a big baby. If things don’t go his way he gets upset,’’ she said. “He’s kind of a difficult horse at times but a good boy. He tries really hard.”

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