Organizers of the miniature horse show are calling it a success despite only a sprinkling of fans in the stands.

Manager Todd Wooldridge said even without a large crowd, the show attracted a large number of competitors. "It's better than last year," Wooldridge said.

Kris Hockensmith, a member Franklin County Fair and Horse Show's board, agreed. "Our numbers are up," she said. "This year we've had good luck."

Hockensmith attributed cooler weather and no rain for the increase in show participants " more than 100 this year.

The fair overall has four horse shows. The miniature horse show was added in 1999, Hockensmith said.
Wooldridge said many competitors return year after year to participate in the show, which has 19 different classes and took place at Paul Gray Arena Wednesday.

Prizes included ribbons and cash awards ranging from $5 to $30.
There were no Franklin County entries, but competitors from Lawrenceburg, Louisville and Georgetown were also among the participants.

Jimette Essinger, 20, co-owns Rockin' E Farm in Crestwood. She said she has been showing miniature horses since age 2.

"This makes my summer," Essinger said. "If I didn't do this, I don't know what I'd do with my summer."
Essinger said she travels statewide showing miniature horses and at each competition she gets a rush being in the show ring.

Competitors walk the horses around half of the ring allowing the judge to examine the appearance and movement of the animals, she said.

Butch Fluhr, of Louisville, was the judge for the competition. He said some of the things he looks for include the length of a horse's neck, how its ears perk and color.

Fluhr said there are not many differences between judging a miniature and a full-size horse other than stature. Miniature horses are usually less than 38 inches tall.

Essinger said a miniature horse moves just like a full-size horse.

"They can do anything a full-size horse can do," she said. "They jump, they do obstacle courses."

She said miniatures do not wear horseshoes and can pull up to four times their weight.

Billy Phillips, 16, from High Mountain Quarter Horses and Minis in Harrodsburg, has been showing miniature horses for three years.

He says to prepare horses for competition the horse's hair must be clipped, grease is added to the horse's face to make it shine and the hooves are blackened with polish to improve the appearance.

"There's actually a lot more work to them than what people think there is," Phillips said.

There are classes for different types of miniature horses such as Pinto and Appaloosa as well as classes for those using miniatures to pull carts. There are also classes based on the age of the miniature horses. Some were older than 3 years while others were born this year, Phillips said.

Kristen Bramblett, 9, from Cherry Hill Miniatures Farm in Georgetown, was the youngest participant in Wednesday's show.

Kristen said the Franklin County show was her third time competing.

"I know I'm going to have fun with it and I'm going to try my hardest," Kristen said.

She said having fun is the most important thing, but winning is a good feeling.

"You're really proud of yourself knowing you did it," she said.