Horses the main attraction in fairs gone by

Precise and majestic high stepping horses once were the anticipated main event at the Moniteau County Fair.

At the earliest fairs, 150 years ago this year, horses were the only event.

In recognition of 150 years of history, the fair board has returned a gaited horse show to the week's events.

"It will be wonderful," said Dale Hoffstetter, a Moniteau native who has been attending the fair for more than seven decades. "It was one of the main attractions when I was a kid.

"I remember my dad would get dressed up to go on Saturday nights," Hoffstetter said.

In addition to the participants putting on their best, the arena was manicured with lawn and a judges stand in the center and great attention was given to the dirt grounds, he said.

Once a participant, Hoffstetter showed a two-year-old walking horse in 1962 at the Moniteau County Fair, which went on to become the Missouri State Fair two-year-old champion, he recalled.

"It's a lot of work," Hoffstetter admitted.

But watching the high-tailed, high-stepping creatures of grace was highly memorable every year, he said.

One year a world champion palomino named Lemon Drop Kid had a Central Missouri owner and made an appearance at the Moniteau County Fair, Hoffstetter remembered fondly.

And then there was Arthur Simmons, who grew up in California and became a highly-sought after gaited horse master, said Dick Spieler.

"You always knew if you got him, it would be a good show," he said.

The arena and the horses were beautiful to watch, Spieler said, especially with the organ music in the background.

"I'll be happy to see one more good show," he said.

The gaited horse world saw a decline in the late 20th century, particularly when greater regulations were added, Spieler said.

"We used to have a lot of horses in all the classes," Hoffstetter said of the gaited-style competitions. "There's just not any around anymore."

Gina Kuda, president of the Moniteau Saddle Club, which is helping host the special event, agreed they had to seek participants from further away to put together a solid show.

"There aren't as many gaited shows locally; they're more south," she said.

Kuda noted that horse challenges seem to come in trends. Just as at one time the gaited contests were the big event, the western-style shows, which have been hosted for the last many years by the local club are seeing a decline.

However, the newer "extreme cowboy," obstacle course-style contests are seeing strong growth, she said.

"People want to be more competitive," she said.

Those who attend the 150th Moniteau County Fair will have plenty of opportunities to see horses and their trainers show their skill.

The Wayne Bueker Trail Challenge, in its sixth year, will begin at 5:30 p.m. July 30.

The obstacle course-style event invites any breed of horse to try the trail.

The rodeo will start at 7 p.m. Aug. 3.

Another nostalgic event is the draft horse show, which will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 4. This event has continued at the fair and is a reminder of how important horses were to the rural community 150 years ago, Kuda said.

"It's amazing how much things have changed in 150 years," she said. "They were their tractor, to get things done."

The Show-Me Circuit Horse Show, which begins at 10 a.m., Aug. 6, is the saddle club's major event of the year. It features primarily quarter horses and paints performing feats like barrel racing, Kuda said.

And the Gaited Horse Show will start at 6 p.m. and will include a live organist for accompaniment, as in the years gone by.

"People will feel like they've been brought back in time," Kuda said. "It's what got the fair started and is very appropriate to have it for the 150th.

"Come out if you want to see horses in action; you'll see a lot of different things horses can do."