The 55th annual Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show took place Oct. 24 to 26 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg.

More than 700 youth from 62 counties participated in 73 performance classes in the competition. There were over 1200 entries shown by youth.

The state show is the final competition of the year for 4-H horse members enrolled in performance horse projects.

To be eligible for the show, members must advance through qualifying competitions at county and district levels.

Events include showmanship, horsemanship, equitation, pleasure, over fences, driving, western riding, reining, trail and timed events.

A therapeutic riding division for riders with special needs is also included in the lineup.

All class champions in the show were awarded champion ribbons, pewter plates and embroidered jackets.

Lehigh County 4-H members excelled in their classes. Four first place awards belong to Lehigh County Equine Club members.

Lindsey Ilgenfritz, of Orefield, placed first in the pleasure horse driving class, third place in saddle seat equitation, junior rider and sixth place in saddle seat pleasure, trotting, and ninth place in open trail horses, junior rider, with the horse Urban Legend.

Liana Panik, of Zionsville, placed first in the cutback horses, junior rider class, and the raised box keyhole horses, junior rider, and also received eighth place in barrel race horses, junior rider with the horse Lucky's Pine Charm.

Juliet Long, of New Tripoli, placed first in the barrel race ponies and second place in cutback ponies, senior rider with the entry Colorado Concheta.

Leila Toth, of New Tripoli, placed fifth in classic hunter under saddle horse, junior rider with the entry Good Assets Invitation.

Trinity Packard, of Slatington, placed 10th in breed type hunter under saddle horses, junior rider. Kendall Graff, of Germansville, placed 10th in miniature horse in hand trail, senior exhibitor. Allison Bortz, of Macungie, and Hana Toth, of New Tripoli, also exhibited in the show.

There are more than 6,500 4-H horse projects involving youth throughout Pennsylvania.

Programs are designed to develop life skills in youth and knowledge of horse production, use and management.

For additional information on 4-H horse programs in Pennsylvania, contact the county Penn State Cooperative Extension office at extension. psu.edu/counties or visit the Pennsylvania 4-H Horse Program web site at animalscience.psu.edu.