Texas State 4-H Horse Show Connects Youth with Competition
BRYAN, Texas (July 24, 2024) – Moody Sisters Add Spice to Rapidly Growing Tradition
For the past seven years, Trinity and Audrey Moody have made the annual summer pilgrimage from Sour Lake to Bryan to take part in what is swiftly becoming the paragon of Texas’ 4-H horse competitions. This year’s event has added a noteworthy twist, turning what was already a much-anticipated family tradition into a sisterly showdown within some of the show’s stock horse events.
A Tradition of Competition and Camaraderie
The Texas State 4-H Horse Show, taking place at the Brazos County Expo, kicked off on Monday and is scheduled to run through Saturday. The event has blossomed into a hub of comradery, knowledge, and spirited competition with more than 350 4-H members converging from all corners of the state.
“[There’s a] healthy rivalry, for sure,” said Trinity Moody, an incoming freshman at Texas A&M University who hopes to join the school’s ranch horse team in the ensuing academic year. The horse show offers competitions, educational programs, and college and scholarship presentations for the young members of 4-H.
Embracing the Challenge
Among the numerous events the Moody sisters will participate in this year, some of the highlights include the horsemanship, showmanship, cutting, and pleasure competitions. Trinity will be seen riding Our Diamond Lights while Audrey is set to contest on her horse, Metallic Sally Time.
Alluding to the competing nature of the event and their aspirations, Audrey mentioned that they aim to control the factors within their reach and to maintain a light-hearted atmosphere between the two. Though competitive, the sisters are fueled by a steadfast desire for self-improvement rather than outperforming one another.
A Transformational Experience
Alongside the horse riding competitions, these annual events introduce the 4-H members to a diverse array of experiential learning opportunities. Furthermore, the event’s focus on a ‘fair play’ competitive environment provides a suitable platform for these young individuals to forge lifelong friendships with their peers across Texas.
Katherine Wickersham favorably recalls her previous experiences and recounts how the event ‘competition often carries over from year to year’, making it enjoyable to catch up with familiar faces each summer. For participants, the event is considered more than just a competition and is valued for its effectiveness in building networks among the 4-H community.
In Audrey’s words, “Coming here every year and increasingly meeting people, that’s probably the best part,” highlighting the communal and nurturing aspect of the Texas State Horse Show.
