Neighs and clip-clops from the Hillsboro Horse Show and Fall Festival echoed around the Jefferson County Fairgrounds on Oct. 10.
Doug Goforth, the event co-chairman, said 1,000-1,100 people came to the fairgrounds.
“It was a blessed day with the weather, and fun was had by all, including the folks on the side of the horse show,” he said.
The event was sponsored by the Hillsboro Community Civic Club and BNM Motorsports.
Goforth said between 75 to 80 horses across 32 classes participated in the horse show.
“We went to dark with the horse show, we had to turn on the lights because our days are getting a bit shorter,” he said. “The kids had a ton of fun.”
Goforth said fried chicken dinners provided by LaChance Vineyards sold out earlier than expected.
“Most of the vendors seemed very happy,” he said. “We had a lot of craft vendors.”
Several musical acts performed on the Arnold Ready Mix Patio throughout the day, including Russ Wellington and Cody Coggins, and Bill Scott.
“They held a pretty good crowd throughout the day,” Goforth said.
Other activities available during the festival were a cornhole tournament, face painting, a dessert walk, a pumpkin patch, a fall maze, pumpkin bowling, a kid’s corn pit, pony rides, a butterfly aviary and equine therapy horses from Shiloh Stables.
Goforth said goats and other farm animals from the Hillsboro R-3 Hawks Agriculture and Future Farmers of America (FFA) program were a big hit for families who attended.
He also said a large inflatable corn maze was new to the festival this year.
“That was well liked by the kids, it gave them a little bit more to do.”
Goforth said the event is meant to preserve the history of the Hillsboro Community Civic Club and the first Hillsboro Horse Show, which was originally held 80 years ago.
“We’ve coupled it with the fall festival so there’s just a little bit more to do than see a horse show,” he said.
