BERRIEN SPRINGS — Thursday morning, youth from across Berrien County rode into the Berrien County Youth Fair’s Equine Complex donning cowboy hats, boots, fringed pants and sequined tops as they put their horse showmanship skills to the test.

The Berrien County Youth Fair hosted its western showmanship competition Thursday morning, along with several other equine 4-H contests. Niles’ Emily Kuespert took third place in her western showmanship contest. Evie Clare, of Sodus, took first place in the competition, and Samantha Rydwelski, of Buchanan, took second.

For Kuespert, 15, the competition was an exciting one as it marked the first time she had placed in western showmanship at the Berrien County Youth Fair.

“I feel pretty good,” Kuespert said, clutching her yellow ribbon. “This took a lot of work.”

Kuespert has been riding and showing at the Berrien County Youth Fair for five years. Though she said the fair had increased her showmanship skills and familiarity with horses over the last five years, her love of horses began when she was younger.

“When I was younger, we had horses in the family. I was like, ‘oh, I like them,’ because I had been around them,” she said. “[Horses] are my hobby. I just like riding. I don’t really know how to explain it.”

Seeing Kuespert’s love of horses grow, her mother, Pam, said she encouraged her daughter’s love of riding as she saw how happy it made her.

“She has such a big love of horses,” Pam said of Kuespert.

As Kuespert stands at 4-feet, 11-inches tall, her horse, Barney, towered over her during Thursday’s competition. However, Kuespert said her size has never made riding or competing more difficult for her.

“People think horses are big so you can’t control them,” she said. “That’s not true.”

During next year’s Berrien County Youth Fair, Kuespert said she plans to make a play for first place. And as she looks even further into the future, Kuespert hopes to work with the animals she loves as a career. She said she eventually wants to become a pony trainer, as she works well with ponies due to her short stature.

As she continues with 4-H and into her future career, Kuespert said she wants people to understand the bond people and horses can share.

“People underestimate horses,” she said. “They are just gentle giants.”