BERRIEN SPRINGS — On Friday in Barn 50 at the Berrien County Youth Fair, 11th grader Olivia Borst and 10th grader Katriana Meyer relaxed with their families in lawn chairs. Outside, the heat rose and horses trotted. Inside, box fans whirled and Candy and Smarty, the two Niles residents’ horses, rested for the coming trail exhibition.

It is a scene different than during the days before, where Borst, Meyer and their horses competed in multiple equine exhibitions, sometimes more than one each day. Both neared the nine-event maximum riders are allowed to compete in.

While neither received grand champion recognition for their performances, rainbows of ribbons adorn the doorways leading into their horse’s stables.

Both Borst and Meyer were happy with their mid-tier rankings in their numerous events, especially considering their training circumstances.

Despite years of equine competitions and years more of horse classes, Borst started training with Smarty a few months ago. Meyer, a three-year participant of the Berrien fair, started training with Candy a few weeks ago.

“This is the first time she’s been shown,” Meyer said about Candy.

“Oh, gosh,” Borst replied.

“Yeah. She’s like, ‘Do we really have to keep going? Can I be done?’”

Endurance was a big enemy of Candy — who replaced a horse of Meyer’s who recently died — and Smarty — who replaced Borst’s longtime hooved teammate too old to compete.

As many other youth fair exhibitors said this week, Borst and Meyer said building a relationship between horse and human is needed for success in competitions. Both had shorter spans of time to do so than some other competitors.

“Every horse has a different touch,” Meyer said.

“A personality, like how they’re going to respond to what you’re going to ask them,” Borst added.

“Right,” Meyer said. “So, you have to not only change the way you train the horse but the way that you’re trained.”

Despite a few struggles, the two girls and two horses performed and, sometimes, placed.

“I’m personally super stoked for my fourth place in showmanship,” Meyer said. “[Candy] didn’t know showmanship, so we had three weeks of practicing that. She’s been doing amazing.”

While Borst loves the pattern exhibition best, she is most proud of her fifth-place finish in equitation and pleasure, which judges both horse and rider.

Meyer said one of the best parts about exhibitions like that at the Berrien County Youth Fair is that riders are able to see the progress they and their horses have made.

Borst added that competition keeps her coming back to the Berrien fair, too. She said it is the most competitive fair for equine events in the area.

“You always just want to come back better than last year and try to beat the other people that are always a challenge to you,” she said.

Borst cited one rider in particular that she has competed against since her age was in the single digits. From event to event each year, one tended to place just ahead of the other.

Yet, the two also cheer others on. Both are part of part of horse club Al-Bar, which Borst’s great-grandfather helped found. They will cheer on members of the club even they are competing against those members.

By the end of the week, Borst said she often grows closer to rival riders than when she started.

However, by the end of the week, riders and horses are also often worn out.

On Friday, Borst and Meyer said they would treat their horses as they have all week: by bathing them and giving them lots of attention and treats.

Once Friday’s trail exhibition ended, Meyer said she had plans to give herself a treat, too: ice cream.