May 23, 2014 By Zach Cumberland 3 min read

WAYNESBURG — Championship horses will be back in the saddle in Greene County this weekend, when the annual Waynesburg Horse Show returns to the fairgrounds for the 57th year.

The show is presented by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Saddle Club and is free for those who attend.

“We’re looking to get some more community involvement this year and more people to come,” said Doreen Norris, who has been attending the show since she was eleven years old. “I’ll also be showing a bunch of my own horses as well as working behind the scenes.”

Horse classes for this year’s show are Academy, Arabians, Carriage, Equitation, Hackneys, Morgans, Parade, Roadster, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walking Horses and a large open division.

“We have some new divisions this year,” Norris said. “We’re offering some gaited breed divisions and we have American Saddlebreds, Morgans, Arabians, and we have a Liberty division now.”

Spectators can expect to see some championship horses and may also get to see a world championship horse at the event.

“Top of the line championship horses are going to be exhibited,” Norris said. “There’s the possibility of seeing world championship horses and some of the top trainers around will be in attendance as well.”

Beginner classes for youth and adults will be available, as well as Sweepstakes classes and Pro-Am classes.

The judge is George Knight of Lexington, Kentucky. Session times begin Friday at 6:30 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. The prize list will be posted on the Southwestern Pennsylvania Saddle Club Facebook page.

The show is a charity event that benefits the Humane Society of Greene County.

“The horse show allows us to treat animals with medical care, food, and we use it to treat the animals that really need a lot of help,” said Jane Gapen, executive director at the Humane Society. “We’re the only refuge in Greene County for homeless, neglected and abused animals.”

Gapen said she appreciates the efforts of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Saddle Club.

“They dedicate each horse show to us and have been extremely generous over the years,” she said.

The Humane Society focuses on investigating animal cruelty, taking in neglected and abused animals, as well as educating the public.

“We have humane police officers that investigate and prosecute animal cruelty,” Gapen said. “We like to educate in the form of speakers at school, group speakers, and I hope we educate people here every day that come in to our shelter. Our cash bash tickets are on sale now as well, which will take place Oct. 19 at the Greene County Fairgrounds.”

The Humane Society website can be viewed at www.greenepet.org. Also, check out the Humane Society of Greene County Facebook page.

For more info on the Waynesburg Horse Show, call 724-627-3459 or 724-372-5481.