Horses prove to be fine hoofers

• What: Fifth annual Washington State Horse Expo.

• Where: Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 17402 N.E. Delfel Road, Ridgefield.

• When: Noon to 9 p.m. Feb. 20, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 22.

• Cost: Day passes: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 62 and older and children ages 7-12, free for children younger than 7. Weekend passes: $24 for adults, $20 for seniors 62 and older and children 7-12. Parking is $6. RV parking available for $20 a night.

• Information: wastatehorseexpo.com or call 360-397-6180.

• What: A Clark County nonprofit equine entertainment group that performs at an array of shows and is involved with several local charities. The women and their horses work with disabled veterans, children with disabilities and food banks, among other efforts.

• At the Expo: Performances 3 and 8 p.m. Friday; 6:30 p.m. Extravaganza Saturday; 4:15 p.m. Sunday. Schedules available at wastatehorseexpo.com/schedule.php

• Information: Call 360-747-7249 or visit www.blackpearlfriesian.org

If you want your horse to dance, you first need to find the animal’s favorite hoof-tapping music.

That’s part of the training strategy used by Clark County’s Black Pearl Friesian Dance Troupe, which will perform with their impressive array of Friesians and other rare horse breeds at the Washington State Horse Expo this weekend.

“(The horses) love Celtic music — they really like the beat — and they also like some pop music and other styles,” said Susie Castle, who performs with Galadriel, a Warlander, which is a cross between the Andalusian and Friesian breeds.

Equestrians of all stripes (or spots and colors, depending on the horse) will be on hand for the Expo, in its fifth year. The event, put on by the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, will feature a variety of animals, riding styles, competitions and shows, and is perfect for spectators and horse owners alike, said Matt Ferris, the marketing director.

“Clark County has the largest percentage of horse ownership in the state of Washington, and the way our horses boost the economy is incredible,” Ferris said. “Each year, this show grows bigger. And we want to make sure families know this is a really good family event that everyone will love, especially the kids.”

For the Black Pearls, performing at the event is a way to support and let people know about their charity work in Clark County. The riders help with community food drives and often go out to work with disabled veterans and handicapped children.

“To see people respond to Friesians is just amazing,” said Susan McIntosh, who rides a big black Friesian stallion named Rubin. “This guy (she said of Rubin), last time we performed he walked right up to a disabled veteran in a wheelchair, put his head in his lap and you could just see how much that meant to both of them. Friesians are such an empathetic breed. They know when someone is suffering.”

The troupe began six years ago and became a nonprofit about 2½ years ago. In that time it has grown from two members to 24, said McIntosh, who is the group’s secretary and treasurer.

The women and their horses dance in synchronized groups of four or eight, with horses doing special steps to the beat, bowing and rearing.

“Our finale will be eight horses at once,” McIntosh said of the group’s extravaganza performance Saturday. “We can’t release what the props are, but we can say we’re bringing really big props.”

The group also uses a wide array of costumes, including sequenced tuxedos and plate mail.

“Everything from armor to fairy wings,” said Lisa Badger, who rides a Lipizzan horse named Columbia.

Lipizzan horses are a rare breed developed for Austria’s Habsburg royal family starting in the 16th century. The horses were almost completely wiped out in World War II, but the last of the breed was rescued by Gen. George S. Patton and the U.S. Third Army in 1945.

“The Russians almost took the area over, and if they had, the last of them would have been lunch,” Badger said. “But Patton was a horseman and saved them.”

And, oddly enough, McIntosh’s family had a hand in that rescue.

“My dad was in that troop,” McIntosh said of her father, Chuck Ross. “He went in and helped save them. Dad’s gone now, but he sure would have loved to see these guys.”

Badger said she loves them for their speed and agility. She rides Columbia when she does horse archery, which is another special event at the Expo this year.

“It’s actually a pretty new sport developed from an ancient martial art,” Badger said. “I like it because I have a pretty strong dressage background, but dressage is pretty tame. This lets me bring out my primal warrior.”

Castle laughed approvingly at that.

“She wants to be an Amazon warrior,” Castle said of her friend.

Badger uses a Korean recursive bow when she competes. Horse archery requires about 70 percent horsemanship, 20 percent archery expertise and 10 percent something else that’s hard to define, the women agreed.

“You’re riding your horse with no hands, shooting targets,” Badger said. “It’s not a sport for novice riders, but you can always find a place to start and work up to it.”

Another sport that some of the Pearls will compete in is called working equitation. Last week, some members practiced with Rob Zimmerman, a clinician at the Expo who owns South Ridge Farms, a training and boarding facility in Ridgefield.

“Working equitation starts out with all levels, from very novice to master,” Zimmerman said. “It’s a sport for working horses.”

The horses compete by navigating a tight set of obstacles quickly and smoothly.

“One nice thing about the sport for audiences is that you can watch it for a little while and it’s really easy to understand,” Zimmerman said. “It’s very audience-friendly.”

Visitors to the Expo can also enjoy several specialty demonstrations, including the return of Francesca Carson, a partner in Steve Rother Horsemanship who performs with her miniature horse, Spanky, and Parson Russell terrier, Dally.

There will also be food and several opportunities for kids to get up close and pet the horses, Ferris said.

“I can’t emphasize enough that this isn’t just for horse owners,” Ferris said. “It’s a great spectator event for families. We hope lots of people will come by and enjoy the show.”