Horse Stall Decorating Ideas For Fair

BEDFORD — Amid horse stalls with flashy lights, "Frozen" themes and pink princesses, Molly Applegate's stall was decorated with Alice, the Cheshire Cat and other scenes and characters found in "Alice in Wonderland."

"It makes me really happy," the 19-year-old Mitchell High School senior said. "The whole barn was supposed to have a Disney theme. I just really love that movie."

Applegate, who was at the fair with her half Arabian horse Penny, won the overall stall decoration award. She has been riding and showing horses with 4-H for nine years. She's been around horses for 14 years.

This week, she competed in four different horse shows so far for keyhole racing and pole bending.

"Contesting, that's my favorite part," Applegate said.

She arrives at the fair each day at 8 a.m. and doesn't leave until midnight. Applegate, who lives in Mitchell, has nine horses, and she rides almost every day. All of her family came with her to the fair, along with her friends, the Russell family.

Applegate, who wants to go to Indiana University and be an elementary teacher, has competed in 4-H horse shows every year. She became interested because her older sister showed horses for 10 years.

"I used to have a pony (Blazey), and contesting with her was my favorite," Applegate said. "She was my first pony, and I learned everything with her."

That was when Applegate was 6. Now, she's the vice president of the 4-H Horse and Pony Club.

When she's out in front of a crowd showing her horse, she doesn't think about anyone and just focuses on her horse. When she's not at the fair, she runs track and cross country, and she participates in pole bending and barrel racing at rodeos.

"I enjoy working with my horse and being out at the fair and the atmosphere," Applegate said. "I love it. It's the best time of the year."