By Staff
RIDE 'EM COWBOY Horse lovers off all ages will meet Monday at the Scooba Riding Club Arena for the annual barbecue and horse show. "Scooba Day" festivities are sponsored by the Scooba Riding Club and Kemper Academy's ninth grade class. Submitted photo
By Penny Randall/The Meridian Star
Aug. 31, 2001
SCOOBA Monday will be filled with barbecue, fun and lots of horsing around.
There will be plenty of food. Whole hogs are cooked in a pit barbecue and plates will be sold all day. Kemper Academy ninth graders hope to raise money from the event.
The day-long horse show includes several horse racing events such as the halter, the western pleasure and timed races. The show is unique because anyone can ride, not just experienced horseman.
Rides are divided into age groups: 12 and under, 13 through 17 and 18 and older. This year's judge is Ray Shedd of Taylorsville, a horseman with 20 years of judging experience.
They include the "goat throw," in which children run into an arena and attempt to place a rope around a goat's neck. The "calf scramble" features children chasing calves around the arena while trying to retrieve a ribbon tied around the animal's tail.
One of the most popular events of the day is the "cake walk" in which people can win home-baked cakes.
Scooba Day started as a community gathering. It was already established when Charlie Irby's father, veterinarian Dr. C.R. Irby, moved to the area from Alabama in 1965.
Charter members of the Scooba Riding Club include Dr. Irby, Callie Smith, Clifton McConnell, the late John Kenneth Briggs Sr., the late Marcus Warren and the late Tee Smith.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., with the horse show beginning 30 minutes later. Negative Coggins Test papers, showing that horses do not carry equine anemia, must accompany all horses entering the grounds.
Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children 7-12. Children under 7 are free.
Barbecue plates are $5.50; plates can be delivered by calling Kenneth Kingery at 476-5900. Pre-paid barbecue tickets can be purchased from club members or Kemper Academy ninth graders. Scooba is about 40 miles north of Meridian on Highway 45.
Penny Randall is an editorial assistant at The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3216, or e-mail her at prandall@themeridianstar.com.