Staff photo / R. Michael Semple Finley Williams, 8, of Bristolville, and a member of the Trumbull County Beef Boosters 4-H Club, maneuvers Scarlett, her 800-pound, short-hair steer, through the ring during judging Thursday afternoon at the Trumbull County Fair in Bazetta. Finley received a blue ribbon for grand champion short-hair steer.

BAZETTA — It was a day of special attention for animals, as youth competed in grooming horses while others spent time dressing up goats and rabbits.

Fairgoers on Thursday had the chance to watch teams compete at the outdoor horse arena in grooming horses that had been muddied earlier in the morning. Later, a special costume contest took place under a tent for smaller animals such as cats, pigeons, chickens, lizards and goats.

Teams of three had 30 minutes to groom and clean a horse as best as possible and then show the horse in the arena. The participants were given only a small amount of water as well as brushes and other items.

“When the horses are clean, their skin is healthier,” explained Angie Machingo of Warren, noting the team starts working at the front of the horse and works to the back and legs.

Machingo said while the horse was classified as a black horse, the sunlight had bleached its skin a brownish color. She said if someone sees a horse that is really white, it is probably older.

“We have horses that could be born solid black or brown, but over the years, their hair lightens from the sun. There are gray horses that used to be much darker, but they get lighter as they get older. I had a yearling that was solid black that was much lighter after the summer,” Heidi Warner of Newton Falls said.

One team worked on 11-year-old Reno, a white and gray horse. and Dare, a 22-year-old black horse that is brownish in the sunlight.

Dani Srbinovich, 13, of Howland, said it takes patience to get the dirt and dust off a horse.

“It really makes the horse more comfortable, especially when you are riding them, to get the dirt off. When you are showing a horse they look shinier and have a much cleaner appearance,” she said.

Riley Pope, 11, of Newton Falls, said it is harder to clean a light-colored horse.

Srbinovich said now that the horses are clean, they will be able to be part of other competitions.

Ariet Dyson, 10, of Warren said cleaning any horse takes time because they are large animals.

“The legs are a lot of work because horses are often dirtier there,” she said.

Machingo said Reno was featured in the Newton Falls July 4 parade and had pale blue and red colorings on his coat.

Sisters Nolana, 13, and Zavina Cruz, 12, competed in the event but were on different teams. Nolana groomed Reno while Zavina groomed Dare.

The two said they like being on different teams.

Hillary McGowan of Randolph, who has been involved with the Portage County Fair and was the grooming event judge, said she looks for teamwork, showmanship and safety.

She said for safety she watches the competitors don’t get behind a horse so they can be kicked during the grooming, including the tail.

“It is important that, during grooming, to not be right behind the horse. That is really important for the groomers. The more experience you have this will become second nature,” McGowan said.

She told the teams to wear long pants and match in attire when they are showing a horse.

“I look for how they groomed the horse and being aware of the horse and their surroundings. With the showing of the horse there is a set pattern, and each teammate has to execute that pattern in three sections. They all did a nice job. The horses really shined,” McGowan said.

Several miniature horses could be seen near the arena pulling small carts.

Also for a fun event, children had the opportunity to dress up smaller animals at the costume fun show.

Delilah Turon, 13, of West Farmington, said she dressed her twin 3-month-old Nigerian dwarf goats as “Thing 1” and “Thing 2” from Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” book.

“I wanted to include both goats in the competition. They don’t mind being dressed up,” she said.

Turon’s goats were popular with the judges and spectators, winning first place for the goat category.

Carlie Easterday of Champion dressed herself and her goat as if they were attending a Hawaiian luau with hula grass skirts.

“She doesn’t mind the costume. She tries to eat the grass. I wanted costumes that were for the summer,” Easterday said of her goat.

Ethan Johnson, 12, of Cortland, dressed a rabbit named Chocolate Chip as a minion, a cartoon character from the popular children’s movie.

Kaitlyn Benton, 13, of Cortland, won first place for her goat Prancer as a farmer, and she was dressed as a haystack.

“He didn’t mind getting dressed up but wanted to eat the hat he had on,” she said.