Staff photo / Bob Coupland
Melanie Clero of Hubbard, and formerly of California, with her horse Piper, prepares for the competition at the Brookfield Saddle Club, which is marking more than 75 years of hosting shows.

This weekend, the club is hosting a show at its five-acre site at 696 Bedford Road.

Melanie Clero of Hubbard, who formerly lived in California, was among those showcasing her horse. Clero, who has five horses — including a stallion that has been a championship winner — said she was riding Piper, a young female horse for the show.

“I showed her in California in the regional championships. I am getting her back into showing,” Clero said. “I enjoy spending time with my horse and getting to meet so many great people at the shows. I have met so many nice people with horses over the years.”

She said compared to California, the Ohio horse shows are smaller and feature all breeds while the California shows are bigger and limited to certain breeds.

Marilyn Lechner of Hermitage, Pa,, said she likes watching the competitions and can appreciate what the owners go through to get their horses prepared for the shows. Lechner is Clero’s sister.

With Lechner and Clero was their 100-year-old mother, Myrtle Giroski of Hermitage, who also came to see the show.

“For years, she and my dad would come to the shows faithfully with Melanie. They always watched Melanie compete. She has been pretty excited to be able to come and see her,” Lechner said.

Tina Babnis, a club member, said the club started in 1947.

She has been a member since she was 12 and would ride a pony for the shows.

“We have been around for more than 75 years because of the popularity of riding. There are people who have been riders for a long time. As kids, we grew up here showing our horses and being with the saddle club. We still have lots of people showing horses,” Babnis said.

Connie Swartz, a club member, said the number of participants has been great.

“We are the only horse club that actually owns its own grounds statewide. Many clubs have to rent places,” Swartz said.

She said riding is very relaxing and allows her to spend time with family and friends.

“It is a lot of hard work and commitment,” Swartz said.

Babnis said riding keeps teenagers on track in a positive way and teaches them responsibility.

Each year, there are two point shows with scoring and two fun shows with no scoring and riders and horses dressed up. There is one driving show where people have their horses go through cones and obstacles that are set up in a ring.

For the 75th year, the club featured special awards and a celebration.

“Our shows have nostalgia because they have been going on for so long,” Babins said.

Babnis said she was a club member starting at 11 riding her pony with several friends who have been riding for many years from childhood into adulthood.

“This was part of our growing up,” Babnis said.

The club hosts a show or event one weekend per month June through October. Club meetings take place at the Bedford location as well.

Tammy Winklevoss of Mercer, Pa., is glad a special weekend starting at 10 a.m. Oct. 5 is planned in memory of her mother, Ellen Reid, a club member who died earlier this year.

“This was my mother’s life. When we were kids, we grew up on these grounds. My mom and us girls were a horseman show family,” Winklevoss said.

She said she remembers when her photo would be in the newspaper from the fun shows when she brought ponies.

She said being a club member has been like having a lifelong family.

Dr. Holly Ray of Brookfield competed with her horse in the halter category with all horse breeds and then separate competitions with the breed classes.

“The best part of being here is being able to spend time with my show family. You become good friends with people over the years. It is a friendly competition. You also get to see beautiful horses,” Ray said. “Over the years you really get to know people well because we are all in the same circuit.”

Ray’s mother, Kathleen Ray of Greenville, Pa., said she has shown mini-horses, which she said are not ponies, but miniature horses.

“We come with Holly to shows to watch her,” she said.

Kathleen Ray said one of the mini-horses has won many ribbons.

“I show for fun. These shows are always fun,” she said.

The shows are open to the public. Food and a basket raffle also will be available.