Staff photo / Bob Coupland Kaitlyn Fisher of Vienna, a former student in the equestrian program at Trumbull Career and Technical Center in Champion, rides a horse named Weavers Bit of Love at a recent horse show at the arena by the new barn building that opened this year. Fisher visits with Edward Martin of Lordstown, left, who runs Family Farm and Home in Warren, and Dani Srbinovich, a junior from Howland, who is in he equestrian program.

CHAMPION — Students recently hosted their first horse show since an extensive $2.2 million construction and remodeling project and upgrades to the equestrian program building and property at Trumbull Career and Technical Center.

The show was in September and allowed participants to see the new barn and other property features.

Lisa Street, equestrian program instructor and show organizer, said she was very impressed by the work the students did for the first show since none could take place during the remodeling and new construction in 2024 and 2025.

“We have had the outdoor arena for more than five years and have started the horse shows back up. I have always wanted to be able to have an outdoor horse show here,” Street said.

Street said the show included different classes to allow children and adults to take part.

She said the riders enjoy showing their horses.

“We try to gear this to an English and western-style horse show. We want people who come here to see a variety of different horses competing in different classes,” Street said.

All proceeds from the show benefit the equestrian program, with funds used to buy materials and equipment.

Street said when the judges look at the horses, they look at the horse’s rhythm and movement, the rider’s position and the performance of the horse.

Some of the horses were former racing horses that now take part in shows.

Street said the show had more than 50 horses competing.

FORMER EQUINE STUDENTS

Former students attended the show and saw for the first time the new barn and remodeled buildings.

Tabitha Sargent of Windham, who graduated from the equestrian program in 2010, said she now works as a horse trainer in Ohio and she was impressed with the new larger barn and other improvements.

“The new barn is awesome. I learned so much from Lisa. She is so knowledgeable. When I was here, I was young and after being in her program I wanted to pursue a career with horses,” Sargent said.

Street said hosting the open horse shows is part of the curriculum.and the competencies the students are learning in class. The event also is a fundraiser for the program.

She said the students work the shows in different ways.

“They learn all that is involved in holding a show and giving out prizes. They had to go and get sponsors for the prizes. They planned what classes they wanted the horse to compete in, They get to learn all that is involved to run an actual horse show,” Street said.

Emma Seidle, a junior from Joseph Badger High School in Kinsman, said it is a lot of work to plan the show, but it also is fun.

“I saw what the old barn looked like when I came here for career day. I have had classes in the new barn,” said Seidle, whose duties at the show were working the gate to the arena and helping the arena crew where needed.

Former student Vince Bailey of Newton Falls said the equine program is much different than when he was in the program. He said he remembers being a deejay for a show. He said after completing the program, he decided to join the Navy.

“This program did teach me patience when working with others, and also being able to have confidence when doing your work and riding,” Bailey said.

Former student Madison Kagy of Kinsman said she came back since a relative is now in the equine program.

Olivia Koehrsen, a paraprofessional who was in the equine program in 2021, said it is exciting for the students to be able to have a show since the remodeling work was done. The new barn, which is heated, was completed early last summer.

The new $2.2 million equestrian barn was completed and opened in 2025. It replaced the school’s old pole barn facility, offering a significant upgrade for students in the equine studies program.

The new facility includes a dedicated classroom space, which allows for more streamlined instruction by keeping all learning under one roof.

The center has 12 permanent horse stalls, heated spaces, restrooms and a locker room. It also features an indoor riding arena and indoor and outdoor washing and grooming stations.

The new building is handicapped-accessible and provides better facilities for both students and the horses.