The Marion Fourth of July Horse Show returned to Washburn Park for its 66^th year. But just because it’s a competition doesn’t mean there wasn’t any horsing around.

Be it their first show or their 31^st, most riders said they weren’t nervous.

Mandy Larrivee, 11, said she was first put on a horse when she was only three months old. Her first competition was at age three.

Since she once had a horse knock her off during one event, Mandy isn't too edgy about showing at competitions.

“He leaned forward, I leaned forward, and then I was on the ground,” said Mandy, a resident of Rehoboth.

Victoria Levesque, 19, also had some drama in the ring as a kid.

“A horse fell on me. It was one of my first shows, and he got excited and nervous. I was little so I just fell off. His legs gave out under him,” said Levesque, now a college student at Keene State College in New Hampshire.

Levesque competed in the Marion show for the first time this year and said it was a good event and “not too big.”

While she enjoys competing, ultimately Levesque said it’s time with her trusty steed that means the most.

“I just like being with the horses. They’re honest and they care no matter what,” she said.

While the event was definitely competitive, there was a little less pressure than in previous years. The horse show committee decided it would not be a rated show this year, which would mean following a more stringent set of guidelines.

Co-manager Debbie Martin said keeping the event more low key allowed the show to have more flexibility as the committee works to get more riders in the competition.

“It had kind of dwindled, and now it is starting to build again,” said Martin, who co-managed the event with Hollie Danhauser.

This year around 75 competitors, some as young as three, took to the ring to show their riding skills and their command of their horse for the all-day show.

Martin also said the committee is always looking for more volunteers to help with the show.