WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | Horses and the fair go together like a corn dog and mustard.

Saturday, as the Porter County Fair wound down to its final hours, 4-H members participated in one of the more unusual shows and competitions of the 10-day event.

Branden Workman, a member of the Christian Haven Eagles 4-H Club of Wheatfield, worked with Charlie, putting him through his paces around the show ring during the 4-H Miniature Equine Show.

Branden likes Charlie, he said, because he's cooperative.

"Its hard to show the bigger ones because they are stubborn," Branden said of the difference between a horse that would tower above his 11-year-old shoulders and a miniature horse who's head stood just about as high as his handler's.

"He's very cooperative and he always listens. He always learns," said Branden.

It's the third year for the miniature horses and donkeys show at the fair. The animals, along with their owners, are put through the paces in the daylong event. Class events ranged from showmanship to jumping to obstacle courses to pulling small carts.

It was the second year Brittany Jeleniewski, 13, of the Washington Wiz Kids of Washington Township, entered Regal in the competition. Last year he was the grand champion miniature gelding.

"I don't think he's going to do so good this year," she said as she stroked a tuft of his mane. Seems Brittany's sister's horse had sheared a bit of Regal's mane with a bite to the neck.

For Kate Gorski, 10, it was the first year she took Shotsie into the competition. She and her family, of Valparaiso, usually show regular horse.

"It just looked cool and my friend had one. They're so cute," she said, adding working with the horse an hour a day for the last year had paid off. By mid-afternoon the duo had earned an A ribbon in showmanship and a fourth place in the jumping class.