BELMONT — Two horse shows are coming to Belmont County next weekend.

The Belmont County Saddle Club in partnership with the International Barrel Racing Association will host a horse show on July 22 in Belmont, and the Belmont County Agricultural Society will host a horse show on July 23 at the Belmont County Fairgrounds.

Belmont County Saddle Club 2023 Pole and Barrel Show will kick off with the exhibition at 5 p.m., and the show will begin at 7 p.m.

The competition will have eight categories for different age groups. Three pole events will take place: pee wee poles for ages 10 and under, youth poles for ages 11-18 and open poles for ages 19 and older.

Five barrel competitions will also be held during the event: pee wee barrels for ages 10 and under, IBRA open 3D barrels for all ages, IBRA youth 3D barrels for ages 18 and under, IBRA masters 3D barrels for ages 40 and over and IBRA adult 3D barrels for ages 19-39.

The Belmont County Saddle Club is located at 41915 National Road in Belmont.

Exhibitors under the age of 18 must wear a helmet to compete.

The Belmont County Saddle Club will not tolerate any animal abuse.

Those who attend the event are welcome to bring pets, but they must be kept on a leash at all times.

The show will be held weather permitting.

For more information about this show, visit the Belmont County Saddle Club Facebook page or call 740-296-8958.

On July 23, the Belmont County Agricultural Society will host a horse show as part of the 2023 Fun Horse Show Summer Series.

The show will start at 9 a.m. and will consist of the following categories: bareback dollar, hot 2 trot, pee wee relay race, walk/trot relay race, open relay race, egg & spoon, pee wee crepe paper race, walk/trot crepe paper race, open crepe paper race, pee wee flag race, walk/trot flag race, open flag race, bribe your hayburner, pee wee boxed keyhole, walk/trot boxed keyhole, open boxed keyhole, pee wee hanky race, walk/trot hanky race, open hanky race, pee wee cloverleaf barrels, walk/trot cloverleaf barrels, open cloverleaf barrels, and a mystery class.

Cowgirl Country Fixins will have a concession stand at the event serving breakfast and lunch.

The Belmont County Fairgrounds is located at 45420 Roscoe Road in St. Clairsville.

All proceeds from this event will go toward the funding of future Fun Shows at the Belmont County Fairgrounds and to the Belmont County Fairgrounds Horse Barn’s maintenance and upgrades.

The event will be rain or shine, and if lightning occurs, there will be a brief intermission until it is deemed safe to continue.

The Belmont County Agricultural Society will also host horse shows on Aug. 20 and Sept. 17 as part of its Fun Horse Show Summer Series.

For more information about this show, visit the Belmont County Fair Facebook page or call 304-780-4336.

Riders under the age of 18 must wear a helmet to compete in both shows.