HERMISTON – Brightly colored flags snap in the wind as a somberly clad rider approaches the center of a riding arena.

She bows her head in salute to the judge, urging her horse forward as a quiet voice outlines an intricate set of maneuvers.

This is dressage, a carefully outlined method of training that forms just one portion of the annual 4-H Horse Show taking place at the Umatilla County Fairgrounds Friday and today.

Riders compete in three separate age divisions, juniors (fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade students), intermediates (seventh-, eighth- and ninth-grade) and seniors (high school sophomores, juniors and seniors). All of the dozen riders competing are members of the local 4-H horse programs, which meet once each week but also put in additional time training privately.

“Most of the people competing here do additional dressage training,” said Jan Patton, 4-H leader. “In Umatilla County the kids are very competitive.”

Although dressage has many levels, the most familiar being the elaborate Prix St. George seen at the Olympics, today these riders are competing in the training and first-level categories. Each rider is hoping to receive the 58-percent score required to move on to state competition.

Most of the riders choose to have a “reader” who calls out the maneuvers required in their test. The 40-meter by 30-meter area designated for each three- to five-minute test is surrounded by a low white fence marked periodically with large letters. As each horse and rider team makes its way around the ring, the reader calls out the maneuver necessary at the next marked letter.

The riders often know the required patterns by heart but like the freedom to focus on each portion of the test without the worry of forgetting the order in which the maneuvers are required, said Dawn Wagoner, dressage superintendent for the local clubs.

The riders competing today are mounted on horses whose breeds are generally associated with other types of riding, such as Pintos, quarter horses and Appaloosas. Most of these riders also will compete in other disciplines, including driving, western and English pleasure classes, something the 4-H program leaders encourage.

“We advocate that they try to do everything,” Wagoner said. “Dressage is a system of training. It will enhance and improve their western as well.”

Mary Patton of Pendleton is one exhibitor who came to the show to compete in several different events. She and her horse, Barley, will go through their paces in the dressage ring and then Patton will change gears and horses to compete in the driving competition.

Patton has been competing in the driving division for about two years, starting and training her Morgan Mare, Star, herself.

“It takes a lot to get them trained,” Patton said. “There’s a lot to it.”

Patton started the process by working with the mare with just the harness, progressing to using PVC pipe to accustom her to the shafts, and then finally hooking her to the cart. During the Friday show, she and Star were asked to drive a course around and through various obstacles, including a figure-eight and a zig-zag pattern.

The 4-H horse show continues today with both Western and English events taking place all day.