MONROE - If there is any relationship closer than a boy and his dog, it's a girl and her horse.
Eleanor Nesimoglu, Monroe, has been showing her Arabian horses through the 4-H exhibitions at the Green County Fair since she was 9 years old.
"Set high goals, but don't get mad or worried if you don't succeed at first," she advises new 4-H members. "Sometimes you just have to have fun and wing it."
Two years ago, Nesimoglu took first in English Equitation and went to the state 4-H Equine Expo at the Milwaukee fairgrounds.
Now at age 16, she has advanced once again. One of the 22 riders selected from all over the state, Nesimoglu and the Arabian horse she calls Junior will compete at the Wisconsin State Fair Champions Challenge on Aug. 10.
She and Junior are the only team from Green County participating.
To qualify for the Challenge, she competed last September in the 21st Annual Wisconsin State 4-H Gymkhana in West Allis. The event measures good sportsmanship and horsemanship.
She and Junior took Top 10 in Speed and Action and in the Key Race, which required Junior to stop within a designated area. Plus, they took two reserve championships in barrel racing and LT Special.
While she prepares for Champions Challenge competition, Nesimoglu is getting ready to show two other Arabians at the Green County Fair, July 22-26 in Monroe.
Woogie and Zeppelin were born on the family farm, and have grown up with Nesimoglu.
Woogie, now 8, will show in the English Equitation (horsemanship). He will get his tail and main braided, and Nesimoglu will be dressed in the traditional English attire, mounted on an English saddle.
Zeppelin, 12 hands high and only 3 years old, goes to the county fair this year for Nesimoglu to exhibit her ability to show him on a western halter.
He is just getting used to the atmosphere of the fairs and the rodeos, and Nesimoglu has him watching and following as she trains with Junior. But he has done well at clinics, which she is required to attend to qualify to show at the Green County Fair.
"He's a young guy," Nesimoglu said with a smile.
She hopes to train Zeppelin for barrel racing, saving Junior for the poles.
"Junior is now getting so old, he gets tired," she said.
"Woogie's too lazy for the rodeo," she said with a slight roll of her eyes.
Although most people would assume horsemen train their horses, Nesimoglu takes a slightly different approach.
"Build trust with your horse and don't give up. Listen to your horse - sometimes your horse is right," she said.
Nesimoglu acquired Junior about eight years ago at an auction, saving him from an untimely end to his life.
Junior has been teaching Nesimoglu more about riding and racing than anyone else in her life.
"He taught me everything," she said.
The second time she rode Junior, she nudged him to cantor; he bolted instead. That's when she realized he was trained for barrel racing.
"Junior took off on me and weaved around trees ... it was kind of cute when it happened," she said with a little laugh.
Since then he has taught her other classes of riding.
"He led me through the steps," she said. "He really loves doing it."
What's more, Nesimoglu has learned some life lessons from Junior, Woogie and Zeppelin.
Junior is an Arabian among Quarter horses at western rodeos and shows, "but he just struts around and doesn't let anyone make him feel out of place," she said.
She passed that advice on to new riders.
"If people talk (badly) about you, it's just because they're jealous. They may have a really expensive horse, but you have your little pony that you have a connection with," she said. "I feel safer on Woogie's back than anywhere; I trust him."
Eleanor Nesimoglu, Monroe, has been showing her Arabian horses through the 4-H exhibitions at the Green County Fair since she was 9 years old.
"Set high goals, but don't get mad or worried if you don't succeed at first," she advises new 4-H members. "Sometimes you just have to have fun and wing it."
Two years ago, Nesimoglu took first in English Equitation and went to the state 4-H Equine Expo at the Milwaukee fairgrounds.
Now at age 16, she has advanced once again. One of the 22 riders selected from all over the state, Nesimoglu and the Arabian horse she calls Junior will compete at the Wisconsin State Fair Champions Challenge on Aug. 10.
She and Junior are the only team from Green County participating.
To qualify for the Challenge, she competed last September in the 21st Annual Wisconsin State 4-H Gymkhana in West Allis. The event measures good sportsmanship and horsemanship.
She and Junior took Top 10 in Speed and Action and in the Key Race, which required Junior to stop within a designated area. Plus, they took two reserve championships in barrel racing and LT Special.
While she prepares for Champions Challenge competition, Nesimoglu is getting ready to show two other Arabians at the Green County Fair, July 22-26 in Monroe.
Woogie and Zeppelin were born on the family farm, and have grown up with Nesimoglu.
Woogie, now 8, will show in the English Equitation (horsemanship). He will get his tail and main braided, and Nesimoglu will be dressed in the traditional English attire, mounted on an English saddle.
Zeppelin, 12 hands high and only 3 years old, goes to the county fair this year for Nesimoglu to exhibit her ability to show him on a western halter.
He is just getting used to the atmosphere of the fairs and the rodeos, and Nesimoglu has him watching and following as she trains with Junior. But he has done well at clinics, which she is required to attend to qualify to show at the Green County Fair.
"He's a young guy," Nesimoglu said with a smile.
She hopes to train Zeppelin for barrel racing, saving Junior for the poles.
"Junior is now getting so old, he gets tired," she said.
"Woogie's too lazy for the rodeo," she said with a slight roll of her eyes.
Although most people would assume horsemen train their horses, Nesimoglu takes a slightly different approach.
"Build trust with your horse and don't give up. Listen to your horse - sometimes your horse is right," she said.
Nesimoglu acquired Junior about eight years ago at an auction, saving him from an untimely end to his life.
Junior has been teaching Nesimoglu more about riding and racing than anyone else in her life.
"He taught me everything," she said.
The second time she rode Junior, she nudged him to cantor; he bolted instead. That's when she realized he was trained for barrel racing.
"Junior took off on me and weaved around trees ... it was kind of cute when it happened," she said with a little laugh.
Since then he has taught her other classes of riding.
"He led me through the steps," she said. "He really loves doing it."
What's more, Nesimoglu has learned some life lessons from Junior, Woogie and Zeppelin.
Junior is an Arabian among Quarter horses at western rodeos and shows, "but he just struts around and doesn't let anyone make him feel out of place," she said.
She passed that advice on to new riders.
"If people talk (badly) about you, it's just because they're jealous. They may have a really expensive horse, but you have your little pony that you have a connection with," she said. "I feel safer on Woogie's back than anywhere; I trust him."