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Showers, thunderstorms possible this weekend

<p>BENTON &#8212;Sitting astride her horse as she awaited their turn in a timed event called the Keyhole, 18-year-old Sara Hess of Benton explained there was no way she and Hershey could expect to win.</p><p>&#8220;Sometimes he runs,&#8221; she said with a laugh. &#8220;Sometimes he&#8217;s a little bit slower. He&#8217;s really laid back.&#8221;</p><p>Hess, who lives on a dairy farm and rides for relaxation, explained, &#8220;We&#8217;re just doing this for fun.&#8221;</p><p>That was a popular sentiment Tuesday evening, as the 31st annual Benton Rodeo/Frontier Days celebration got under way with a &#8220;Fun Horse Show&#8221; at the rodeo grounds in this rural community 30 miles west of Wilkes-Barre. Admission was free that opening night and riders competed only for bragging rights.</p><p>The rodeo continues through July 19, with professionals from all over the country expected to show off their finesse at roping calves, riding bulls and keeping their seat on a bronco &#8212; with or without a saddle.</p><p>&#8220;Just the intensity&#8221; of all those events is a reason to keep coming back to the rodeo, said Kyla McKim, 15, a Lancaster County resident who is attending a horse camp at nearby Hidden Hollow Farm this summer with her cousin, Katie Yorks, 17, of Benton.</p><p>For Tuesday&#8217;s &#8220;Fun Horse Show&#8221; events, which included a barrel race in addition to the Keyhole, McKim rode a palomino she called Sotally Tober (instead of Totally Sober, get it?) while Yorks rode a bay named Doc. Like many of the other participants, the girls are in their teens.</p><p>But suddenly a very tiny person rode a horse into the arena to tackle the Keyhole.</p><p>The small rider pulled back on the reins at one point and the horse obediently backed up, but it was too much backing up when the horse and rider should have been moving in the other direction.</p><p>When her turn was over 4-year-old Kayleigh Silverstein, whose legs seemed to barely extend past the saddle, listened to her grandmother, Kathy Silverstein of Huntington Mills, explain what she could do better next time.</p><p>&#8220;You should have leaned forward, not back,&#8221; Silverstein told the girl, one of several grandchildren she had in the competition.</p><p>At age 4, Kayleigh wasn&#8217;t even the youngest rider in the show, or the family. &#8220;My other grandchild, Kohen, is 3,&#8221; Silverstein said.</p><p>Just how early do they start riding?</p><p>&#8220;When they&#8217;re in their mommy&#8217;s belly,&#8221; Silverstein said matter-of-factly, turning her attention to her 7-year-old grandson Sawyer Keller, who asked her to hold the reins of his horse, Drifter, for him.</p><p>Noting her other grandchildren had already handed her the reins attached to Sugarface and Dusty, Silverstein asked: &#8220;How long am I supposed to hold all three of them? Hurry back.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Junior riders Katie McCue of Noxen, left, and Carey-Anne Keiper and Kassie Keiper, both of Lehman, sit on their horses waiting to enter the stadium during the &#8216;Fun Horse Show&#8217; on the Benton Rodeo Grounds. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo01.jpg</photo0><caption0>Junior riders Katie McCue of Noxen, left, and Carey-Anne Keiper and Kassie Keiper, both of Lehman, sit on their horses waiting to enter the stadium during the &#8216;Fun Horse Show&#8217; on the Benton Rodeo Grounds. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Fancy braiding adds a touch of style to a horse&#8217;s mane at the Benton Rodeo. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo02.jpg</photo1><caption1>Fancy braiding adds a touch of style to a horse&#8217;s mane at the Benton Rodeo. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo03.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Junior riders wait their turns to enter the stadium and compete in a timed event called the Keyhole, which involves riding a horse straight out into the arena, turning around and riding out again. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo03.jpg</photo2><caption2>Junior riders wait their turns to enter the stadium and compete in a timed event called the Keyhole, which involves riding a horse straight out into the arena, turning around and riding out again. </caption2><photoCredit2>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo04.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">7-year-old Sawyer Keller and his horse, Drifter, compete in a timed event during the Tuesday evening &#8216;Fun Horse Show&#8217; that served as a prelude of sorts to the championship events at the Benton Rodeo in Benton. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo04.jpg</photo3><caption3>7-year-old Sawyer Keller and his horse, Drifter, compete in a timed event during the Tuesday evening &#8216;Fun Horse Show&#8217; that served as a prelude of sorts to the championship events at the Benton Rodeo in Benton. </caption3><photoCredit3>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo05.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Junior rider Jodie Salansky of Dallas and her fellow competitors watch a riders&#8217; exhibition in the stadium at the Benton Rodeo. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo05.jpg</photo4><caption4>Junior rider Jodie Salansky of Dallas and her fellow competitors watch a riders&#8217; exhibition in the stadium at the Benton Rodeo. </caption4><photoCredit4>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo06.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Junior rider Newt Rankin loses his cowboy hat while riding Uno. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo06.jpg</photo5><caption5>Junior rider Newt Rankin loses his cowboy hat while riding Uno. </caption5><photoCredit5>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo07.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kathy Silverstein of Huntington Mills keeps an eye on her grandchildren as one of them, Kayleigh Silverstein, waits to enter the arena for her ride. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_rodeo07.jpg</photo6><caption6>Kathy Silverstein of Huntington Mills keeps an eye on her grandchildren as one of them, Kayleigh Silverstein, waits to enter the arena for her ride. </caption6><photoCredit6>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Bronco, bull riding on tap for weekend</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong>By Mary Therese Biebel</strong></p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>IF YOU GO</strong></p><p><strong>What:</strong> Benton Rodeo and Frontier Days Celebration</p><p><strong>Where:</strong> Rodeo Grounds, Rodeo Grounds, 385 Mendenhall Lane, Benton.</p><p><strong>When:</strong> Through July 19 with main events at 7:30 p.m.</p><p><strong>Tickets:</strong> for main events are $15 for adults, $12 for children and seniors; $10 for active military personnel</p><p><strong>Info:</strong> bentonrodeo.com or 570-925-6536.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT</p></shirttailMeta></div>

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‘Fun Horse Show’ opens Benton Rodeo/Frontier Days; bull riding and bronco riding on tap for weekend