from the Harness Horse Youth Foundation

Springfield, IL — What do you call it when an 18-year-old Trottingbred, a couple stakes winning Standardbreds and 180 pre-kindergarten students (plus their parents) gather to horse around at the Springfield Fairgrounds?

It’s called the fourth year of the Giberson Stable hosting Riverton Elementary School’s year-end celebration, and it took place Thursday evening (May 23).

Timothy M. Jones photo

Nick Giberson, assisted by daughter Madeline, jogs HHYF Trottingbred Sweet Karen for some of the 350-plus who attended the Riverton Elementary pre-kindergarten celebration.

Students got a chance to meet horses close-up in their stalls and the Trottingbred Sweet Karen, who has her own Facebook page, was harnessed and showcased in driving demonstration, ably assisted by Nick Giberson and his daughter, Madeline.

Giberson’s wife, Amy, co-ordinated the event, showing the kids video of Fox Valley Camo, a son of Vaporize, winning the Speedy Rodney Stake two weeks ago at Balmoral Park. Amy also bathed Sweet Karen after her spin around the Springfield oval.

Amy Giberson commented, “I would like to thank everyone who helped us with the end of the year celebration for the Riverton Pre K. We had around 350 to 400 people show up for it and everything went so smooth. There is no way we could have pulled it off without such wonderful family and friends. Thank you guys so much, we are so incredibly lucky to have you in our lives.”

This is the second year the Gibersons have been the spring conditioners for Sweet Karen, who is one of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s Trottingbreds, used to educate students across the country at one-day and multi-day events all summer.

The event even drew reporter John Reynolds from the Springfield State Journal-Register, who posted this story.