ANDOVER — Admission is free at two horse shows Saturday and Sunday, July 21 and 22, at the Ellis River Riders grounds at 78 Airport Road off Route 5.

Saturday’s Gymkhana Game Show and Lobster/Chicken BBQ features amateur and professional riders from across the region competing in various classes.

The show, which starts at 9 a.m., features a game show with fast and fun games for all ages and abilities, barrel racing and pole bending, and much more, Deb Cayer of the Ellis River Riders said Tuesday in a news release.

Then starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, the Ellis River Riders will host a National Barrel Horse Association Maine District 01 show. Some of these riders, Cayer said, will qualify for the NBHA World Championships on Oct. 27 through Nov. 3 in Perry, Ga.

“Don’t miss the chance to come and watch some of the fastest horses in the state compete,” Cayer said.

She said some of the riders competing to qualify for the world championships ride in the Youth, Senior and Open divisions.

“So you’d see young teens to 17 and some competitors in their 50s or older,” she said.

The class lists include:

* Exhibition Barrels (unlimited entries), which is like a practice class.

* 3-D Barrels (open to any age rider).

* Youth 3-D Barrels (18 years old and younger).

* Senior 3-D Barrels (50 years old and older).                          

* 3-D Jackpot Barrels (first-place winners place).                                       

* Single Pole (open to all riders).                              

* Exhibition Pole Bending (same rules as class 2).                        

* 2-D Pole Bending Open (National Pole Bending Association sanctioned).            

* Youth 2-D Pole Bending.

All events are timed electronically to the thousandth of a second, Cayer said.

“Fastest times win,” she said. “They pay back money from the entries to the top horses in each class, which gives a rider the opportunity to make some money.”

Spectators are welcome at both events.

The food booth will be serving until afternoon and there’s picnic-table seating in the shade to enjoy your meals, Cayer said.

At 5 p.m. Saturday night, there will be a barbecue. Tickets were sold in advance and limited meals will be available at the door.

“The Ellis River Riders strives to offer a fun, inexpensive venue for families to enjoy,” Cayer said.

“They host horse shows all season from May through October and invite area residents and visitors to check out the action.”

For more information, visit www.ellisriverriders.com or call Deb at 392-2381. The National Barrel Horse Association can be found  at www.nbha.com.

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