BLOOMINGTON - Rachel Berg, 14, of Bloomington admits she gets nervous when she shows her pony. | Photo gallery

But she tries to smile and hold her four-legged friend steady. After all, she has to be calm and confident to help her pony, Missy.

The animals get nervous, too.

"My pony was antsy during the championships," said Berg, a Big Dreams 4-H member. "You have to keep telling them to calm down."

Meanwhile, Morgan Marquis, 12, of Covell, wasn't sure how her miniature horse, Skittles, would place in the championship round after coming in second in his class at the McLean County Fair on Friday.

"He was being really kind of crazy," said Marquis, a member of Olympia Pacesetters. "He was just kind of scared. … He was just fidgeting."

Their words of encouragement - Marquis would say, "Whoa," to calm her miniature - must have done the trick.

Berg's pony was named the grand champion of the Stock Halter Championships for Mules, Ponies, Donkeys and Miniatures at Bloomington's Interstate Center. Marquis' miniature received reserve grand champion honors.

Twenty-two 4-H members competed in four classes for mules, ponies, donkeys and miniatures with the first- and second-place class winners advancing to the championship round.

Participants' animals were judged for their physical attributes, such as leg positions, muscles and the slopes of their shoulders, said Superintendent Russ Derango. Judges also watch the animals walk and trot and see how they're groomed, Derango said.

Halter classes are judged strictly on the animal, Derango said. But it's also up to the handlers to hide their creatures' weaknesses and put emphasis on their strengths, he said.

Berg was confident she could place high with her pony - so called because of its shorter height below 56 inches, among other characteristics. She received grand champion honors a couple of years ago, too. Marquis also is experienced in the halter competition. She has shown her miniature - which has the same characteristics as a horse but is less than 41 inches - four times.

Bob Barling, 17, of Normal, has eight years of show experience with his horse, but this was the first year he competed with a mule, Fancy Cadillac.

The Blazing Saddles member liked the fact that he would stand out from having something different to exhibit.

"It's what I do best," Barling said. "I would have the only mule."

Indeed, he received first place in the mule class as the only participant and advanced to the championship round. The judge liked the way the mule stood, but the fact that Fancy Cadillac wouldn't trot might be why he received a B rating.

Still, Barling was pleased with his mule's performance. He's only worked with her three times, and he'll be back again next year.