Triple digit temperatures didn't stop competitors from bringing their best to the final pre-fair horse event at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds Thursday evening.

"This afternoon was the hottest," said Carl Richter, Stanislaus County Fair Horse Department superintendent. "But this is what they do. Horse events are important to the community."

Twenty-five riders competed in the Open Gymkhana event on Thursday, which consisted of speed pattern racing like the pole bending course pictured above.

The horse events began on Sunday with Cutting and Open Cattle classes and ran throughout the week with a variety of classes including both English and Western riding and Quadrille, a team choreographed ride.

For the first time ever, the horse events included carriage driving classes.