WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP | At about 30 inches tall, Little Bit's name is a perfect fit.

"She's fully grown," Kristy Oates, 16, of Chesterton, said of her miniature horse.

Little Bit and 27 other horses, which top out at 38 inches in height, will take to the arena today for their annual show at the Porter County Fair.

Cheryl Cavin, the project's superintendent, said when fair officials started with a pilot program five years ago to gauge interest, they had about 12 dedicated young people interested in the animals.

"It's basically doubled in size," Cavin said.

While horseback riding isn't an option for the small equines, Cavin said there are still lessons to be learned.

"The No. 1 one thing we try to teach is safety with the animals," Cavin said.

From there, the 4-H'ers learn proper care and grooming techniques. Erin O'Reilly, a member of the pilot group and now one of Cavin's assistants, said members attend educational workshops in the sixth months leading up to the fair.

When they're ready for it, club leaders begin teaching how to show the animals. During the show, the 4-H'ers are able to have some fun with their miniature horses, something that might be a little more difficult with a larger animal.

"They get to dress them up," O'Reilly said. "They dress up the horses and for themselves."

O'Reilly, who grew up living on a 1-acre city lot in Portage, said some miniature horse owners in rural Porter County allow 4-H members to lease the animals and stable space. She said the animal is a good gauge to tell whether someone's ready for a bigger challenge.

"They can get their feet wet with something they're comfortable with," O'Reilly said.

For Kristy Oates and her sister, Kaylee, 13, leasing their miniature horses provides them with an opportunity they might not otherwise have, living in a residential neighborhood.

"Even though we leave them there, we take care of them and their stalls," Kristy Oates said. "They're just so sweet."