When Gwen Weaver crinkled the cellophane wrapper on a peppermint candy, Goat’s ears perked up and he anxiously awaited his treat.

Goat, her horse, knew exactly what Weaver, 16, of Hebron, was giving him. It was not one of the normal training snacks to which he was accustomed. This was special. Goat knows the telltale sound of a wrapper being removed. This was peppermint. And, well, horses like peppermint.

“He’s obsessed,” Weaver laughed. Goat is one of 31 horses housed at M&K Equestrian in Wheatfield, where Weaver and her mom, Cathy, were decorating a stable for the center’s annual holiday stable decorating contest.

They were attaching candy canes to their display to represent just how much Goat — and his equine companions — enjoy the occasional piece of peppermint candy.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Gwen said. Cathy Weaver said it has been neat participating in the contest year after year. “You get ideas from each other.”

The equestrian center has been a welcome respite for her daughter, Cathy Weaver said. When school went virtual in the spring, Gwen — who she describes as a social butterfly — was struggling with the isolation.

Many of the school activities she participated in, such as track, had no season. The horse shows she routinely attends to show off her English riding skills each year also were canceled.

“She would tell me, ‘At least I have the barn,’’’ Cathy Weaver said.

Kris Jones, who owns M&K Equestrian with her husband, Matt, said the center shut down the first six weeks of the pandemic, but has been operating since. Jones said she lost more than half her clients after the initial closure, but since reopening she has noticed an increase. With an indoor arena and a couple outdoor arenas, there is plenty of room for participants to spread out.

“Some came back, but the balance are new. People are looking for stuff to do during the pandemic,” she said. Between 50 and 60 kids from the five-county Northwest Indiana region come to the center each week for lessons.

Jones said the decorating contest has been going on for about six years and is something fun for the kids to do. Previously the owners or lessors of the horse would decorate their own horses stable. This is the first year the contest was opened up to the center’s clients who come for classes but don’t own their own horse.

“Every year it gets a little bigger,” Jones said.

At stake are bragging rights for the chance to have their decorations selected by popular vote from the public. Photographs of the stables are on the center’s Facebook page where the public can go to vote.

“We don’t vote or help. I feel it is a little more fair,” Jones said. Voting is open to the public. Participants are encouraged to share pictures as often as they wish. Only like, love and cares on the center’s Facebook page, not the participants, will count toward voting.

Rachel Reinboldt, of Kouts, and her daughters Mackenzie, 7, and Keira, 5, were decorating a stable. Mackenzie has been riding horses since she was a toddler.

“She took her first ride at 6 months,” Reinboldt said. Keira recently started showing interest, Reinboldt said.

“I like it a lot,” Mackenzie said. I was in my first show and a got a ribbon, and my sister got a trophy and I got a trophy.”

Reinboldt said being able to take the girls to the barn during the pandemic has helped burn off some of their energy.

Mackenzie proudly showed off the holiday pictures she and Kiera colored that were destined for the stable door.

“It’s fun,” she said.

To see the decorated stables, visit M&K Equestrian on Facebook.

Carrie Napoleon is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.