The Sherburne County Fair starts this week, and kids from different 4-H clubs are preparing for all their events. The Happy Hoofbeats 4-H Club in Becker is known for horses, but a new trend has been growing in popularity in recent years - miniature horses. “Miniature horses have only been showing for the last four years,” says Sarah Kolbinger, 4-H leader for the Happy Hoofbeats. “Our club has tripled since this time last year.”
During a practice session Sunday at the Kolbinger place in Becker, 10 kids were training with their miniature horses, going around cones, up ramps and getting used to leading the horses.
“The kids are getting experience in a number of events - obstacles, jumping, trotting, showmanship...” says Kolbinger. “We’ve been doing this a few times a week. They started with grooming, warmup, now obstacles. Since we’re getting closer to the fair, we’re letting them choose the ones they know they have to work on.”
Kolbinger says miniature horses are perfect for beginners because of their size.
“The kids are not afraid. These horses are great with little kids,” she says. “It’s a good way for kids to get used to horses without a lot of intimidation.”
The kids are working on as many obstacles as they can to make sure they’re prepared for actual competition.
“They don’t know what’s going to be there at the fair. It’s going to be a surprise course with six to eight obstacles they may have never seen before,” says Kolbinger.
“And the horses have to go through calmly.”
Many of the kids haven’t shown miniature horses before. But they’ll get their chance this week.
“The kids are pretty excited,” says Kolbinger.
Sydney Jordan of Big Lake will also be at the fair, but not with miniature horses. She’ll be competing in a number of events with her regular size horses.
In her ninth county fair, Sydney’s horse project schedule includes the Pleasure classes - showmanship, English Pleasure, Western Pleasure, horsemanship, trail, Figure 8, barrels, pole weaving and keyholes.
“Plus a Friday night fun show,” she says.
But Sydney will be spending a lot more time at the fair for non-horse events. She’s also entering an assortment of projects, including flower gardening, vegetable gardening indoor gardening, textiles, photography, needlepoint and food projects.
For the food preservation project she canned jam, pickles, pickled banana peppers and peach butter.
She made two horse show shirts and a horse sleezy.
“It goes over the horse’s neck after you bathe them so they don’t get dirty for a show,” she says.
Sydney is no stranger to doing multiple projects for the fair. One year she had more than 50 projects.
“I had a horse and a dog that year,” she says.
She also has done a food review project.
“You prepare a whole menu - a five-course meal and bring in a place setting,” she says. “It’s judged on presentation.”
Sydney is appropriately a member of the Busy Bees 4-H Club, and “busy” seems to be her middle name.
“She’s home-schooled,” says her mother, Vicki. “That probably helps.”
Sydney’s week at the fair starts Tuesday when all her projects are due.
The fair starts Thursday at 8 a.m. for the general public.
