BARNESVILLE, Minn. - Mallory Greiff left no doubt about her plans.
"I'm going to race next year," the 6-year-old said proudly during this year's Clay County Fair, which opened Thursday and runs through Sunday in Barnesville.
The fair offers many opportunities for family fun. It has a large midway full of rides, an exhibit hall for local crafters and farmers, livestock exhibitions, and lots of food. One of the big draws is the Clay County 4-H Horse Show.
"My favorite thing to do is gallop, and now I don't use a lead. I ride all by myself," she said smiling. For Mallory, her love of horses runs deep in her family.
Her mother, Sarah Greiff of Downer, has been showing horses for years and competes for money through the National Barrel Horse Association. She competed in the Clay County Fair races when she was a girl.
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"It's good for the kids," she said. "When we were little, we were always running around having water fights. It gives them a lot of nice memories."
The horse show has a variety of children's competitions, such as barrel racing, pole bending, Western Pleasure and Western Heritage.
Brooklyn Spencer, 12, trained her horse, Richard.
"Richard and I are good because we have a great connection," Spencer said. "He is friendly, doesn't kick or bite, and he loves licorice."
Karin Kirkey's daughter, 13-year-old Tessa, loves to compete with her horse. Tessa is battling cerebral palsy.
"If she hadn't started riding horses so young, she wouldn't have been as good as she is now," Kirkey said. "It really helps her. I love this group."
"It gets in their blood," said Pat Herman of RDO Equipment in Holly. "Once a horse girl, always a horse girl."
His 10-year-old daughter, Tess, and her horse, Star, love to barrel race. Star is a "goofy horse," according to Herman, who also loves to prank new riders by spinning.
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As if on cue, the mahogany horse with a star on her forehead flipped her upper lip back and appeared to grin.
Readers can reach reporter Stephanie Fail at (701) 235-7311
