Meet-and-greet with horses, riders slated Friday prior to Arabian show

By Jacob Belgum
jbelgum@wctrib.com
WILLMAR - For the first time, the public will be allowed to meet and greet horses and their riders Friday before the Minn-I-Kota Arabian Horse Association’s annual two-day show Saturday and Sunday at the Kandiyohi County Fairgrounds in Willmar.
The meet-and-greet will last from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday and will give people the chance to see horses closer than many ever have.
“It’s just going to be something for the whole family to come out … and ask questions and learn about the horses,” said Rae Ann Bartz, the association’s president and show manager. “They’re wonderful animals for kids to be involved with and experience.”
While it is open to anyone, the meet-and-greet is kid-centric, with activities such as wooden horse painting and coloring contests. Some horses will be dressed in costumes modeling ancient Arabia, and attendees may don available costumes of a similar time period and take a picture while perched on the horse. Arabian horses are the oldest known breed of riding horse.
“So many kids these days don’t get to experience animals,” Bartz said, citing sports and the computer as more trendy alternatives. “We just want to provide an opportunity for them to know what it’s like to be around an animal and see how much fun and responsibility (they are).”
Roughly 70 horses will show each day Saturday and Sunday, starting at 9 a.m. both days and lasting until about 5 p.m. Bartz said she believes showing horses boosts confidence, wh ich is why she loves to see people do it.
“I think those kinds of things are important,” she said.