Mother-Daughter Duo Saddle Up for the State Fair

After taking a hiatus to compete nationally beginning in 2003, Toni Marie and Kristin O’Daniel have returned to the Minnesota State Fair to showcase their passion—English horses.

Characterized by a distinctively high carriage and refined nature, English horses are a warm-blooded pleasure horse often used for carriage-driving. Though they may appear majestic and friendly, the Arabian, an English-style horse, hasn’t always been regarded this way.

The O’Daniels—both Inver Grove Heights residents—have made it their mission to discredit the misconception that the Arabian is wild. Their goal is to promote the breed as a loving, kind, and very gentle animal. Currently, they exhibit a 12-year-old, three-time national champion Polish Arabian called "Rock N’ Robbin."

"We want to promote that the Arabian is the most versatile horse around,” said Toni Marie O'Daniel, who pointed to a neighboring stall, part of the Chrisalem Hills barn she helps operate, to a 28-year old Arabian—an age well above average that is still exhibiting.

Toni Marie O'Daniel began exhibiting in 1983 at the state fair, simply because it was the only Arabian show around. A decade later, her daughter Kristin—just three years old at the time—joined her. All three of the O’Daniel children have exhibited in their lifetime, but Kristin is currently the family’s main exhibitor and says she has no plans to quit in the near future.

The competition is judged by highly-qualified individuals familiar with the breed standards and guidelines for multiple breeds and divisions. The O’Daniels compete in the Hunter, Western and the championship classes. Thus far, they have secured one first place and two second places in the competition—but they hope to take home a couple of championships as well.

The preparations that go into exhibiting largely consist of routine maintenance at the barn.

"I’m in the barn 4-5 hours a night," said Kristin O'Daniel, a senior at the University of St. Thomas. But those nightly preparations don't include the three hours of daily chores the O'Daniels complete. The horses need to be conditioned and regimented just like an athlete. One of the most important preparatory tasks is acclimating the horses to the stress and heat of the fair, the O'Daniels said.

Though the O’Daniels love exhibiting at the fair, Toni Marie O'Daniel hopes the state fair will become more exhibitor-friendly in the future. Participating in an exhibit is expensive, and just to break even the O’Daniels must win first or second place in every class.