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Fall fun at the SpringVale Farm

Pumpkins and Ponies sees high turnout on Saturday

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Maleigha McDaniel, 13, of Belmond, left, and Ava Eaton, 8, of Fort Dodge, pose with Dusty the horse following their trick-riding performance with Dragonfire Dancing on Saturday. The girls showed off their skills during Pumpkins and Ponies at the SpringVale Farm in Humboldt County.

HUMBOLDT — Desirae Thielen, 14, of Mason City, had only been practicing trick horse riding for a couple of weeks prior to performing with the Dragonfire Dancing Horses team at Pumpkins and Ponies on Saturday.

It was also her first time at the popular fall event on the SpringVale Farm, 2603 Lone Tree Road.

“I’ve been practicing on my own horse,” she said.

Although Thielen hasn’t been trick riding for long, she said her background as a figure skater has helped her.

“I used to do figure skating so I have done most of these tricks — on ice of course,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Finley Kirby was dressed the part for Pumpkins and Ponies Saturday at SpringVale Farm in Humboldt County. The little pumpkin head's father, Colby Kirby, of Callender, is holding her.

The average fan couldn’t tell her inexperience as the team wowed the crowd with their stunts.

“We messed up, but it’s been good,” Thielen said. “There’s things we want to perfect.”

The youngest member of the team based out of Hampton was Ava Eaton, 8, of Fort Dodge.

She started trick riding about a year ago on a horse named Dusty.

Her teammates helped her do the Superman pose atop Dusty during the show.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Nathan Yates, 4, of Fort Dodge, is all smiles as he gets up from sitting on a pumpkin at Pumpkins and Ponies in Humboldt County on Saturday.

Eaton said she was nervous when she first started doing the tricks. But she’s improved quite a bit since then.

“It’s a little scary at first,” she said. “Then it gets fun.”

While the ponies were getting plenty of attention, so were the pumpkins. And Codey Froisland, 12, of Bradgate, thought he picked the perfect one.

He was holding one bigger than his head.

His mother, Heather Froisland, has been bringing him to Pumpkins and Ponies for about seven years with the exception of last year.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Jaden Niccum, 15, of Hampton, rides around with her horse at the SpringVale Farm Saturday during Pumpkins and Ponies.

She said it’s a great way to spend time with family.

“Spending time with kids and watching them enjoy picking their own pumpkins,” she said.

Everything about the event screamed fall, from the nearby harvested fields to pumpkins and tractor rides. Everything that is except the weather, which remained in the 70s throughout the day.

“The weather is very nice,” Heather Froisland said. “Two years ago we came and it was raining and cold.”

A favorite activity, she said, was going through the barn and looking at the animals.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Codey Froisland, 12, of Bradgate, handles a pumpkin bigger than his head during Pumpkins and Ponies Saturday at the SpringVale Farm in Humboldt County.

Nathan Yates, 4, of Fort Dodge, was at Pumpkins and Ponies for the first time with his mother, Dawn Klink, of Fort Dodge.

“It’s been pretty fun,” Klink said. “I enjoyed the tractor ride with him.”

Colby Kirby, of Callender, had his own little pumpkin with him.

His 4-month-old daughter Finley, was dressed in a pumpkin hat.

“She seems like she’s enjoying it, so that’s a plus,” Kirby said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Ava Eaton, 8, of Fort Dodge, performs the "Superman" pose during trick riding show at Pumpkins and Ponies Saturday at SpringVale Farms. Helping her is Desirae Thielen, 14, of Mason City, left, and Maleigha McDaniel, 13, of Belmond.

Kirby was happy to see people enjoying the event.

“It’s good for the kids,” he said. “It’s nice for them to get out.”

Pam Gaffney, of Manson, said she comes every year. She, too, was pleased with the climate.

“One year I had to sit in my truck because it was snowing,” she said. “So this is amazing weather.”

The turnout appeared higher than previous years as well.

“I’ve been here the last six or seven years and haven’t seen this many people,” Gaffney said.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Adelynn Howell, 12, of Clarion, pats her horse during Pumpkins and Ponies Saturday at the SpringVale Farm.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Wagon rides are a popular tradition at Pumpkins and Ponies on the SpringVale Farm in Humboldt County.

Starting at $4.94/week.

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