Area's horse history on display in Wheaton

Five-year-old Matthew Knasel did not make it very far into the Danada Fall Festival in Wheaton Sunday before deciding on a favorite attraction.

Just a few feet into the Danada Forest Preserve, a main arena was showcasing horsemanship demonstrations. Matthew was hooked.

As his family moved to see what other attractions the festival offered, Matthew wanted to stay by the horses and watch them parade around the arena. He won out.

"It's a fun event and it gets the kids outside," said Wheaton resident and Matthew's father, Jim Knasel. "He saw the horses parading around. It's kind of fun for the kids."

The equestrian center's annual festival aims to celebrate the history of horses in DuPage County. Children got a chance to climb trees, get their faces painted and take a picture atop a pony.

The children's activities are important, but Dave Guritz, the director of educational programs for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, said the main goal of the festival is to teach people about the horses and the county's past. The forest preserve serves as home to 28 horses, and riding classes are taught throughout the year.

"It's a natural horsemanship," Guritz said. "We are trained at gentling the animals without using force."

While the horses were the attractions in the main arena, several vendors and local organizations set up booths and gave out information on their causes, such as the Greyhounds Only dog adoption group.

Jennifer Pierson of Bolingbrook said the festival is one of the few ways the Greyhounds Only can get its word out. The group serves the Chicagoland area as well as parts of Wisconsin and Indiana.