Toad Hill's GrapeNuts - 2nd Generation of the Cereal Collection

Toad Hill'sGrapeNuts is a 32 1/2 inch, homozygous buckskin pinto. She was just permanently registered in 2010. When GrapeNuts had this year's filly, I saw her and the name: Honey just jumped into my mind. 
It seemed a natural and so I decided she became Honey Nuts.

With three generations of names, we now have the:

Cereal Collection

In keeping with this tradition, when Kibbles (okay, I know Kibbles and Bits is a dog food, but it's all grains like cereal), had her colt this year, I thought briefly and came up with the name: Toad Hill's Captain Krunch.
The photos of GrapeNuts were taken out in the field with no preparation... she had her bridle-path trimmed in the spring, but her hair grows fast.

Photos Taken May, 2012

Chariot Project Phase II - Order the Chariot

In the previous post you had a chance to see my mini chariot team.

Now the most important news is Chris, the Amish trainer's dad, has designed a chariot for me based upon the many pages on this blog showing the various chariots I have seen. We went over his plans, looked at the pulling sleighs he is building for Shetlands and draft horses for pulling races, and have given the go ahead to build the chariot.

Stay toned readers, this chariot...wooden wheels, most likely red carriage with wooden trim for accent should be unveiled sometime early next year (2011) in my blog. It will have the versatility to be driving by a single or team of minis.

Chris has said if others who see it like it, he would be willing to build your chariot custom to your measurements. Chris is a blacksmith and wood worker, and I have every confidence that this will be a super chariot!!

Chariot Project Phase I - Get the team

As regular readers of this blog you probably know I have been interested in chariots for a long time and one of my goals is to have a chariot team to show. Guess you could say Phase 1 is complete. In 2008 as luck would have it, two sorrel pinto colts were born within days of each other. They are half brothers since they share the same sire: Toad Hill's Rust Spot.

I just picked them up from my Amish trainer (a 12 year old boy and now his younger sister is assisting). Videos will come of their primarily training in driving. 

Next year they will be 3 years old, and training under harness. With good fortune they may be ready for their first outing late in the summer pulling a custom made chariot. I am hoping to make a show in DuQuion, IL with them and if so, I will bring dad and his son (who really desires a ride at least in the parade lap) if he is too young to drive in the class.

I know these two have strange names, but there is history behind them. I just returned from a three day seminar on the Lincoln Award when Lincoln (the one with the dark muzzle was born). Shortly thereafter a second colt was born..and rather than call them Castor and Pollux, I decided to name hims Baldrige Award. So now I own a chariot team with horses named: Lincoln Award and Baldrige Award.

Lincoln Award's Mom (He's the one with more sorrel, on the left as you look at the photo)

Toad Hill's Kibbles and Bits: Sire: Spagues Buckeye (30.25", buckskin, AMHR/AMHA) by NFCS Yankee Clipper (28.00") out of4 GS Hemlock Brook Silver Jane (33.50") Dam: Koch's My Angel Baby (32.50", chesnut pinto, AMHA/AMHR) by Little Hoof's Midget Mite (29.75) out of Koch's Little Brandy (36.00")



Baldrige Award's Mom :
Toad Hill's Butterscotch


SIRE for both: Toad Hill's Rust Spot: Sire: Toad Hill's Oreo (Black pinto, 32.0" AMHR only) by WF Flashy Boy (sire: Rainbow Ridge's Starburst Cody, dam: Cirlce S Missy) Dam: Toad Hill's Neon Echo (30.0", sabino overo, AMHA/AMHR) by Colorworlds Neon Knight out of Mini Bucks Painted Princess)

Really Nice Looking Mini Chariot

I was on lilbeginnings and saw this chariot advertised. Here is what the owner says:

"This is a stunning chariot for miniature horses. You can have one horse or 3 across (comes with needed attachments). All metal. Body has been repainted recently, new tires, new no flat inserts, new interchangeable logos, always kept indoors. Flag holders on either side. This is the nicest and most sturdy chariot I have ever come across and it is not heavy! I bought this hoping my husband would do the Chariot Class at Nationals. He doesn't have any interest.
More pictures on my web site under the for sale section:
www.lonestarfriesians.com
$900 OBO - Make us an offer!!
Can get to 2010 AMHR Nationals.
Call or Text Marla at 210-389-6555"

I do not know Marla personally, but I sent an email to her asking for permission to include her chariot in my blog. Marla was kind enough to grant permission. She tells me that she is taking the chariot to her trainer's place. If you are interested in buying it, use the contact information on their website. 

Obviously if it is sold, it probably will not be advertised on their website.

Just a note: I do not get any perks from Marla for putting this on my website, I just thought the chariot should be included on my blog.

So THANKS Marla, and I hope you sell your chariot. Perhaps someday I will compete against the new owner in Tulsa!!

Cheerios Arrive at New Home

The weekend after the H. A. M. E. (Heart of America Miniature Horse Show) in Belvidere, Il. my human was going to Chicago and decided to let me ride alone to my new home. I was a little concerned about riding in a minivan but found the hay in it to be quite tasty. My human knows I like a snack when traveling.

We rode for about an hour and a half, then my human decided it was time to get some gasoline since she was not sure how much further to the next stop.

As we pulled into the gas station, a church van with at least a dozen kids pulled in behind us. Most of them went right for the food in the gas station store, but several of the girls stood at the entrance to the store looking at the van. Finally they came over, and one of the girls asked if she could pet me. I said sure, and she got in with me.

There was flurry of girls taking photos of me and my friend.

Sorry I did not get her name, but we had a nice talk, then her chaperones said it was time to leave. We finished gassing up the van and took off to my new home.

I have to admit the ride was fun, but I was ready to get out and meet the new family. Sunny, the little colt was quite curious about me, but his mom was very protective. Guess I will have to win her over with my great personality!!

UPDATE from new home:
Pip is doing great! Bonnie (mother of Sunny) ignores her most of the time. Thinks she is going to lead her son (Sunny) astray--he was into wild women before she came. Sunny loves her. They chase each other and rub each other's necks! Irish (the other yearling filly) likes her. They are a pair, when Pip isn't running around with Sunny, but Irish is in charge of where they go and what they do! Sunny will be four months the end of July.

Toad Hill's Run for the Roses

Rosie is the sweetest filly, easy to work around, is patient while being clipped and her hooves trimmed. She is two years old in this photo and really could have made a nice show mini, but I had two others I wanted to show...so Rosie stayed home.

She is a palomino pinto, her beautiful blue eyes that a highlighted by mascara (black eyeliner). around her blue eyes, and a dark colored muzzle. If you look at her head, she has palomino coloring below her ears.

Alone with all these good traits, I measured Rosie August 3rd, 2010 and she is under 34 inches.
Oh, did I also mention she has inherited her sire's curly mane and tail.

Sire: Toad Hill's Rust Spot

Dam: Toad Hill's High Octane

Oh, Rosie does have one bad habit...she likes to EAT IN BED!!!

Toad Hill's 09 Grand Finale

Finale is a black and white filly, measuring 33 1/2 inches.
Named Finale since she was the last foal of the 2009 season.


These photos were taken August 1, 2010. I know she has a little reddish hue on her black coat, but she has been in the field all summer and the sun has taken its toll on her beautiful black coat. I know that Finale is having a "bad hair day" as we just finished taking the cockle burrs out of her mane and she did not have a bath before the photo session.

Sire: Toad Hill's Rust Spot
Dam: Toad Hill's Wind in the Willows

Toad Hill's Grand Finale - Photo taken May 20, 2012

Finale came to visit one of the stallions this spring. Here she is seen running with Rainbow, another mare.

Miss Peach

Toad Hill's Miss Peach is a buckskin pinto filly measuring as a yearling at 32 1/2 inches tall.  

She is a sweet, quiet filly with no bad habits. The spot on her shoulder is where rubbed some hair off in play with the other yearling.

Click here to see Miss Peach as a foal.