It's Official -2010 All Stars Top Ten

2010 All Stars - AMHR Division A
National Champion (1st Place) 34" and under

• Multi-Color Stallion and Gelding - Toad Hill's Spots and Dots
• Multi-Color Mare - Toad Hill's Little Dove

Owned, Bred and Shown by Exhibitor:

• 2nd place - Toad Hill's Little Dove
• 3rd place - Toad Hill's Spots and Dots

And AMHR Yearling Stallion - 32" and under:

In 9th place: Toad Hill's Spots and Dots (he was not entered in many of these classes so this was a nice bonus)

Above Spots and Dots in front, 

Little Dove behind

Toad Hill's Little Dove

Toad Hill's Little Dove

Little Doves Sire: Toad Hill's Paint Me Picasso, 

Picasso's Sire: Toad Hill's the Great Gatsby

Picasso's Dam:  Toad Hill's Wind in the Willows

• 2002 National All Star Champion Multi-Color Mare Over
• 2007 National All Star Champion Produce of Dam
• 2009 Reserve National All Star Champion Produce of Dam

Little Dove's Dam: Mustardseed Legionaire Apache Gal, AMHA-AMHR - 30.25

Apache Gal's Sire: Flying W Farms Legionaire (30.25" AMHA) by Flying W Farms Sugarfoot (28", AMHA) out of Flying W Farms Lizette (32")

Apache Gal's Dam: San Antonois Foxey Lady (32", AMHA) by Del Whistler (30.5", AMHA) out of Joy of Hopewell (32", AMHA)

Toad Hill's Spots and Dots

Toad Hill's Spots and Dots

Horse Name: Spots and Dots

Tobiano T T

Sire: Boones Buckeroo Fancy Pants - 29.50" , Sired by Boones Little Buckero Megabucks (HOF) out of A A Fancy Girl, blue roan

Dam: Toad Hill's Kiss Me Kate - 30.25"

•  2007 National All Star Champion Multi-Color Mare Under
• Shown to win  2007 National Champion All Star Produce of Dam for Willow-

Kate's Sire: Toad Hill's Oreo (black pinto)

Kate's Dam: Toad Hill's Wind in the Willows

• 2002 National All Star Champion Multi-Color Mare Over
• 2007 National All Star Champion Produce of Dam
• 2009 Reserve National All Star Champion Produce of Dam

Thanks to

Franke Photo Design, LLC
608-436-2530
http://www.yourhorsepics.com/
Who took these photos at the H. A. M. E. this summer. I was extremely happy with the way their photos turned out.

I Didn't Know Fancy Only Spoke Amish!

Fancy Pants was delivered to Wendy's home after Thanksgiving, 2010. Wendy plans on showing him in driving in 2011 and also using him as one of her breeding stallions.
After a week at her house Fancy was taken to training facility where he could be driven in doors. Fancy was used as a "school bus" by five Amish kids several years ago and is "bomb proof." But that was almost four years ago since he was driving. At Toad Hill he was not used for driving.
So everyone at the training facility was very surprised when after hitching him up and saying "Walk On" they got nothing from Fancy but a dirty look. Fancy stood his ground, looked back as if to say "Do you know what your doing?"
After leading him around, and a lot of "clucking" he finally started responding a little. Consensus was that Fancy did not know the correct commands, and one of the trainers suggested that perhaps Fancy only speaks Amish.
Wendy and crew decided that was enough for one day. Wendy got home and as the Microsoft ad says: "To the Cloud."  
She looked up Amish driving commands and came up with: "Step Walk", "Step Trot" etc. Next day, she tried these commands and Fancy went right to work.
Comments below are from: 
http://www.miniaturehorsetalk.com/index.php?showtopic=120907

Toad Hill's Black Jack

On Wednesday, December 28th I finally got the grandson to help hold horses for their photos. He's not too good at standing them, so these are the best I could get at the time.  I had planned to have a friend come over and take better photos Friday, but Thursday we had 50 degree weather and a lot of rain, so by Friday the place was a mess, the horses were all looking soggy, and the weather was down to freezing again. Strange weather this year.

Apple Jack is a really darling black mini with a large star on his face who will stay under 34 inches. He is a bright, blue eyed colt. I often refer to his blue eyes as: "Piercing blue eyes" a phrase I first hear on the PBS Brit Comedy "As Time Goes By."

Apple Jack is true black and has a splash of white on his tail and with three white feet.

I will try to get better photos as time allows. Black Jack and his buddy Apple Jack are both scheduled for gelding January 19, 2011. If you want a stallion, you need to let me know quickly.

It's Official...the 2010 National MultiColor Stallion

Toad Hill's Spots and Dots -

2010 National All Star Champion Multi-Color Stallion/Gelding Under

Spots and Dots, 29", was shown as a yearling for the first time this year.
He was also shown in Bred, Owned and Shown by Exhibitor (BOS) placing 3nd in National All Star 2010, the Reserve National All Star winner should be Little Dove, also owned by Toad Hill.
For me that is quite a feat, since I am not a professional trainer. I have learned by trial and error to show horses, have very little time outside of work to train, clip my own horses and show them myself. I have never felt comfortable in open classes so when I discovered this class I thought I would try it. I can show my horses against a more level field with other owners who raise and show their own horses. Yeah BOS classes.

Spots and Dots now has a full brother, yet to be named. If I do not sell Spots and Dots I may show both in Produce of Dam and Get of Sire, yes I have a third foal sired by Fancy Pants.

UPDATE: 2011 - Spots will come in 2nd to my other stallion: Foxfire's Picture Perfect and he and Goblin will be National Champions of Produce of Dam for Toad Hill's Kiss Me Kate and also National Champion in Owned, Bred and Shown by Exhibitor Stallions Under.

Sire: Boones Buckeroo Fancy Pants - 29.50" , Sired by Boones Little Buckero Megabucks (HOF) out of A A Fancy Girl
Dam: Toad Hill's Kiss Me Kate - 30.25"

•  2007 National All Star Champion Multi-Color Mare Under
• Shown to win  201007 National Champion All Star Produce of Dam for Willow-

Kate's Sire: Toad Hill's Oreo

Kate's Dam: Toad Hill's Wind in the Willows

• 2002 National All Star Champion Multi-Color Mare Over
• 2010 National All Star Champion Produce of Dam
• 2011 Reserve National All Star Champion Produce of Dam

Thanks to

Franke Photo Design, LLC
608-436-2530
http://www.yourhorsepics.com/
Who took these photos at the H. A. M. E. this summer. I was extremely happy with the way their photos turned out.

Chariots - Friesians Do IT!

Chariots...There are a number of other horse breeds that have chariot classes or exhibitions. I was somewhat amazed to find a number of these on YouTube. Friesian MWFNA 2010 FHANA Chariots

Mini in Dressage

Okay, this is cool!!! Run this video, it is a beautifully colored leopard miniature horse doing dressage.It will take 20 seconds before you see the star of this show, but it is worth the wait.

Sorry but this is the only way I can link this video...it was the first one I every saw of Lancelot and dressage.
Click below:

Lancelot ShowPony

Another link to some training, unfortunately it is in German

Lancelot Interview 

How did she train that horse to do this? If I knew I would train one of my miniatures.
LINK  In case YouTube above does not work.

How about a class in miniature horse dressage for AMHR and/or AMHA?

Have to thank Wendy for this link.

Another example of "Shetlandpony" - really looks mini to me.

Chariot Just Advertised

This is an update: October 28, 2010 This chariot was posted for sale on lilbeginnings. 

"Think the Chariot class looks like fun at Nationals?  Here is a chariot ready to go!

Fiberglass bucket designed by Dale Lutke with wooden shafts and wheels.  Adjustable shaft height to fit Minis or Shetlands.  Very good condition. 

 

Delivery available to Glen Rose, TX later this weekend or to ASPC/AMHR Convention in Little Rock, AR next week!"

To check if it is still available try:  http://www.strasslein.com/sales.htm

Country Roads Shadows Sunny Boy

Rarely do I buy a miniature horse any more. I have way too many already to justify just one more.

But this spring I received an email from a breeder in Malta, Illinois.

She was interested in one of my filies, so after some discussion a trade was worked out.

Sunny was shown as a 2 month old at HAMES and was a perfect little gentlemen. 

After spending some quality time with Sunny, Wendy and Mike it was time to head home with Sunny.

Walked little Sunny up the to rear of the van and "Whoa, you want me to what?" asked Sunny.

"Sure, you can do it little boy," I said.

"I don't know, it's pretty high up there but here goes," and with one colossal jump in he went.

"So what do you think? How do I look in here?" said Sunny.

Wendy climbed in to say her goodbyes to Sunny.

Sunny assured mommy, "Yes mommy, I promise to be a good little minis. I will brush my teeth, and eat all my hay every night."

I think I saw a tear coming out of Wendy's eyes as she left little Sunny in the van ready to head off the farm and on to a new adventure.

It was a two hour drive, and Sunny was very well behaved.

Arriving at home, Sunny looked out and said,"Wait a minute, that's a big jump outta the van. I don't think this is what I was planning on."

"Where's mommy Wendy? No way you are going to get me out of here."

"I wantta go home, no you can't make me get out!!" said Sunny.

Needless to say, it took a little convincing, but finally Sunny left the safety of the van and trotted down to meet his new family.

In a few days I will post again with photos of Sunny in his new home.

If you want to see baby photos of Sunny visit:

http://www.countryroadsminis.com/foalsforsale.htm

Sunny is a true blue eyed baby. His sire is Boones Little Buckeroo Too Shadow, a 27.5 inch, Top Ten BTU son. His dam is Serenity Acres Bonnie Blu Eyes, so now you know where those baby blues came from. I just love blue eyes on a mini!!

Top 5 Chariots for Miniature Horses

Over the past year I have posted photos of some really good looking miniature horse chariots. This post shows what I would consider among the top 5.

In 5th place:

This is not exactly a show chariot, really it is a racing chariot that is used out west. Racing chariots are constructed for speed and you can see all views at the link in this sentence. Read more about these races here and see them race (quarter horses) here at Video Chariot Races.

In 4th place:

This was the only photo I could find of Dave Charleton driving his chariot. Dave was kind enough to share his building plans with me and I am currently having a chariot for myself built.

To see more of Dave's chariot go to Chariot Measurements.

In 3rd place:

Deb, dressed as Cleopatra, drives this two horse team. At the DuQuoin show she won over both Hal and Bo (shown below). Hal built two red chariots and when he is not showing the four horse team, he splits them and both he and his wife show a team.

In 2nd place: 

This photo of Bo Stepp was taken at the DuQuion fair grounds during a miniature horse show in 2007. Bo is still showing and place first at the Tulsa Nationals.

Check out the Single Roman Chariot class at Tulsa 2009 with video at this post.

And your 1st place winner is:

I have to say, Hal and his team of four pulling a chariot is the most impressive example of a miniature horse chariot I have seen. At Nationals he drove this team during the parade lap and it was a big hit. Other photos of Hal, Bo and Deb can be seen at the blog: Roman Chariots Race in DuQuoin.

Hey, Hal also does a draft team: LINK

http://youtu.be/7jI8ZUixH5w

Miss Peach Meets Her New BFF

 A neighbor down the road from me had a miniature mare that needed a friend. Her owner stopped by one day and asked if I had a yearling that might be friendly, not a dominant mare, but one who was looking for a new friend.

We walked around, the mini had to be a filly or mare. If a mare, she must not be bred...the new owner was not looking to raise minis, just a companion for her current one.

Miss Peach caught her eye. She walked up and wanted all to be petted, and the decision was made.

The following week I loaded Miss Peach into the MiniVan and off we went.

There was still some feed in the pan in the minivan from my picking up Sunny (previous post), from Ole Country Roads north of Bloomington. After Miss Peach finished the last of the grain, she started to look around, "Okay, so where's the rest of the feed. I'm hungry still!!"

Lucky for Miss Peach she noticed the MacDonald's Happy Meal still in the front seat. 

"Yum, yum, now that's more like it!!"

Miss Peach made short work of the burger and fries, then wanted to know "Where's the shake?"

Opps, too late, we had arrived.

Out she went and into the barn to meet her new 

           BFF.

This this will be a great friendship and adventure for Miss Peach.

(BTW: Miss Peach is out of Toad Hill's Buttermilk whose photos are just below this post.)