Obstacle, Halter

Don't know about you, but I did not get to Nationals (2008) but still found that it was on the web. I managed to watch the Halter Obstacles and Driving Obstacles and was quite impressed. For those of you who are not familar with this class, I did capture some video. Hopefully it will work for you and you can see what is involved.

Obstacle rules are in the AMHR rule book, page 266 and can be found at:
http://www.shetlandminiature.com/downloads/RULE_BOOK_2008.pdf

Direct Excerpt from the Rule Book below:
Part 20 – Obstacle Halter/Driving
A. The obstacle course must be posted at the Show Office not less than two hours prior to the class. Horses must be at least one year old for halter obstacle and three years old for obstacle driving. An exhibitor may not show before a Judge in classes where he/she (the exhibitor) has designed the course in that class. A horse can only be shown by one exhibitor per class. All obstacles must be numbered on the course in order of sequence.
B. Classes will be judged 100% on the manner of horse’s performance through the course.
C. There is a sixty second time limit to complete each obstacle. After time is used, the exhibitor will be directed to the next obstacle. Refusals of three (3) obstacles shall be cause for disqualification.
D. Cantering is penalized in obstacle driving.
E. Obstacle requirements:
1. Must be a minimum of 5 and maximum of 8 obstacles.
2. Tires and stair steps are prohibited.
3. Jumps are prohibited.
F. In shows where more than one obstacle class is offered, at least three of the obstacles must be different or the manner of performance through obstacles must be varied for the class.
G. Edible treats to encourage an animal to perform one of the obstacles are not allowed.
H. All obstacles should be safe for exhibitors as well as for horses.
I. Off course will result in elimination from the class and no points, ribbons or awards will be presented.
Off course is defined as:
1. Taking an obstacle in the wrong direction.
2. Negotiating an obstacle from the wrong side.
3. Skipping an obstacle unless directed by Judge.
4. Negotiating obstacles in the wrong sequence.
5. No physically moving, or coercing the horse by touching. It is to be the Judge’s discretion to disqualify. Attendants 16 years of age and older, may be allowed in the ring during Youth Halter Obstacle for safety purposes only. Attendant must not interfere with or influence individual’s or equine’s performance.
6. Miniature leaving the obstacle course.
J. Driving obstacle horses shall be shown in a suitable two-wheeled cart with basket.

Reference Only (Sire Fancy Pants)

For reference purposes I have included this blog entry.
Fancy Pants' sire is Boones Little Buckeroo Megabucks owned by Westwind Miniatures. I used a photo right off Westwind's website, and I hope that Karen will not mind. She always has the most beautiful horses, does great at the shows, and has always been most helpful at the shows. Take time to go to her website and check out her horses too.

Photo below:

~1996 31.25" blue roan ~

sire: Boones Little Buckeroo, dam: Dell Teras Penny

Small World - Fun Show Below this post....go down

It's a small world...and the Internet seems to pull us even closer together.

When I started looking for information about chariots I ran across a blog that talked about the races in Odgen, Utah and I put the information and some photos I "borrowed" from their site....

Well one of the teams belonged to Darcy Hiatt and it was super of him to write me and fill in the details.

":Hi, I just kinda stumbled onto your website and saw the pictures of the miniature horse chariot racing. The team of paints are mine and I am doing the driving and one of the horses in the picture above is also mine. If you have any questions or comments about it let me know!! "
Darcy Hiatt

Thanks Darcy
And to make things even better, Darcy has sent detailed photos of his racing chariot. Next blog I will show you his photos of a racing chariot for those of you who might wish to build one yourselves.

Please visit his web pages at: http://www.hiattshalfpints.com/

Blue Roan Colt - 2008

Boones Buckeroo Fancy Pants was bred in 2007 to one mare and produced a blue roan colt in 2008. I had the opportunity to see and photograph this colt for registration papers. The mare was an AMHR only registered. As of this posting I do not know the name that this colt will be registered under. But at least you can see what Fancy can produce.

Small World

It's a small world...and the Internet seems to pull us even closer together. When I started looking for information about chariots I ran across a blog that talked about the races in Odgen, Utah and I put the information and some photos I "borrowed" from their site....

Well one of the teams belonged to Darcy Hiatt and it was super of him to write me and fill in the details.

:Hi, I just kinda stumbled onto your website and saw the pictures of the miniature horse chariot racing. The team of paints are mine and I am doing the driving and one of the horses in the picture above is also mine. If you have any questions or comments about it let me know!! :
-Darcy Hiatt

Thanks Darcy.

And to make things even better, Darcy has sent detailed photos of his racing chariot. Next blog I will show you his photos of a racing chariot for those of you who might wish to build one yourselves.

Please visit his web pages at: http://www.hiattshalfpints.com/

Linc and Baldrige

I had promised to post photos of Toad Hill's Lincoln Award and Toad Hill's Baldrige Award so here they are together.Perhaps not perfectly matched, but pretty close in color and size. They are both offered to sale, hopefully to someone with plans for a future team.
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)

Photos Taken June 28, 2012

Toad Hill's Lincoln Award

Toad Hill's Baldrige Award

Nationals In Tulsa, 2008

So call me a slow poke. Here it is almost the last day of Nationals I am finally getting around to posting about it. For those that show horses, you knew that and I am not telling you anything you didn't know. However there are some interesting things you can see online now.

If you go to www.horseshowsonline.com you can see the show results.

This is a quote from the Show Details, as well as the graph that shows Show Entires by Owner's Province or State.

"The American Miniature Horse Registy national show is proud to be one of the premier miniature horse show in the nation. The years shows feature over 1500 miniature horses from all over the United States and Canada. Show dates for the show are: September 4 - 13, 2008 at the Expo Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "

Looking at the graph (which is hard to tell some of the colors) it appears that 38% came from states other than those that have some percentage showing. Texas, which makes sense based up location, along with Oklahoma seem to be well represented. I wonder how many of these folks stuck around considering Gustav and Ike. Oh, on a side note, if you want to watch the course of any hurriance from birth to death check out: http://www.stormpulse.com/ .

I have also figured out how to capture video off the computer and if I can get it working, one of the next blogs will be about the obstacle class. Some of these minis obey better than my dogs!!

Rebel Comes Home

Rebel, Lucky Four RebelChase RebelHeir, arrived home today after a long show season. For many minis, this month is the BIG month with many traveling to Tulsa soon for the Nationals. I have observed there are three groups of competitors amongst mini owners. Those that show their horses during the entire season, then go to the Nationals; those that show all season and then don't go to Nationals; and finally those that only show just enough to qualify a horse to be shown at Nationals and then just go to Nationals. Guess I tend to be in the show all season and quit, skipping Nationals. Anyway if you ask Rebel, I think he is happy with my decision. We arrived home about 9:30 AM, and as a ritual, I always let the horse out at the end of the driveway so they can run up, eat some grass or visit with the other horses before being put in a stall for a few days. Okay, I know..probably not a good idea, but I know the risks. After touching ground, Rebel noticed his buddies were in the lot adjacent to the driveway. So naturally he walked over to say:"Hi." Darn it, wish Rebel would show like that in the ring!!!
The guys on the other side of the fence seems interested.I often wonder if they remember each other. Rusty (white with sorrel spots), Picasso (black and white) and Stetson (large sorrel pinto) were all eager check him out.

Later next week Rebel will join the gang and play bachelor until next spring.

Oh, one more thought. Why is it, that these beautiful, clean horses have only one goal when they return from the show ring or after a bath?

As you can see Rebel has decided that being neat is not neat.

Call For Discussion

I would like to collaborate with anyone out there that is considering building a chariot for the AMHR chariot class. As you read my posts you can see I have an interest in this topic and would like to have one built for me.

I need to find out where and how much the fiberglas shells are. Who makes them?
I need to learn more about resources where parts can be purchased, I know some and may include a list in a later post.

After reading Mr. Walsh's article, looking at many that are currently out there, I think I can design one and get one built this year.

I may have even found where I can purchase a harness for my purposes.
You are welcome to either email me directly or comment on my blog with what you have done, are doing now or plan to do in the future.

Son of Phantom

The Phantom of Toad Hill was sold earlier this year and now resides in Provo, Utah. The year previous (2007) he was bred to a mare and produced this colt in 2008. The colt has not been named but will most likely remain in Arthur, IL . Below and left and right hand views. The colt in the background is Fancy Pants first foal too.