Arare Photography / Kelly Campbell
Rivenburghs Santana SE. World Champion in Halter, Driving, & Liberty. National Champion Driving & National Reserve Champion Halter
a cart, then you have two minutes to strip the cart and harness, with the help of a groom, then there’s a halter phase and, finally, a hunter class.
Riding: Except for driving, the classes are all in-hand, right? Aimee: Yes. The handlers are walking or running alongside in a trail or jumping class, and the criteria are usually the same as those used in these classes for full-size horses. In hunters, for example, it’s the horse’s way of going and form over fences and there are some strict rules. For example, you have to choose whether the horse will take the course at the trot or canter. If you’ve chosen trot, as most do, but your horse canters a few strides on landing, you’ll be docked points for it. In the jumper classes, it’s purely if you clear the fence or not; there are no gait requirements. One association breaks ties with a timed jump-off and for the other, the fences keep getting higher until someone has a rail. The jumps can be raised to 44”, so it’s pretty impressive to see a 33’ or 34’ horse jumping a 44” fence.
Riding: What can you tell us about the
breed’s history? Aimee: I believe they came from ponies, who were bred together to get smaller and smaller. They first originated to pull carts in mining shafts. They were also bred as a kind of novelty in Europe, often for the children of royalty.
A 34” horse is a little under eight hands. They PHR Red E to Cha Cha.
Yearling filly sired by Rivenburghs Lets Roll Muchacho making her debut in the show ring this year.
Rivenburghs Saltina. Shown competing in hunters. Multi-National Champion Mare & dam of PHR ZP Colossus.
were not designed to be riding horses, except maybe for a very small child. But they have a ton of pulling capacity—often the weight of two adult men.
As a general rule for showing, smaller is
better. The rules in a halter class say that if there are two horses of equal conformation, the smaller horse should win. In the past, the effort to produce smaller and smaller horses has led to characteristics similar to dwarfism in a person. Fortunately, the breed has really gotten away from that in the shift toward a healthier more balanced horse capable of going on to compete in performance classes
In the last five to 10 years, the breed has improved by leaps and bounds. Getting away from that short legged, heavier boned, courser horse for a more elegant, refined, and balanced horse with more leg underneath it that more closely resembles their full sized counterpart. It only makes sense that that horse is the better performer.
Riding: What are your priorities in breeding? Aimee: Conformation and balance are very important, but athleticism is also very important to me because I enjoy the performance classes. In halter classes, the horse is what it is, but in the performance classes, that’s where you can set yourself apart by the training you’ve done at home.
Rivenburghs Santana SE & Rivenburghs Lets Roll Muchacho - Herd Sires at PHR. Muchacho is a National Champion Halter Horse & Hall of Fame earner and a World Champion Driving & Liberty Horse.
PHR ZP Colossus at 2012 AMHR National Show competing in halter.
Riding: Do Minis have the same range of temperaments and personalities as full-size breeds? Aimee: Yes. They are just a horse in miniature and they need to have the same respect for and from their owners. I sometimes hear people complain that their Mini has become ornery. I ask if they’ve trained their horse to have good manners, etc., and they say, ‘No, he’s so cute, I can’t bear to tell him ‘no’.” Minis need to be trained like a full-size horse in that way. Conversely, because of their small size, owners can sometimes be too aggressive with them, and that is unnecessary. Miniatures are a very intelligent and willing breed that, with a little time and patience, understands quickly what is expected of them.
Riding: Are you offended when people refer to Minis as ponies? Aimee: No. It happens all the time and they did come from ponies. My only problem with that is if people attach “bad pony” stereotypes to Minis. Minis have a lot of heart and they always try their best for you. They’re neat to be around. Minis have a unique place in the horse world. In addition to being show horses or pets, they are popular in equine-related therapy programs and as a non-threatening introduction to the world of horses for young, timid or physically limited individuals. They can also be great for older
continued on pg 27 PHR Muchacho’s Mambo #5 PHR ZP Magneto
Yearling colt sired by Rivenburghs Lets Roll Muchacho making his debut in the show ring this year.
Amie Anderson
Visel Photography / April Visel
Visel Photography / April Visel
Amie Anderson
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