New hair cut and new friends

I know, it's been double the time since I promised I'd update. I've been a busy little stallion though! Two things first. Most importantly and easiest to see, I've been clipped! In order to keep track of my weight and muscling for my big show Mom clipped off all my winter coat this past week. Aren't I quite the handsome little horse? Second thing is that the Touch of Class has announced its show premium. I'll be in classes 147, 153, and 162. I'll possibly be in 158, Mom hasn't decided. I'll also be in the lunch time costume class. All my other classes will be after lunch.

I have so much more news still! Most people aren't aware that horses do have a set of baby teeth that they lose as their adult teeth come in and push the baby teeth/caps out. I've been losing my for the past month or so. Mom had found one front tooth and now, today, one molar too. She found it in my feed dish. Any one know a place that does jewelry from horse teeth? I'm thinking of mother's day... Ha! Just kidding. But Mom is looking into getting some equinite jewelry done. I think the idea is neat way to have a bit of your horse always with you.

In other news-as continued preparation for the show March 24th and 25th-I received a brand new custom halter by Victor. Victor is well known in the Scottsdale area and Arabian industry for his custom tack and fine show halters. He used to make the harnesses for Queen Elizabeth! Mom was delighted to have a halter by him for me. She says its part of my birthday gift. I also had a blanket customized with my name and the Eohippus logo. Now that I'm a big boy Mom says its time to start advertising and making myself known. I'll be doing a photo shoot in a week or so to get some professional stallion pictures taken. Stay tuned!

Last, but not least, there's a new addition around here. Well, two new additions really. But they count as one. Do you see them in the background of my picture? Yes, that's right: sheep. Miniature Cheviot Sheep to be exact. They're two ewes-that's female-named Polly and Butterfly. Mom didn't name them but she's not one for changing names. Besides, they sort of know them. They're rescued sheep so they're a little on the crazy side. They frighten me. This picture was taken moments before I bolted. I mean, I'm a big rough and tuff stallion but these things are scary.. Look at them! They're smaller than me and look like some sort of dog-camel-goat hybrid.

Mom says I'm going to have to get used to them; they're here to stay. What ever, I'll always be her favorite. Did you know my Mom's name (Rachel) means "ewe"? I guess she's one of these things. They're family or something-that has to be why she likes them so much. They sure don't look anything alike. Distant relatives twice removed I think. What ever. I'm still far more cute, I mean, handsome. Dashingly handsome and oh so studly. Yes, that's it.

Superbowl

Superbowl! I bet most of you watched it, if not for the game then for the commercials. I know that's why I watched it! I don't really understand football and there's no horse version of it. I much prefer soccer, but that's ok. Mom didn't buy me a football jersey so I had to use whatever I could find...Baseball is close enough, right? Please? It doesn't matter anyway, I wasn't rooting for either team playing. I personally like the Colts and Broncos (Mom, however, says we root for the Patriots). It was a close game, a shame the last play at the end didn't work at the Patriots planned. More importantly, however, the commercials were excellent. I'm a big fan of the Budweiser Clydesdales. One year I might try to dress as one for Halloween. I also loved the french bulldog in the sketchers commercial. I didn't get to go out for any big barbecues, but I did get a few extra treats. Kia, on the other hand, was all dressed up and ready to do some cooking.

On a non-superbowl topic... The Pinto Horse Association horse show in  Queen Creek is next weekend. Because my real Dad is a visually identifiable pinto/paint I'm qualified to be registered in the PtHA. While eventually I will be registered with them and showing on their circuit, I'm sitting out this show. Mom will be going to check out the mini's that dominate their ring and see if I stand a chance. How could I not though, I mean, have you seen me? If you'd like further information on the show you can visit the Pinto Horse Association. They have their shows listed along with the contact information. I'll keep you posted on shows I'll be attending.

For now, I'm late for my daily run!

Support your local Sheriff Show

Mom says times are tough right now. She says the horse market isn't what it was a few years ago and showing has taken a big hit too. When I first attended the Arizona Touch of Class Miniature Horse Show it was actually two shows, each two days long and held a day apart. This meant the horses were there for five days with four of showing. It was great! There were tons of horses, not just from Arizona but from all of the United States. Last year the show was reduced to just one show, but it lasted three days. This year the show is again just one show but only lasting two days. I'm sure its becoming harder, or at least more expensive, to travel to out of state shows. Not to mention the EHV-1 epidemic scare over the summer probably hasn't helped. This is why now its more important than ever to support your local shows.

Showing can get expensive-fast. Mom talks about it with me all the time. Together we review how I did, how much it cost, how much she enjoyed herself, and whether or not I had an enjoyable time as well. She claims the last two are the most important, however, I know its the first and the last. While we try to do a few "big" shows a year (registry supported shows/nationals qualifiers) we often have the most fun at the "local" shows. These are shows that are not just near by but smaller. They don't have the vendors that others do, if they have any at all, they're usually a part of a series, and put on for fun by a person or ranch. More often than not they don't cost much but provide valuable experience for both horse and rider/handler. Judges seem to be more willing to explain why something is the way it is, why they placed a certain horse how they did, and what they're looking for exactly. This is all knowledge that every show-human should strive to constantly attain. Even if you're not showing a horse because you don't have one or can't show yours at the moment there are always volunteer options for these small shows. They run off volunteers! Or, if you can't commit the time, just show up and support the show. Support any vendor that's there or make a small donation towards the show. It helps horses like me who need these shows for training, those who can't show with a registry show (or don't want to/can't pay the money to), and most importantly, these are where kids start showing first.

Grab a Bridle & Bit. They have local shows listed. Head out and cheer on the best looking horse there, or even better, show your horse!

Horse Soccer and Weekly Updates

It's been a while since I've done an update. Summer is slow for me and I don't get out much due to the heat. The fall brought very long days for Mom which allowed for very little computer time for me. However, Mom and I sat down and did some New Years resolutions. The main one being that I need to update my blog with some consistency. I've decided that by every Monday I'll have a new post. If I can't post something specifically about me or my adventures I'll post something horse related and interesting. Fortunately for every one I do have some interesting stuff to show you that has to do with me!

About a year or so ago horse soccer was getting really big and my feeding-lady decided to invest in one of these soccer balls. Although I'd been given the opportunity to play with the soccer ball I didn't really understand how until this year. When Mom decided to see what I'd do with it I took to it like a dog to a bone! She was kind enough to film me playing with it. It's about a minute and a half long (give it time to load).

The "biggest littlest horse show" is coming up in March. Unlike last year this show is only 2 days long (Saturday + Sunday). Mom is a little disappointed as this means the show has become smaller than in the past, however, I'm excited because with the show being on the weekend more people can come. The class schedule hasn't been posted yet but the dates are March 24th and 25th. It's the 25th year the show has been running (its also my first year with the adult stallions)! Its thanks to this very show 15 or so years ago that Mom got into miniature horses. Pretty neat huh?

Finally, an Update

The Arizona Touch of Class Miniature Horse Show came and went. Mom was super busy during the show and after as school and my training occupied most of her time. This of course made her neglect to give me time on the computer to update my blog. I kept trying to tell her all my followers would be disappointed in me and here we are, almost two months later and I'm only now getting to update my blog. So I'm sorry for the delay!

This year at the show I had my own custom set up. I'm pretty sure that the trailer was bought solely for me so that I'm able to have a stall at my shows, though Mom insists its also to haul the other horses in. With some nifty miniature horse sized stall panels, some hay, and a bucket of water I instantly had a place to relax while waiting in between classes at the show. Friday I was even nice enough to share some extra space with Missy. I had a lot of visitors come up and pet me while I was waiting for my classes, I always enjoy meeting new people and they seem to enjoy meeting me just as much!

I ended up being the smallest full grown miniature at the show with my official measurement being 25.5 inches. Friday I had three classes: Open two year old stallions under 28", amateur junior stallions, and liberty. I placed third, second, and fourth respectively. While fourth may not seem so great for liberty that class was the largest I've ever been in. There were 14 horses! I was not only the smallest but the youngest. As soon as the music started and I felt Mom take off my halter I took off running! The judges said if I had only trotted just a little bit more I would have place much higher, if not have gotten the blue (first). That gave Mom and I a goal for next year: more trotting!

Saturday I only had one class and that was costume. I was up against a pretty little filly dressed up as a male trainer (yuck!). I'm happy to report that I took first place in my pinata costume! The crowd went wild over me. After the class a few people came up for pictures and just to meet me. All I wanted to do was follow that filly. Even if she was dressed up like a man I was in love! Mom had to ruin my new found love by reminding me about Missy who was waiting for me at home.
On Sunday I didn't have a class so I stayed home while Missy went to show. She had three classes that day: open senior mares under 28", amateur senior mares, and solid colored mares. Mom was showing Missy in the open class and got second place then reserve champion out of all the senior mares. Amanda showed Missy in the amateur class and got first place! Unfortunately Missy wasn't exactly thrilled about showing (she's not like me, she'd much rather stay at home than be in the lime light) so by the time the champion class came around her attitude was sour and she wouldn't put her ears forward for the world. It cost her a championship. Maybe next time Missy! In her color class she placed third, not too bad.

Since the show life at home has been pretty quiet. I've been training and conditioning with Mom but I haven't gone to any more shows. The last show here was an AMHR show. Mom didn't think I had AMHR paperwork and wanted to wait a little longer before hardshipping me into the registry. Turns out that I DO have AMHR paperwork! Mom was updating my breeder on how my show went and discussing future plans to hardship me into AMHR when Janet told my Mom that she had filed the stallion report just didn't finish actually registering me. All Mom has to do is send in the paperwork and I'll be fully registered. This is a huge relief as it wont be even half as complicated to register me now as it would've been to hardship me.

I didn't end up going to the Phoenix Pet Expo, sorry if you were looking forward to seeing me there. Mom's car had been having problems and she didn't want to risk getting stuck far away from home with me. She was keeping my safety in mind, like all good mothers do.

Mom is done with school for the summer, well, save one online class. Next fall she starts her student teaching then she graduates with her bachelors. Until fall comes though her days will be devoted to me. Maybe I'll even get to go to her work again like I've done every summer. I love seeing the kids!

Oh, I also got a twitter so that I can do small updates through out the day or at least during important events like the horse show. Follow me to receive fun updates on my life @thekinson

Well, that's it for now! I promise I wont let Mom keep me from updating for so long again! Until next time, I'm out!

Missy's First Show

The first show of 2011 happened over the weekend and as it turns out, I'm not the only winner in the family.


Missy and I took the show circuit by storm. Our Moms looked almost as good as we did. The only bad part about the day was how cold it was and how early I had to get up! We had to be at the show grounds by 8 am, unfortunately we didn't get there until almost 9 so everything was done in a rush. Thankfully Missy and I were groomed the day before so there wasn't much that needed to be done.

We knew the show would either be full of other minis, preparing for the big upcoming show, or there wouldn't be any there besides us. We were wrong on both counts! There was a decent sized turn out but not a huge amount of minis and all were mares. Missy beat them all though and walked away with the blue. Since there were no other stallions I got a blue by default then had to compete for the championship.

I didn't exactly want to beat Missy but I didn't want to loose to her either! The championship would show who really is the best Mini. I'm happy to report that your favorite stallion, that's right, me, Kinson, took the championship! Missy's mom claims it because she didn't have Missy set up and look her prettiest but I think its just an excuse. After all, aren't I the most handsome mini you've ever seen? Mom keeps telling me to be modest because this was a small show and the judge isn't an AMHA judge. March is when we'll see how good I really am.

Mom can say what she wants. I'm proud of my ribbon and I know she is too. Small show or not it still takes a good horse to win. Lucky for us there's two great horses in this family. I can't wait for the AMHA shows in March, especially Touch of Class, where there will be many other mini's and we'll really have to strut our stuff. We're hoping to make enough points to qualify for nationals. Wish us luck!

As good as Missy and I look in blue ribbons, we look even better with championship rosettes and sashes!

Mom is trying to decide if I will continue to compete in the Show Circuit shows or if we'll switch to Blue Ribbon series. Show Circuit has specific mini classes but Blue Ribbon offers better high point rewards and is an overall better show. For now I'll be competing in both, until one can be decided on. I will fill in my Tour Stops for April and May soon, I've been really busy with all this show prep!

I do know that I will be at the Phoenix Pet Expo on May 7th. Hopefully Missy will be there too, but I can't make any promises. She's not as portable as I am! She demands a whole trailer when she travels. Pffft! I just need myself and a car to get me where I'm going! Missy also doesn't like a lot of strangers touching and petting her, so she needs to get over that if she wants to come with me. Come see me at the expo if you're there! Just follow the crowd that will be following the cutest pet there.

Until next time, I'm out!

First Clip of the year and Ace Hardware

You know show season is in full swing when Mom busts out the clippers and decides to strip me of the clothes I've worked so hard to grow for the cold winter days! This year Mom wanted to do it in "steps" which basically was an excuse to give me different funny hair cuts for a day then fix it. This one was her favorite. She calls it my "70's boots" look. Ugh. Thankfully she fixed it a few hours later! Now I'm clipped up and handsome for all the ladies I'm going to see at all the shows this season.

Since I was all clipped up and looking so good Mom loaded me into the truck (otherwise known as my personal trailer) and took me to Ace Hardware to pick up some feed for all of us horses, though I think since I went to go pick it up it should be solely mine! I went to Ace before, when I wasn't even a yearling. Every one enjoyed seeing me back and seeing how, well, little I've grown. I went in my fancy new shoes. Mom loves them because they look like miniature converse and they light up when I walk. I like them because I don't slip on the floor!

While there I ran into Scratch, the store cat. The horses on the other side of my fence have a cat but its not nearly as fat as this one! This guy is HUGE, and he doesn't like it when you remind him of that! When I told him then went to get a closer look all he did is hiss at me. Kind of like the last time.. Mom said I should have learned my lesson the first time. I forgot since it had been so long. Since Scratch didn't want much to do with me it was onto the next thing in the store.

I found the dog section in the store and decided to be nice to Kia and shop for a bone for her. Mom told me no, she has enough and can't have that kind anyway, so I had to leave empty handed. Sorry Kia! Since there wasn't anything I needed we headed to the check out to go buy the feed. Back into the truck I went as we went around the back of the store to get it. I all but drooled in Mom's lap as I watched them load bale after bale of delicious grass into the truck bed. I didn't understand why I couldn't just eat it all right then! I did get to enjoy a nice handful though. After everything was all loaded we headed on home so I could have some free time in the big pen with Avalon and Cody. Since my new ramp for the truck and new shoes for on tile work so well Mom will be bringing me to even more places this year. She says Amanda and Missy will probably come too!

Until my next adventure, I'm out!

Welcome 2011

Happy New Year! Have you all quit or broken your New Year resolutions yet? Mine was to not bite any more... I broke it within a day, oops! I hope 2011 brings you lots of good luck and happy times, especially with your horses. I know 2011 is bringing me a lot of shows and a lot of training.

When I made the long drive from Wisconsin to Arizona I was in a horse trailer, but I've never ridden in one since. Mom and Amanda were working with Missy on loading into a trailer so I thought I'd go see what all the fuss is about. I hopped right on in with out any hesitation and to my surprise found treats in this wonderful horse box! Of course once I discovered that trailers hide treats I couldn't stay out of there. Mom finally had to lock me up in my stall to get me to stop.

Just before New Year's Eve it snowed in Arizona! Thats right, SNOW! Mom had to remind me what the cold white flakes were. I had seen them back in Wisconsin but had yet to see it out here. Appearently its pretty rare for it to snow in Cave Creek, or anywhere south of Flagstaff, Arizona. It was pretty neat to see snow here, but boy was it cold! That's not me in the picture by the way, that's Boogie Nights-a missouri fox trotter that lives here. But you can see my tarped up stall in the back around. Its officially known as the "Kinsita" in the summer and the "Aquarium" in the winter.

I'm becomming a stallion more and more every day which means Mom is getting more and more strict with her rules and my training is also increasing. I still have my moments though. Last Thursday while Mom was getting Amanda's whip from the car I decided I didn't want to watch Missy work then work myself so I made a run for it. I pulled on the lead rope when Mom was least expecting it, nipped her leg, then slipped right out of her hand and when gallopping up the street. Of course Mom yelled and followed in hot persuit, but I ignored her. I was free! Once I hit a crossroad I decided to take it, and started running towards a major and quite busy street. But my hoof caught my leaprope and that was my downfall. I came to a quick stop, allowing Mom to get pretty darn close to me. I made a mad dash towards her when she called my name again, then, at the last second, veered right and slipped free again! But again that leadrope stopped me. Mom managed to step on it, causing me to stop, then grab the rope. Mom said it was the scariest time in her life, I thought it was a blast! She keeps a lot closer eye on me now. I guess that wont be happening again any time soon.

Check out my tour dates page. I've added all the known stops for 2011. Until next time, I'm out!

The Show Circuit

Yesterday was the first show of the season! Grandma couldn't make it out (Mom wasn't sure that she was going to actually show me up until a few hours before). Amanda managed to make it out to the show with me-she even sat in the back of the car with me! It was hot during the day and Mom was worried that it would be too hot for me to show. Does she forget that I live outside?! It was cool by the time the show started. Usually before shows I'm bathed, shaved, bathed again, then fancied up. This time I got a nice cool bath and only my face buzzed (I no longer sport my majestic goat beard). I didn't even have to run for weeks before to get totally trim! Mom was saying she wished we had prepped more though because the mares there were looking good!! There's always next time, right mom?

I'm a pro at gong places and showing now. Nothing at the show really seemed to get me excited. Amanda commented on how you would never know I was a stallion because of how calm I am. Even though there were other miniatures at the show I was by far the smallest. I think that's why I get so much attention at shows, because I'm so tiny and devastatingly handsome. From the time I stepped out of the car there were swarms of people that approached me. I don't mind the petting but these strangers aren't Mom, Grandma, or my friends-they don't know my itchy spots! After all the attention it was finally time for me to enter the arena. I've had all summer off and I kind of forgot what to do in the show ring. I happened to remember what to do after the class had been pinned. Oops! Sorry Mom, I'll do better next time (and you'll groom me better too, right?)! I took second. Not bad but I know with some training and grooming I can do blue. We stuck around to watch the cart class which was actually pretty big. It had six entries. Aurthur Ramirez was there showing his cart horses. Maybe one day when I'm older I'll pull a cart. Until then I'll leave that to Avalon. After the cart class had finished we headed off to meet Amanda's parents who had really wanted to see just how tiny I was. By then I was exhausted but I hung in there. The little dogs, at least I think they were dogs I've never seen ones so small, kept barking and growling at me as if I was scary! I got a carrot as a treat then it was time to call it a night. I got into mom's car again and we headed home to my cozy stall which had my dinner waiting for me. Its official: show season has started. Training season has started.

I'm out!,