Item: The Minnesota Miniature Horse Club has been chosen as the host of the 2010 National Area VI show, which will be held in Winona over the Fourth of July weekend.

Item: The MMHC's July and August shows were a rousing success, with the July show attracting nearly 200 Miniature horses and Shetland Ponies over the Fourth of July weekend and the August show bringing in nearly 100 Miniature horses. Timothy Johnson received rave reviews as the photographer for the ASPC/AMHR and AMHA Shows July 3-5, 2009 in Winona. He had a kiosk with several viewing screens at the show, so exhibitors could browse at their convenience. Show manager Jeanne Bragagnini did an outstanding job at both shows. (The photo at right shows youth who took part in the MMHC July show in Winona.)

Item: Samantha Sansevere, 14, was a Princess at the 2009 Shetland Congress and her younger brother Sawyer, 12, was the Junior Ambassador at AMHR Nationals in September.

Item: MMHC member Jim Barenklau has been named the new president of AMHA. Congratulations to Jim, who owns, with his wife, Lynn, L&J Miniature Horses in Montrose, SD.

Item: Larka's Dark Delight, owned by MMHC members Tom and Carmie Viebrock, has been chosen as the 2008 AMHR Performance Horse of the Year in the Over division. Larka's Dark Delight had an outstanding show season with trainer Larry Parnell, winning Open Roadster and Roadster Stakes at AMHR Nationals.

Item: Samantha Sansevere of Enchanted Hollow received a couple of prestigious awards related to the 2008 AMHR show season. Samantha was the recipient of the Sarah Tennant Memorial Youth Jumper Division B award for the third year in a row. She and her horse, Quail Creek's Rumorhasit, also have won the AMHR Nationals Youth Jumper national championship two years in a row in the 8-12 age group. And, along with her horse, D&S Double Dutch Chocolate, Samantha won the 2008 AMHR Youth Horse of the Year award in the B Division. Samantha and Dutch had a terrific 2008 show season in both AMHR and ASPC competition, winning National and Reserve National championships. Samantha's win with Dutch in Youth Classic Country Pleasure Driving at Shetland Congress helped Dutch become the High-Point Pony at the prestigious national event.

Item: MMHC member Dave Bunke, with Oneka's Raja's Classic Reo, was selected as the AMHR "AAA Amateur Award" winner in the Over performance division for 2008.

Item: The 2009 MMHC Educational Clinic Fundraiser held April 4 in Mankato was a great success thanks to organizers Linda VanRossum, Maureen Storm and Marilyn Anderson. The clinic included demonstrations and presentations by professional trainer and MMHC president Clair Severson, AMHR/ASPC/ASPR carded judge and MMHC member Adam Longman, multiple national driving champion and MMHC member Robby Barth, multiple national Hunter/Jumper champions and MMHC members Bob, Mary and Sawyer Sansevere, veterinarian Scott Lang and farrier Kerry Haugh. There also was a silent auction and raffle as well as bake and poster sales. All proceeds benefitted the MMHC. Congratulations to Deb Jeno of Fairbault, MN, winner of the drawing for a $100 Cub Foods gift certificate.

Item: MMHC member Renee Bush of Claybury Training Center in Princeton, MN, has been appointed an Upper Midwest Regional Ambassador for Purina Feeds. She will conduct clinics and educational events with Purina Feed equine specialist Kris Hansen, who said, “Renee is an excellent voice and professional leader for us to partner with. We praise her for her successes in the Show Ring and appreciate her professional demeanor while talking with horse people." Renee, who has trained national and grand champions, said, "I am truly honored to be a Purina Feeds Ambassador. I used to worry if my horses and ponies were getting the proper nutrition. I have tried many brands but none of them have given me the results I have had with Purina Feeds. I thought about the horses and ponies I have had most success with and all of them were fed Purina Equine Feeds. So, I am committed now more than ever to Purina and I no longer worry about if they are getting what they need, both in nutrition and quality. From our pasture ornaments to our National Grand Champions, Purina has a feed that fits that equine's needs."

Item: The MMHC's Gelding Incentive program winners for 2008 were announced at the club's annual meeting in October. First Knights Bit O Glamour Boy, owned and shown by Tina Walsh, won AMHA Super Gelding. (First Knights Bit O Glamour Boy and Tina Walsh are pictured at right.) Mini Mahal State of the Art, shown by Toy Miniatures and owner Eleanor Mondale, won AMHR A Super Gelding. Houcks McSub Zero, owned by Eleanor Mondale, won AMHA Youth and AMHR A Youth. Mini Mahals SZ Peter Pan, owned by Eleanor Mondale and shown by Shelby Larson and Ingrid Boyum, won AMHR B Youth. (Shelby Larson and Eleanor Mondale are pictured at left with awards.) B.C.'s Third Flash Bullet, owned and by shown by Merrill Meyer, won AMHR B Super Gelding. (B.C.'s Third Flash Bullett and Merrill Meyer are pictured at left. A photo of Mini Mahals SZ Peter Pan and Ingrid Boyum in a jumping class can be seen on the MMHC home page.)

Item: T-shirts with the new youth-designed logo are available. All you have to do is put in a call to Budget Printing in Long Lake and order your shirt with a credit card. You can pick up the shirt at Budget Printing or make arrangements for them to send it to you. Budget's number is 952-476-2635.

Item: The Minnesota State Fair includes classes for Miniature horses. Why should I go to the Minnesota State Fair and show my Miniature horses? An AMHA-sanctioned show for years, exhibiting at the State Fair can be a fun and rewarding experience in more ways than one. 

It can be financially rewarding. Placing in some halter classes in the top three can pay back what you spent on the show plus a few dollars more. As an example, you pay $6 to enter a class, place third and get $15 back. Driving classes cost $20 and first place pays $55, second $45, third $35, etc.,
per judge in a two-judge show. The championship Stakes class in the Coliseum pay out is $600 per judge ($1200 total) and pays to eighth place.

You do have to rent a stall for $60 and buy daily gate admission tickets, which will help alleviate some of your heavy earnings concerns. The show is held on a weekend. You can take off Friday afternoon and be back to work Monday morning.

It can be a lot of fun, visiting and competing with associate miniature horse people, as well as seeing and talking with friends (other breed horse people, visitors, and fair goers). You can usually work in some time to see some of the fair exhibits, shows, or ride some of the rides on the midway. It is always amazing; the number of people that are in awe, having never heard of or seen a Miniature horse before. This has been one of only three AMHA-sanctioned shows held in a seven-state area (two in Minnesota and one in South Dakota).

The show dates are such that it becomes one of the last point-qualifier shows for the AMHA World Show. See ya at the Fair! Ya Betcha!

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