Minnesota Miniature Horse Club
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Club News
Item: The Minnesota Miniature Horse Club has an all-star lineup for the Area VI National Show it is hosting over the Fourth of July weekend in Winona, MN. Mark Bullington, the best voice in the business, will be the ring announcer and, along with Judge Pat Sanders, Show Manager Jeanne Bragagnini and Steward Dean Duxbury, will help make the Area VI National Show one of the premier events of the 2010 show season.
Item: The Minnesota Miniature Horse Club re-elected several officers at its annual elections meeting Jan. 10, 2010. Re-elected were president Clair Severson, vice president Eleanor Mondale, treasurer Andrea Severson, secretary Mary Wilson and board member Bob Sansevere.
Item: The Minnesota Miniature Horse Club is soliciting volunteers from its membership to help out with duties associated with hosting the Area VI National Show July 2-3-4 at the Minnesota Equestrian Center in Winona, as well as the MMHC club show July 23-24-25 at the same location. Among the duties needed to be filled are ring announcer and show secretary. Contact MMHC president Clair Severson or a board member for more information.
Item: If you are holding a raffle ticket with the number 139093, you are the lucky winner of a concho set. The winning number was drawn Jan. 10, 2010 at the MMHC club meeting in Shakopee. If you have that number, contact a board member to find out how to claim your prize. If the holder of that raffle ticket does not step forward before the next club meeting, an alternate number will be awarded the concho set. That number also was selected at the Jan. 10 meeting.
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: MMHC club member Richard Sievert sent along this wonderful story that transcends the Christmas season:
A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre-
Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly
parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they
had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge
pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the
tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a
landmark in the countryside. The young siblings had fond memories
of their childhood here but the city hustle and bustle added more
excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life.
The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had
taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty
mornings was getting harder but it gave them a reason to get up in
the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each
year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and
contentment at day's end.
Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the
old folks. "Why do you not at least dispose of 'The Old One." She
is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals
from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for
yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but
expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"
The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes,
scuffed at the barn floor and replied, " Yes I could use a pair of
new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he
drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her
ears. He replied softly, "We keep her because of love. Nothing
else, just love."
Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his
wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness
stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in
sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their
cheeks. How is it that these young folks do not understand the
peace of the love that filled their hearts?
So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed
the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn.
one saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".
In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry
flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror
and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he
raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were
roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing
to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from
calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other,
they wept at their loss.
By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing
ruins were left, and the old man and his wife exhausted from their
grief huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as
they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to
the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man
turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as
his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red
bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has
spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength
and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in
times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks
to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most
precious gifts that have been taken from us.
And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy
hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and
withered hand.
The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep
snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the
hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the
old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the
incredible beauty before them.
Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught
up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine,
and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most
bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had
a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were
breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.
Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy.
Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her
forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist
hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas
gift. Shadows glistening in the night light.
Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was
the entire herd, safe.
At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her
muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great
dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping
cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed
about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry
flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips
and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new
years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she
moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now,
she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his
wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was
brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were
filled with devotion as she offered her gift---
Because of love. Only Because of love.
Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy, And
again the peace of love filled their hearts.
This is a true story.
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Here is a list of of e-mail addresses for MMHC club members:
Here is a list of of e-mail addresses for MMHC club members:
"a broll" <a_broll@msn.com>,
dazzlemjack@msn.com, sbrooks@pclink.com, lesbunke@yahoo.com,
triangleme@mchsi.com, jmvalleybrookranch@q.com, mlbonde@hotmail.com,
echoacres@peoplepc.com, claybury@aol.com, eecameron@earthlink.net,
ljmh@siouxvalley.net, dmgemstone@aol.com, armstrongT@westerntc.edu,
mcavil@kmtel.com, goldmetalic@aol.com, gfb2u@aol.com, gdarocky@frontiernet.net,
bokaflem@wildblue.net, mrzfarms@frontiernet.net, littlehorses02@embarqmail.com,
showtime1@iowatelecom.net, jllminis@yahoo.com, henrys@pitel.net,
poniesinthepine@yahoo.com, info@riverwoodminiatureequine.com,
dmmeadley@hotmail.com, sljrlindsey@msn.com, Ahnrchs@q.com, minimahal@aol.com,
kmhenn@new.rr.com, rcwhorses@wildblue.net, "k mellenberndt"
<k.mellenberndt@worldnet.att.net>, adjjanet@hughes.net,
woodstock@unitelc.com, nknudsen@myclearwave.net, darlindeb52@msn.com,
jmjorgenson@frontiernet.net, meyerscl@hughes.net, pinataminiatures@yahoo.com,
minihorsesd@yahoo.com, mk55bluedog@yahoo.com, debdarinh@msn.com,
minisota@myclearwave.net, miniature316@hotmail.com, "ohenrys
minitails" <ohenrys_minitails@hotmail.com>,
kdmlittlepintos@frontiernet.net, nkohns@comcast.net, "nancy jo
johnson" <nancy.jo.johnson@state.mn.us>, acthies@citilink.com,
jv92votca@aol.com, r-realty@bevcomm.net, marysansevere@earthlink.net,
ramakerjs@worldnet.att.net, shandoaharabmini@yahoo.com, wndrmini@mhtc.net,
rsievert@prodigy.net, equine131313@msn.com, toysminis@aol.com,
minihorseshoeacres@centurytel.net, stormhill@ll.net,
teresa@schaferreporting.com, lilliput@hcinet.net, timberview@iowatelecom.net,
djsieg@frontiernet.net, bobsansevere@yahoo.com, lms1200@mlecmn.net,
smallfarms@msn.com, pokie@lakeland.ws, barbnarne@aol.com, ellen@pitel.net,
cwgrl2882@yahoo.com, Tltibbs@aol.com, lindavan@hickorytech.net, "severson
andrea" <severson.andrea@gmail.com>
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