Mini- horse competition ropes in fans of all ages
Animals bred to please royalty entertain at annual fair
The annual miniature horse competition delighted an all- ages crowd at the Pacific National Exhibition this week, drawing collective “awwws” from young and old alike gathered in the Agrodome stands.
The horses — which may look like ponies but are an entirely distinct breed — competed in cart driving, obstacle courses, jumping and a number of other events throughout the day.
Debbie Olsen, 55, and her “bestest boy” Nooner, a nine-year-old miniature horse, took home several first- place ribbons.
Olsen has been competing and raising miniature horses since 1980, after a back injury prevented her from riding regular- sized horses. ( People, by the way, don’t ride the mini equines; they either sit in the carts or trot along beside them.) “They have a wonderful personality [ and] they’re very easy to get along with,” Olsen said. “They’re smart ... like a dog is smart.”
Lena McMurtry, 14, was among the youngest contestants at the event. She said one of her favourite competitions is the versatility round, where horses are judged on how they drive and jump and on their appearance. “I have done very well so far,” she said, midway through the all- day competition. “I’ve got quite a few firsts and some seconds and a few thirds.”
McMurtry was introduced to miniature horses four or five years ago, after a pony her family was raising on their 50- acre farm in Victoria died of colic.
“A lady that I knew decided to give us [ a miniature horse] and the numbers got higher from there,” she said, petting the miniature horse, Riot, she competed with on Wednesday.
Two of the tiniest non- horse competitors at the event were Colton, 5, and Emily, 2, who participated in the costume round. Colton, Emily and their five- year- old miniature horse, Rain, were awarded first place — along with all the other young contestants — for dressing up as Captain America, the Flash and Batman, respectively.
Their mother, Shirley Bradbury, 39, said she started raising miniature horses on her family’s five- acre farm in Langley after her two kids were born. “The kids really enjoy them,” she said, and “it’s something we can do as a family since they’re a lot safer than big horses.”
Although miniature horses are often confused with ponies, there are a number of differences. A miniature is a scaled- down version of a horse, with longer legs for its size. The head is also in proportion to its body, as are its feet. Ponies, on the other hand, have thick, broad bodies and thick necks. Their legs are also proportionately shorter.
The first record of a miniature horse dates back to 1650, when King Louis XIV maintained a vast zoo — including tiny horses — at Versailles, according to the U. S.- based Guide Horse Foundation.
“They used to be given as gifts for royalty and [ later] they used them for pit ponies,” said Olsen, referring to the stockier miniature horses that were bred for use in mines.
These days, miniature horses can cost anywhere from $ 500 to more than $ 150,000, said Olsen, depending on the owner’s requirements.