Very Small Equines

Very Small Equines

Our VSEs
Ambleside is home to an assortment of addictive small horses! Miniature horses and ponies have been a wonderful way to get into the excitement of carriage driving. My first "mini" was an small pony gelding named Martin who was self-possessed, stubborn, an escape artist, and the most fun I'd ever had! He could pull a buggy like nobody's business and travelled many miles with him along over the famous Vermont hills.

Since then, I've owned and trained some wonderfully memorable characters that I have loved (or still do!) dearly. Traveller is the first miniature horse that I trained start to finish myself, and I have been continuing the wonderful business of training ever since. Fortunately for me, the fun of working closely with horses exceeds (if only slightly) the sadness of parting with them when they are ready for their new home. Each member of our present herd has a place below.

Traveller Registered AMHA Stiehl's Mystical Twilight, Traveller was purchased from the Stiehl family in Minnesota. He is a very dark color--likely a summer black--and is a smashing little driving horse! Traveller is the first horse I trained and I am so proud of him. He made a very nice debut into showing during the summer of 2004 and has shown an aptitude for ADT and CDE type events. Though often the shortest horse at a competition (he stands about 30 inches high), Traveller is always in the ribbons (often first!) in speed events. Traveller is also trick-trained: before he was old enough to begin carriage training I taught him to bow, rear, paw on command, park out, and come when called! He is one the smartest, most willing partners I have ever met.

Dorian SOLD Dorian--AMHA registered Goldhat's Rowdy Dorian--is by a great grandson of the immortal Rowdy (a descendant who was quite a show horse himself) and is a striking tobiano palomino. Dorian began his driving training late summer/fall '07 and is progressing much more efficiently than I had allowed myself to anticipate. Already he is driving steadily on the roads around our farm and has impressive energy and power in his pulling gaits. He is also a doll on the ground and is the choice pony that our ten year old takes out to play with and brush. Dorian has a nice arab head and often travels with his tail up.

Pheonix SOLD Pheonix is a gorgeous fire-red chestnut colt born June 2 2007. His mother is the incomparable Felicia (now sold), from whom he inherited his huge eyes and elegant neck, and his sire is Goldhat's Rowdy Dorian. Dorian, our beautiful palomino tobiano stallion, has passed on his dishy face, wonderful straight legs, and good shoulder to his son.

Pheonix was born brave! He came wobbling right up to us the moment we walked in (just hours after he was born!) and enjoyed being scratched and fussed over while his mother ate. Now, he can run like a rocket and capers around impishly. He comes zooming over for petting and I have even picked him up for a better hug! At less than two months, Pheonix was halter-trained and can now accompany his dam on walks around the neighborhood.

Duchess A 40" registered shetland pony (of the American type), Snyder's Stormy's Ebony Duchess was a pleasant surprise addition to our family. She is an absolutely stunning black mare with tall white socks and a true fairytale mane and forelock. Aside from her natural good looks, she is hands down the best driving pony I've ever trained. With a patient start, she is now our safest pony and will drive in town through the traffic, past neighborhoods with bikes and kids and dogs, over railroad tracks and puddles, and happily respond to everything I ask her to do. She is a button-touch driving horse and a fabulously quiet, even-tempered mare to be around. I know that she is going to go far in life and if I don't keep her myself, will make someone very happy.

Rebecca Duchess' daughter, reg'd Pallas Rebecca, is a black and white Amazon child. She was born with legs as long as her mama's, and was up running and playing with her pasture companion before Duchess had even stood up after labor! For this reason, I gave Rebecca the goddess Athena's epithet: Pallas. Athena was born "fully grown and fully armed," immediately making demands and going to work being a goddess. Our Fully Grown and Fully Armed Pallas Rebecca has continued being our resident warrioress (though she did gracefully consent to halter training and enjoys taking longs walks with her mama between battles).

PS: Rebecca is now a yearling with a personality as beautiful and sweet as I could possibly have asked for. She is a peach to catch, leads like a feather, and is the loveliest pony to be around that we have. Her rockstar mane and forelock are coming in well, and I have no doubt that she will be as intelligent and gorgeous as her dam when she grows up. Her minimal pinto markings are an added flashiness.

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