Its a Trick Life
On this rainy Friday I’ll share with you some photos of Minnow and I performing at the Ludwigs Corner Horse Show last weekend. Minnow was a bit “sluggish” as he was last year as well. I’m not sure why. He was sort of slow to respond to my requests and sometimes wouldn’t do specific tricks. I really don’t know why he was like that – perhaps it was during his normal mid-day nap….who knows? Maybe he didn’t think it was a “real” performance because he wasn’t on a “stage” per say. But no matter, everyone loved him anyway…how could you not?
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
**We will always remember 9.11.01
A New Addition
Minnow at the Ludwigs Corner Horse Show
Recently I have been training a new addition to the Trick Ponies of Chincoteague. And although he’s not really a pony, he likes to think he is. Ammo, my 11 month old Dachshund, has officially begun his training to be part of the trick pony gang. Last week you saw that I taught Minnow and him to give eachother kisses. This trick was in preparation to have Ammo attend the Ludwigs Corner Horse Show with Minnow and I.
I even made Ammo a shirt that said “Trick Pony Side-Kick”. And a side-kick was just what he was.
Ammo at the Ludwigs Corner Horse Show
I kept having to push the time that Minnow was going to paint back because the organizers of the show wanted him to paint after a specific demonstration (which of course was running really late). So in order to please the crowd that was growing around my small coral I decided to have Minnow do a few tricks. Not his skit, just some fun tricks. So I brought Minnow out and had him up on his pedestal, shaking hands, kissing me, playing fetch. And then I remembered Ammo.
Ammo trotted into the arena and did some of his tricks. The crowd favorite is “Bang Bang” – where I pretend to shoot Ammo with a fake gun and he staggers to the ground and “dies”. It makes me laugh everytime, mostly because Ammo exaggerates it so much. I then had Minnow and Ammo kiss eachother, everyone loved this trick, as do I. Its quite adorable.
I’d love to come up with an act to showcase Ammo’s and Minnow’s tricks someday. I think they would be such a funny pair together. The hard part is that Chincoteague is not the most dog-friendly island. Most of the hotels don’t allow dogs, and you can’t take them into the fairgrounds and many of the parks. It seems to be the one place where horses take president over dogs!
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
Pony Artist
On Saturday Minnow and I attended the Ludwigs Corner Horse Show. Minnow performed some of his tricks and then painted a few paintings for onlookers. This year’s event drew a much bigger crowd for Minnow than last year. Many people had even heard of Minnow and we’re excited to see him. This week I plan to share with you some photos and videos from the event (as soon as I am able to snag them from my dad).
"Adeline's Pinky"
So today I thought I would share with you the two new paintings that Minnow created while at Ludwigs. This was the first time Minnow painted since our trip about a month ago to Chincoteague Island. His first painting was titled “Adeline’s Pinky” aptly named by the 4 year old girl who it was purchased for. She dawned a little pink cowboy hat and was in love with everything pink. So her wonderful grandmother decided to purchase the painting for her. It was evident after Saturday that Minnow needs to get more in touch with his feminine side. All of the little girls were wanting their parents to purchase them the pink painting. Sadly I only had one, but I told them not to worry – Minnow’s always up for custom work.
"Feathers in the Wind"
The next painting was meant for the boys (or girls) – with its bright blue background. This painting I titled “Feathers in the Wind” because the light airy brushstrokes reminded me of floating feathers. This painting is still available for purchase and would make some lucky child (or adult) very happy. So if you are in love with this one you better snatch it up fast. Minnow’s paintings have been flying off the shelf this year and I’m not sure when we will have time again to paint more.
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
A Kiss for my Friend
Time to reveal Minnow’s newest trick – I know you are dying in anticipation! This is the first time I have worked with two animals on one trick. Currently I work each trick pony separately – Boomer and Blitz are too young to work in conjunction with Minnow because they don’t understand waiting their turn. Eventually I hope to have all 3 trick ponies performing at once, but we’re a long way from that goal. So you may be wondering who collaborated on the trick then? Well it was Ammo, the Dachshund.
Ammo and Minnow are great pals. I’ve never seen a horse – dog relationship quite like it. And as I plan to attend tomorrow’s horse show with both Minnow and Ammo I thought it was only fitting I teach them a trick together. They are cute aren’t they? I was clicking when Minnow reached up and touched Ammo (Minnow added the lip flare on his own) and then both animals got a reward. Minnow got grain and Ammo got a cheerio. Less than a minute before I filmed this is when I first asked Minnow to “Kiss the Dachshund” – as you can see he mastered this trick in mere seconds. My amazingly smart wonder pony (and the Dachshund too).
Tonight I’m planning to practice working this trick into Minnow’s beach act. I’m even making Ammo a t-shirt that he can wear for the performance. Sadly I bought him a baby onesie at goodwill (and it fits!) So now the plan is to figure out what to write on it. I’m thinking “I rode a Chincoteague Pony” or “BFF with a Pony” or “Trick Pony Side-kick” – suggestions are welcome!!
I hope everyone enjoys their labor-day weekend. I’m looking forward to mine! I’ll hopefully have lots of photos and videos from the performance to share on tuesday.
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
Will a fat pony resist lush grass?
So after a mini-vacation for Minnow and myself after our trip to Chincoteague I finally got a chance to do some trick training yesterday. We basically took the whole month of August off (aside from our mounted games competition in NJ) and it was high time I got back to some training.
On Saturday Minnow and I will be attending the Ludwigs Corner Horse Show as part of the entertainment on Family Day. We’ll have a small fenced in coral near the booths and tents to perform in – with a 1pm and 3:30pm show. The key is that this coral will be placed on a bed of lush grass. Very tempting for a fat pony that spends most of his day with a muzzle on due to his arthritis and inability to be exercised.
So in order to not embarrass myself I decided it was probably best if I practiced performing with Minnow on grass. And what better place than the pasture that Minnow is turned out in! So I lugged all of Minnow’s equipment out to the pasture and set up my camera (of course I thought of all of you who read my blog – how kind of me to make a video for you!)
First I will let you watch the video, then I’ll explain further:
As you can see Minnow stayed with me the entire time. Even though his trick pony partner, Boomerang, is in the background grazing. I think Minnow displayed great self control, and demonstrated just how clicker training can help create a language and a bond between horse and trainer. I can guarantee you that if I was training Minnow with force or pressure (as many trainers do) he would definitely not stay with me. Clicker Training has created a positive experience for Minnow, and even though I know he’d much rather eat grass and not have to work at all, he has chosen that being with me and working for a reward is something that he would like to do. Did I mention I love this pony?
Tomorrow I will share with a video of a new trick that I taught Minnow yesterday. Its quite different in that this time I have decided to work with two animals at once. You’ll just have to check the blog tomorrow in order to see the debut of this amazing new trick!
-KD
http://www.ponypaintings.com
