Posts Tagged ‘assateague
Trick Horse in Chincoteague
Ok, so those of you following this blog have probably been WAITING for me to post an update on how my trip to Chincoteague Island with Minnow went. We had kind of spotty internet – so posting down there wasn’t much of an option, not to mention my days were packed with pony swim excitement and performing! So anyway, this week I’m going to go over how our trip went – complete with videos and pictures from the exciting week.
Today I’m going to share with you some of the videos I took (well had someone else take) of Minnow performing. The first video is of us performing our beach picnic skit. Considering that Minnow learned some of the tricks only a week before our trip I was so proud of him! We had a few little mishaps during the week, like Minnow not wanting to do some of the tricks, but we pressed on and overall I think everyone enjoyed his performance.
This next video is of the Extreme Pony Race. Basically it is one small “act” in the Chincoteague Pony Center Performance in which some of the ponies/riders are asked to go through sort of an obstical course. The whole thing is timed, and if you have to skip a task (or you don’t complete it correctly) then 5 seconds is added onto your time. Minnow was asked to perform the extreme pony race twice during the week – having never seen or tried it before. I had been buting him all week so that he wasn’t in any pain from his arthritis (normally I never ride Minnow), and honestly, he could use the exercise and its good to use his joints sometimes. Anyway, this video is of the first time Minnow tried the extreme pony race, and much to my surprise we won, infact we were undefeated the entire weekend! Go Minnow! If you watch closely you can see me using the bitless bridle with Minnow, I had many comments after the show from people asking about this unique bridle and how I liked it. Of course I think the Bitless Bridle should now sponsor me because I was quite the spokesperson if I do say so myself!
As you can see I didn’t ask Minnow to complete the backup task. He did back up for me at first, but when I asked again he gave me a big head toss. Now I know my pony well, and I decided he was not happy with this request, so I opted to skip the skill. Some people may see this as me being too “soft” and I should of made him do it, but honestly Minnow has done so much for me, and he constantly performs for me when I ask him to, with barely much of a protest. So when I can tell he’s frustrated and not up for it, I opt to let it go and ask for it another day. This is what makes our relationship so special. If you had a bad day and didn’t feel like doing something – and someone forced you to do it anyway, you can bet that the next time that person asked you to do something you’d start to resent them for asking. This is who I like to view horse training. I pick and choose my battles. If I can tell my horse is definitely not in the mood (maybe they are grumpy that day, maybe the flies are bothering them) then I usually decide to save it for another day. 9 times out of 10 if I respect how they are feeling they will perform bigger and better for me the next time I ask.
After the extreme pony race I was actually complimented by several spectators for not making Minnow perform the back up. In the end those compliments were well worth it to me. Minnow was happy, and specators appreciated my decision to make it more enjoyable for my horse.
So there you have it, a little peak into my week on Chincoteague Island. And for those of you wondering, sadly I did not come home with a new foal, but I swear I will someday! I actually had my eye on a georgous colt, you can hear all about it in this weeks posts, so keep reading!
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
Minnow in the News
Yesterday afternoon Chincoteague Minnow and I arrived in Chincoteague, Virginia. We’re to spend all week of the 2009 Pony Penning performing at the Chincoteague Pony Center. Upon arriving I found an article about Minnow and I in the Chinctoeague Beach Comber. You can tell that they pulled excerpts from my local paper in Pennsylvania (apparently I still attended the Univesity of Delaware instead of Kutztown University). Oh well, any press is good press!
So Minnow and I were scheduled to do our first performance at 4pm yesterday at the Pony Center. A horrific thunderstorm loomed through the area with lightning and thunder on top of us. Being that the show requires the Pony Center workers to bring horses in and out of the ring from outside, it was too dangerous to do so in the lightning. So we adlibbed a little – having Minnow start the show with his painting. Minnow was a bit nervous as the flash of the crowds cameras reminded him of lightning. But he eventually settled enough to create a wonderful painting called “Chincoteague Light Storm” which was sold to the highest bidder. As the storm was not passing we improvised on the show and I brought Minnow back in the ring to perform his tricks. We very poorly mad it through his act, as he was still very shaken up by the storm brewing outside. I was proud of him though, it took a lot for him to even do the few tricks that he managed.
We ended up having to cancel the 8pm show due to more storms approaching, but hopefully tonight we will be back on schedule.
I may not be able to post updates on Minnow’s trip each day, but be sure to follow us on Twitter @trickponies for the most current updates on our trip.
(sorry for the lack of photos in this post – we’re having technical issues with spotty hotel internet connection!)
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
Pony Penning Countdown
Only two more days until Minnow and I leave for Pony Penning! So excited! I’ve been shopping for the finishing touches for Minnow’s performance. We need some new paint brushes and Minnow needs some sunscreen (we don’t want him to get burnt at the beach now do we?).
For all of you that are curious about Pony Penning here is a great article from today’s Daily Times. Pony Penning Countdown.
I hope to be able to post updates from Chincoteague about Minnow and his performances! So I’ll try not to leave you all hanging!
And until then, I’ll leave you with some videos from last year’s pony penning.
This next one shows our little “performance” from last year. Last year was when I first started performing with Minnow, and if you have been following our blog along lately you can see that we have evolved GREATLY from this. This year’s act promises to be much more exciting!! So don’t miss seeing it in person at the Chincoteague Pony Centre!
-KD
I’m not a Dog
So I’m starting to think that my Dachshund, Ammo, doesn’t know that he’s a dog. Lately I’ve been taking him to the dog park along with my parent’s Labrador/Austrailian Shepherd mix, Trooper. Trooper, like most normal dogs, romps around and plays with all of the other dogs at the park. Ammo (which I know he’s small) prefers to play by himself in the water (there is a neat stream that runs through the dog park). When other dogs approach him he sucks into a ball and gets very submissive – not only towards bigger dogs, but small dogs too. As soon as they turn their back he starts to romp towards them in a playful manner, but if they turn around again he’s right back to being submissive. Now again, I know he’s small – and I’m sure he’s not the only dog to do this, and I’m not going to force him to play with other dogs if he’s scared – so you may be asking yourself then, why do I think he doesn’t know he’s a dog?
I’ll tell you why. Ammo won’t play with other dogs, but he will play with the trick ponies and the barn cat, Cricket! Very odd considering that the ponies especially should be even scarier to a small Dachshund. Anyway, luckily you don’t have to take my word for it. Just watch these two videos I took the other day.
Sharing the Gift
Next Monday I leave for Chincoteague Island, Virginia – with my best friend, Chincoteague Minnow, in tow! I’ve been looking forward to this trip all year. Minnow and I will spend our evenings doing 2 shows each night at the Chincoteague Pony Centre. Now this is my kind of vacation!
You may be thinking, vacation? sounds more like work. Well it sorta is, but thats what I love about it. I like that I’ll have something to do, and my favorite thing about the whole experience is that I get to watch people enjoying my pony. I love to see Minnow bring a smile to a young child’s face. I love the fact that he might start the spark of a life-long obsession in horses for some lucky kid. Afterall thats what happened to me!
Minnow has a special gift and I am greatful that I am able to be the one to help him share his gift with the world. Its never been about making money (although I do sell his paintings for a profit – more out of neccesity). For me it has always been about sharing the joy of horses with others.
Horses have been a part of my life since the day I was born. I was lucky to have a mom that was also passionate about our large equine friends. I am greatful everyday that I have grown up and been able to learn from some of the most amazing equines.
So now is your chance to experience Minnow’s gift! Stop by the Chincoteague Pony Centre all next week to visit Minnow and I! (sadly my Dachshund, Ammo, will not be tagging along).
To celebrate our upcoming trip I’d like to share two articles about my friends at the Chincoteague Pony Centre:
Horses, Like People, Have Their Bad Days
Chincoteague Pony Drill Team Makes it Look Easy
My favorite part in the Drill Team article is a quote given by the Pony Centre Manager, Kendy Allen:
Mrs. Allen can easily relate to these feelings. You cannot spend time with her and fail to see that as much of a business as pony centre operations have become, her goals go far beyond the commercial undertaking.
Hope to see you all soon at the Pony Centre!
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
