Posts Tagged ‘pony penning
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Sunday started off like any other day – up early to feed and let the dog out, turn on my computer and play a few rounds at 666CASINO as my luck in online gambling is higher in the morning, checking my e-mail over a bowl of cereal. That is until I decided to check the online newspaper for my area. As the Daily Local News Page was loading all of a sudden a large photo of myself and Minnow pops up on the screen! I was so excited! I knew that Minnow was going to be in my local paper – but I had no idea it would turn out so big. A month earlier I had sent a press release to some of the local papers about how Minnow and I would be attending this year’s 2009 Pony Penning in Chincoteague, Virginia (we leave next monday, yipee!). A few weeks later I received a call from the paper requesting an interview with me. We set up an appointment over the phone for the next week and she asked if she could send a photographer to take Minnow’s picture. I mentioned that on July 13th a group of campers would be coming to watch Minnow perform – so she put in a request to have a photographer attend (not knowing if they would actually show).
My favorite photo from the day! by Photographer Kali Wallace
So Monday came, and I proceeded to do my interview over the phone. I don’t mind doing interviews – especially about Minnow (I could talk for hours about him). But its always so hard to gather your thoughts when you are asked unexpected questions. For the most part it was pretty straight forward. How did he learn how to paint? I’ve never done an interview where they didn’t ask that! What are his favorite colors? This one always makes me laugh – as if he really cares – but I always get this question too. How did he end up with you? This question always turns into them wanting to know about his “neglectful past”. I always struggle with this question because what I know about Minnow’s past is what I have been told from previous owners – and I just have to take their word about it. I’ve heard things from he was locked in a stall after breaking someone’s collar bone and not fed properly – to his coat was dull, his feet too long, and he looked very sad. So there really is no way to know for sure what really happened to him, but I do know whatever it was it caused Minnow to not trust me for a very long time. But no matter how I explain this story to interviewers it always gets written like he was “abused”. I can’t really force them to not write “abused” – but I always cringe when I see it because I know that I really am not sure he was “abused”. Neglected, I’m pretty certain he was, but abused? I’m not really sure. His temperament when I got him sort of goes along with maybe he was hit some, but unless he can tell me himself I will never know.
Giving my best friend a kiss. By Photographer Kali Wallace
I had one question in my interview that really threw me off this time. What do you think Minnow’s legacy would be? Wow, how do you answer that? I thought I had a pretty good answer for that – but the quote came out a little bit like a jumble of thoughts. I basically said that I thought Minnow would be an example of overcoming challenges and a not-so-great past. He came from this bad situation and now he’s becoming something great and he’s really happy. He enjoys painting and it’s almost like a therapy for him. A way to express himself and let go of whatever may have happened to him before. (I wish that had written it that way, haha).
But aside from a few uncorrect things (they said I went to the University of Delaware instead of Kutztown University) I thought it turned out really well. And on Monday when the photographer showed up at Iron Horse Farm I was even more surprised! I really had no idea that when I actually when to buy the Sunday paper that Minnow and I would be on the FRONT page! In color to boot! It was very exciting. I got recognized at the gas station I picked it up at, and I’ve been getting calls and e-mails from friends and family saying they loved it.
I feel a bit like a proud mom! The last quote in the article is perfect! “He’s an example of a horse that didn’t have a so- great past, but he’s gone on to become something great and amazing and my best friend.”
You can read the article here or download the PDF from the actual paper. Minnow already sold one painting yesterday – so you better hurry and snatch up your favorite before its gone!
Picnic with my Pony
Minnow paints a t-shirt for a camper
On Monday I again had a group of campers from Fox Meadow Farm come out to Iron Horse Farm to visit the Trick Ponies and watch Minnow perform and paint. This has been a great way to get Minnow geared up for Pony Penning 2009 as it gives us a way to practice in front of an audience. Minnow can sometimes have a mind of his own (don’t all ponies) so I’m having to train myself to work through his little “miss steps”. I can never be quite sure what he will do (or I guess not do) with any given situation so I have to be quick on my toes to ad-lib sometimes. Sometimes I find this difficult because I’m a very quiet and reserved person and I definitely don’t have acting in my blood! I’d much rather prefer to be on the sidelines and watch Minnow perform all the tricks I have taught him, but the fact is that I’m his trainer and just as much a part of his performing as he is. I think this is why I love painting with Minnow so much, its sort of a quiet time we can share even if its performed infront of a crowd. I don’t have to talk and Minnow becomes the focus as I sort of blend into the background as his “helper”.
Anyway, below is a video of “part” of our beach picnic skit – if you want to see all of it you will just have to attend Pony Penning 2009 and visit Minnow at the Chincoteague Pony Centre!
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
P.S. I’m in the works of developing some very special contests on the Trick Ponies of Chincoteague Blog. So keep reading daily to learn how you can win some fabulous prizes!!
Tommie Turvey at Pony Penning
So I have several blogs that I comb every day – one being the Equine Extremiest Blog of Tommie Turvey. I met him and watched his demos/exhibitions at the horse world expo in March of this year. He’s a trick horse trainer that trains horses for movies, events, and pretty much anything you can think of. This was the first time I saw him and I thought what he did was pretty exciting. I still prefer to include clicker training into my training (Tommie does not use clicker training that I have seen but I have seen him reward with treats), but I have incorporated some of Tommie’s methods into my training. (see the video below of me using Tommie Turvey’s method of laying down Blitz).
Anyway while reading Tommie’s blog this morning I was excited to see that he will be attending the Chincoteague Pony Penning this year. How cool! Then I started to think about how there is no way that my little act with Chincoteague Minnow at the Pony Centre can top anything that Tommie Turvey can do. Now I think I should be nervous! I really need to make sure I get my “act” together, Minnow and I have a lot of work ahead of us!
Either way I think it will be a lot of fun to see Tommie Turvey again, perhaps he will come to the shows at the Pony Centre and will even be able to give me some pointers.
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
