Posts Tagged ‘trick horse
Minnow’s Expo Masterpieces & Sale
While we were at the PA Horse World Expo last week, Minnow created some wonderful one-of-a-kind paintings. Many of them went home with happy new owners, and we have a few still left that are now available in the shop. Each one is unique and different, but they all make me smile. Below is a selection of the paintings that are still available:
“Fairy Tale” by Chincoteague Minnow
“Ocean Bliss” by Chincoteague Minnow
“Heart of the Island” by Chincoteague Minnow
“Calm Breeze” by Chincoteague Minnow
“Misty Sea” by Chincoteague Minnow
“Red Mountain” by Chincoteague Minnow
“Dusted Rose” by Chincoteague Minnow
Several of Minnow’s later works sold, as well as a few that he created during the expo. Below are the paintings he created at the expo that are now happily hanging in new homes:
“Minnow’s Masterpiece” by Chincoteague Minnow – SOLD
“Minnow’s Purple Paradise” by Chincoteague Minnow – SOLD
“Expo” by Chincoteague Minnow – SOLD
“Waves” by Chincoteague Minnow – SOLD
On the last day of the expo we put most of our canvas paintings on sale. And since I know not everyone could be there in person for the sale – Minnow decided that he’d like to extend the sale to his Online Shop as well. So from now until March 31, 2012, enter code EXPO2012 at checkout and get 30% OFF your order!
And thank you to everyone who supported us at the Expo, we hope you are enjoying your paintings!
2012 PA Horse World Expo – Chincoteague Minnow
Most of the people that came by our booth at the 2012 PA Horse World Expo probably thought that 19 year old Minnow was an old pro at attending expos.
He hopped off the trailer on Thursday morning, walked through the barns buzzing with clinicians and horses twice his size, and made his way through the rows and rows of expo booths to his corral on the expo show floor. He was the ONLY animal on the show floor for the duration of the expo – with not a single horse in sight.
Yet, despite Minnow’s professional attitude, this was the VERY FRIST time he attended an expo – let alone spend the majority of the time corralled on the show floor.
I was so proud of him – he’s come such a long way from his days of being terrified of EVERYTHING, and bolting at the slightest sound. I can attribute much of his success to the clicker training we began in 2004, but mostly Minnow & I just share this connection where he will do anything for me and vise versa.
He’s truly an amazing pony, and I’m glad he was able to make so many people smile during our visit to the PA Horse World Expo.
Below is a video I pulled together of Minnow’s experience at the expo – in case you missed it.
I hope to have some photos of a few of his newest paintings up on the blog shortly – and as always you can check out our online shop to see all of Minnow’s artwork.
New in the Shop! Clicker Training Sets
I implement many different training methods while working with Minnow, Blitz, Boomer and even Ammo the Dachshund, but I predominantly prefer to use Clicker Training.
Clicker training is the process of training an animal using a clicker as a marker for behavior that will earn positive reinforcement (most often a food reward). Typically the clicker is a small mechanical noisemaker, but some trainers prefer to substitute a tongue click or other marker signal.
One of the challenges in training an animal is communicating exactly when the animal has done the behavior that the handler is attempting to reinforce. The clicker allows for precise timing and clear communication about what specific behavior is being reinforced, and enables the trainer to teach complex and difficult skills to the animal without the use of force or punishment.
All of the ponies of Painting Pony (including Ammo the Dachshund) have been trained using clicker training. It is not limited to trick training, but can be used to teach everyday tasks such as picking up feet, leading, and standing for the farrier. It can even be used during riding.
In an effort to share this great tool we have created a Clicker Training Set
This set includes one translucent clicker in red, blue, green, or purple (colors may be specified, but ultimately it’s a fun surprise) with a tab to hang on a wrist coil or lanyard. Comes attached to a postcard that explains what clicker training is, how to teach your horse to use the clicker with targeting, and where to go to find out more information.
Great as a gift – can even be paired with our Painting Pony Gift Set!
You can purchase our Clicker Training Set HERE.
Hands-free Target Stick
One of my top items on my Christmas List this year was a retractable key chain for my target stick. When I’m performing with the ponies I’m constantly scrambling to keep my target stick with me. Stuffing it through my belt loops, holding it under my arm, sometimes sprinting across the arena to grab it after it was left behind. It really was becoming quite difficult to perform with it. So the solution for me was a heavy duty retractable key chain – but the next problem was how to get the stick to stay on the key chain.
So I was all ready to rig something up to attach the stick to the key chain – I had snaps and elastic and I even set up my sewing machine.
But then my little sidekick Ammo heard the click of my camera shutter and he came sprinting from across the house to help.
We played with the target stick.
And I took pictures of Ammo, always the camera hog.
I’m pretty sure Ammo thinks he’s a famous super model.
Then Ammo convinced me to take a break on the bed with him – although pretty much the only thing I had done was take a photo of said target stick and retractable key chain. But in the end, Ammo was right, I had plenty of time to play with him because I was completely over thinking my engineering efforts – when all I really needed was a hair tie.
Now we’re ready for some serious clicker training! Let the fun begin!
A Piece of the Island
These two tomato sauce jars filled with sand might not look like much to you, but to me they hold much significance. See back when I visited Assateague Island at the end of October (2011) with all three of my Chincoteague Ponies – I took a little piece of the island with me. I collected these jars of sand from the beach – as a way to always keep a little part of the island with me.
My little jars of sand weren’t much to look at these past few months, but a little visit to the antique shop, and $5 later they had a pretty (beach worthy) glass jar to call home.
Now my Assateague sand sits happily on my shelf at home with my jars of sand from Belize and Nicaragua and everytime I look at it I’m reminded of the special trip I took with all three of my boys!
