Posts Tagged ‘trick
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
Horse Bath Time Contest
So I’ve found this great contest for all clicker trainers or people who want to try clicker training! Its such a great idea! I just might have to enter myself :-).
Here’s the gist:
Phase One of the horse bath challenge starts today! You can be the winner of a DVD from www.TheBestWhisperIsAClick.com. Watch this video to see the rules, upload your video, post the link on my channel (Peggasus09), vote on your two favorite videos and you could win!
Contest end Aug. 30, 2009.
Thanks for playing!
Now here’s the video. You can visit the actual link by “clicking” here.
Be sure to post a link to you’re video here too! I (and I’m sure all of you two) would love to see everyone’s videos!
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
