OklahomaHorses Magazine March 2023

March / April 2023 • OklahomaHorses 21 the look of miniature horses has changed over the years. In the past, most of them looked like miniature replicas of draft or quarter horses, but today, many minis (but not all) have the more refined look of Arabians. True miniature horses stand less than 34 inches tall (measured from the last hairs of the mane) and must be registered with the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) or American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) to be shown at sanc- tioned shows. Many owners register their miniature horses in both so they can attend shows put on by both organizations. Both the AMHA and AMHR were created in the 1970s to encourage the breeding, exhibi- tion, and use of American miniature horses. The general public and even large-breed enthusiasts might not know just how versatile miniature horses are. Not only do they make great pets or therapy animals for people with disabilities, but minis are also used and shown in a variety of disciplines including driving, halter, jumping, obstacle courses, and more. Oklahoma Miniature Horse Club, Inc. In the early 1980s, some Oklahomans formed the Oklahoma Miniature Horse Club, Inc. (OMHCI), to put on horse shows and promote miniature horses in the state. Today, the club still thrives, hosting several shows each year in Purcell, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa. It also sponsors educational clinics and workshops, and members participate in parades and other related activities to promote interest and understanding of miniature horses. OMHCI shows include classes in halter, in-hand obstacles, in-hand jumping, driv- ing, and roadster. Adult and youth classes are offered. Vickie Roberson has been a member of OMHCI since the 1980s and has served as vice president for the past six years. Like many enthusiasts of miniature horses, she first owned full-sized horses but now has only minis. In fact, she has about 70 of them on 80 acres of pasture at her home in Chandler. To keep her miniature horses in shape and ready for shows, Roberson uses a normal-sized walker with longer leads and exercises them in a round pen. Roberson noted that the OMHCI will host four shows in 2023, beginning with its Fat and Fuzzy show in March at the Mc- Clain County Expo & Fairgrounds Center in Purcell. This show, which will raise funds for the OMHCI, is open to small horses and donkeys less than 38 inches tall. They don’t necessarily need to be registered as miniature horses to participate. In con- junction with the Fat and Fuzzy show, the club will hold an informational clinic on miniature horses which will be open to the public. OMHCI also hosts nationally sanctioned shows, including the Red River Shoot- Out, the Mini Stampede, and the Cowboy Classic through the AMHA, AMHR, and American Buckskin Registry Association (ABRA). In the fall, OMHCI will host the Wild N Wooly performance-only show sanctioned by the AMHA and AMHR. Training Miniature Horses As far as owning and working with minis goes, Roberson now prefers them over large breeds because of their calm disposition and easy care. In the American Miniature Horse Association World Show hunter class, Jennifer Bynum’s daughter, Jacey Newnam, shows Breve Cavallo Steeters High Octane, aka High O, owned by Donna Terry. Photo courtesy of Casey McBride.