Supplies Needed

• Pledge
• Brasso brass cleaner
• A soft cloth or two to clean with, preferably microfiber or an old tshirt
• Rubber glove (optional)
• Old toothbrush (optional)

Instructions

1. I start with the brass on my harness because the cleaner can get on the leather. Put on your glove and either put some Brasso on the cloth, or on your glove, and rub it in a circular motion on each brass part of your harness. The more tarnished the brass is, the more you’ll need to rub to clean it up.
2. Once you’ve restored the shine, use a clean portion of your rag to wipe off the rest of the product.
3. Repeat for the rest of the brass on your harness. TIP: Unbuckle each piece to work on it, then redo the buckle before you continue so you don’t change the way your harness is fitted for your horse! You can use the opposite side of the harness to remind yourself where to redo the buckle.
4. If your cloth is covered in Brasso, use a different cloth for cleaning with Pledge. Spray the pledge on your cloth (NOT on the harness) and rub it on the leather portions of the harness, taking care to avoid the embroidery.
5. For hard to reach areas of the harness, spray Pledge on the toothbrush and gently use it to clean those areas, then wipe them dry with the cloth.
6. Repeat until you’ve finished cleaning your harness!
7. Head to an AMHA show and get it dirty again!

Find your next miniature horse driving prospect with Little America. We have foals by LR Phantom’s Secret Storm, son of 35-time World Champion Single Pleasure Driving and Roadster horse, Silver Meadow’s Phantom Storm.

We also own 22-time AMHA World Single Pleasure Driving and Roadster winner, Lymrick’s Irresistible Force, “Guinness” and have his progeny for sale. Not only has Guinness won World Reserve Grand Champion Single Pleasure Driving Horse in both open and amateur, but he’s also been World Grand Champion Roadster Horse at AMHA World!

The post How to Clean a Miniature Horse Driving Harness appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

2019

2018 

2016
Joe Kahre, IN, President
Al Bulgawicz, TX, Vice President
Laura Mullen, NC, Secretary
Heather Ward, Canada, Treasurer
Harry Elder, CO, Director at Large

2015
Sid Hutchcraft, President
Al Bulgawicz, Vice President
Julie Good, Secretary
Frank Lupton, Treasurer
Harry Elder, Director at Large

2014
Harry Elder, President
Sid Hutchcraft, Vice President
Julie Good, Secretary
Frank Lupton, Treasurer
Jim Barenklau, Director at Large

2013
Jim Barenklau, President
Sid Hutchcraft, Vice President
Darlene Bridges, Secretary
Thomas Thompson, Treasurer
Harry Elder, Director at Large

2012
Harry Elder, President
Sid Hutchcraft, Vice President
Julie Good, Secretary
Frank Lupton, Treasurer
Jim Barenklau, Director at Large

2011
Jim Barenklau, President
Clair Severson, Vice President
Sid Hutchcraft, Secretary
Frank Lupton, Treasurer
Julie Good, Director at Large

2010
Jim Barenklau, President
Dave Miller, Vice President
Clair Severson, Secretary
Larry Elniff, Treasurer
Joanne Ross, Director at Large

2009
Jim Barenklau, President
Dave Miller, Vice President
Laura Mullen, Secretary
Larry Elniff, Treasurer
Mike Want, Director at Large

2008
Mike Want, President
Tom O’Connell, Vice President
Clair Severson, Secretary
Kathy Krem Porter, Treasurer
Frank Lupton, Director at Large

2007
Mike Want (California), President
Robert “Bob” Kane (California), Vice President
Sheryl Peterson (Washington), Secretary
Tom Roberts (Kentucky), Treasurer
Sheryl Peterson (Washington), Secretary

2006
Felix Covington (Texas), President (resigned date?)
Mike Want (California), President elected date? to replace Covington
Mark Wilson (Texas), Vice President (resigned date?)
Robert “Bob” Kane (California), Vice President to replace Wilson
Sheryl Peterson (Washington), Secretary
Tom O’Connell (Connecticut), Treasurer
Bob Kane (California), Director at Large

2005
Robert “Bob” Kane (California), President
Tom Roberts (Kentucky), Vice President
Sheryl Peterson (Washington), Secretary
Tom O’Connell (Connecticut), Treasurer
Toni Reece (Delaware), Director at Large

2004
Robert “Bob” Kane (California), President
Tom Roberts (Kentucky), Vice President
Sheryl Peterson (Washington), Secretary
Tom O’Connell (Connecticut), Treasurer
Ronnie Clifton (North Carolina), Director at Large

2003
Ronnie Clifton (North Carolina), President
Tony W. Greaves (Texas), Vice President
Robin Miller (California), Secretary
Tom Roberts (Kentucky), Treasurer
Fred LeNeve (Ontario), Director at Large

2002
Tony W. Greaves (Texas) – President
Jerry Gum (Kansas) – Vice-President
Robin Miller (California) – Secretary
Fred LeNeve (Ontario) – Treasurer
Ronnie Clifton (North Carolina) – Director at Large

2001 (Annual Meeting date changed to February/March)
Tony W. Greaves (Texas) – President
Jerry Gum (Kansas) – Vice-President
Marilyn Gilchrist (Florida) – Secretary
Fred LeNeve (Ontario) – Treasurer
Wade Burns (North Carolina) – Director at Large

1999
Tony W. Greaves (Texas) – President
Jerry Gum (Kansas) – Vice-President
Marilyn Gilchrist (Florida) – Secretary
Fred LeNeve (Ontario) – Treasurer
Wade Burns (North Carolina) – Director at Large

1998
Mark Partin (Mississippi) – President (resigned January 6, 1999)
Mike Culy (California) – Vice-President (President from February 1999)
Richard Sievert – Vice President (from January 23, 1999)
Marilyn Gilchrist (Florida) – Secretary
Tom Roberts (Kentucky) – Treasurer
Wade Burns (North Carolina) – Director at Large

1997
Bud King (Indiana), President
Ed Birchler (Kentucky), Vice-President
Nancy Rivenburgh (Oregon), Secretary
Ray Ross (Ohio), Treasurer
Richard Sievert (Minnesota), Director at Large

1996
Tom Hartin (Texas), President (Resigned February, 1997)  Bud King succeeded him.
Bud King (Indiana), Vice-President  David McBride (Oklahoma, February, 1997)
Sandy Tremont (Texas), Secretary
Ray Ross (Ohio), Treasurer
Mike Want (California), Director at Large

1995
Tom Hartin (Texas), President
Mike Want (California), Vice-President
Sandy Tremont (Texas), Secretary
Bud King (Indiana), Treasurer
Jack Burchill (New Jersey), Director at Large

1994

Jim Wright (Kentucky), President
Tony Greaves (Texas), Vice-President
Michael Want (California), Secretary
Bud King (Indiana), Treasurer

1993
Jim Wright (Kentucky), President
Tom Hartin (Texas), Vice-President
Tony Greaves (Texas), Secretary
Bud King (Indiana), Treasurer

1992
Mellis See (California), President
David McBride (Oklahoma), Vice President
Linda Anderson (Texas), Secretary
Phil Marks (Texas), Treasurer
David McBride (Oklahoma), President for a few hours after the resignation of Mellis See, but was not elected later in the day.

1991
Robert King (Indiana), President
Mellis See (California), Vice President
Joanne Ross (Oregon), Secretary
Ray Ross (Ohio), Treasurer

1990
Ray Ross (Ohio), President
Bob King (Indiana), Vice President
Ethel Diercks (Iowa), Secretary
Rick LeNeve (Ontario), Treasurer
Roy Brewer (Texas), Director at Large

1989
Ray Ross (Ohio), President
Bob King (Indiana), Vice President
Ethel Diercks (Iowa), Secretary
Rick LeNeve (Ontario), Treasurer
Roy Brewer (Texas), Director at Large

1988
Bob King (Indiana), President
Roy Brewer (Texas), Vice President
Cheryl Belcher (Florida), Secretary
Ray Ross (Ohio), Treasurer
Arnold Landry (Louisana), Director at Large

1987
Bob King (Indiana), President
Roy Brewer (Texas), Vice President
Sami Scheuring (California), Secretary
Ray Ross (Ohio), Treasurer
Don Matthews (Florida), Director at Large

1986
Bob King (Indiana), President
Gary Black (California), Vice President
Sami Scheuring (California), Secretary
B. A. Pearl (Texas), Treasurer

1985
Ed Eberth (Indiana), President
Lee Martin (Oklahoma), Vice President
Sami Scheuring (California), Secretary
Bob King (Indiana), Treasurer

1984
Lee Martin (Oklahoma), President
Ed Eberth (Indiana), Vice President
Jim Summers (Texas), Secretary
Len Huff (Illinois), Treasurer

1983
Jack Gerhart (Texas), President
Ed Eberth (Indiana), First Vice President
Lee Martin (Oklahoma), Second Vice President
Sami Schuering (California), Secretary
Mark Verhaeghe (North Carolina), Treasurer

1982
Jack Gerhart (Texas), President
Jim Summers (Texas), First Vice President
N. A. Williams (Oklahoma), Second Vice President
Mark Verhaeghe (North Carolina), Secretary
B. V. Thompson (Texas), Treasurer

1981
Don Matthews (Florida), President
Fredericka Wagner (Ohio), First Vice-President
Jack Gerhart (Texas), Second Vice-President
Mark Verhaeghe (North Carolina), Secretary
Leon Blair (Texas), Treasurer

1980
Don Matthews (Florida), President
Dixie Blasingame (California), First Vice-President
Michelle Jones (Texas), Second Vice-President
B. V. Thompson, Jr. (Texas), Secretary
Leon Blair (Texas), Treasurer

1979
Charles Palmer (Texas), President
Dixie Blasingame (California), First Vice-President
Don Matthews (Florida), Second Vice-President
B. V. Thompson, Jr. (Texas), Secretary
Leon Blair (Texas), Treasurer

1978
Charles Palmer (Texas), President
Dixie Blasingame (California), First Vice-President
Don Matthews (Florida), Second Vice-President
B. V. Thompson, Jr. (Texas), Secretary
Leon Blair (Texas), Treasurer

The post AMHA Executive Committee Members ’78-’18 appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

Lucky Four Skippa Gold Sensation, playing the role of Trigger, with Tony and Carol as Roy and Dale, in Route 66, at First Baptist Church, in Austin, TX.

The post Theatrical Minis appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

The latest addition to the Little America family is Lisa Vanderpump, one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vanderpump Rules, and a celebrity on the 2013 season of Dancing with the Stars.  She asked her friend, Tina to find the smallest, best conformation, light colored miniature horse that could be bought.  Tina, an experienced horsewoman who has trained Polo Ponies and has participated in Polo for years, was the perfect choice for the job.

A mutual friend emailed me about a month ago asking about the smallest and best that we had available and I made some suggestions, but didn’t hear back, so thought nothing of it.  Apparently Lisa, on her own had found a horse advertised as the smallest in the world, so they decided that was the one they wanted.  However, upon flying across the nation to purchase the horse they found that it was not what they were seeking.

Realizing that time was very short because the horse was to be a surprise for Lisa’s husband, Ken Todd, who was having his 70th birthday on July 20, 2015.  The horse had to be there if humanly possible.  It is ironic that that is my wife’s birthday too and the twentieth anniversary of buying our ranch in Buda.  We were at a horse show with three of the Thursday Kids, my daughter Lauren and her boyfriend, thirteen minis and myself.  Tina called but I was in the ring and didn’t check my phone until much later.  In desperation she visited a couple of other places, but everyone told her that if she wanted the smallest available, to go to Little America.  I finally checked my phone Saturday night and found a couple of messages plus texts from Tina.  I called her back that night and said that I would be happy to show her horses when I got back, but that wouldn’t be until Sunday night.

The next morning she called back and asked if there was any way that someone could let her “preview” the horses before I got back.  I reluctantly told her that I would contact Armando, who is my right hand man at the ranch, and she could go over.  Later in the afternoon when I was watching the kids show, Armando called saying that they, Tina and her husband, Hank, liked two of the horses and really needed to get them the next morning.  After talking to Tina on the phone, I agreed and asked Armando to clean the pair, Little America’s Sensational Goldie and Little America’s Galaxy Boogie, up and halter break Galaxy who had just been weaned a few days before.

When I got home Sunday evening, I went to the barn and saw that he had clipped Galaxy and touched up Goldie who had been shown earlier in the year and had also made an appearance with me in February on KXAN’s Studio 512.

He told me that we had to have them at the San Marcos airport at 9 the next morning because they were flying to California to get to a birthday party that afternoon or evening!

When I talked to Tina that night I told her that I needed the contact information for the new owner so I could get the paperwork done.  She asked if she could give me that information when she got back from California because she could not reveal the name of the buyer before the presentation of the horses because it was going to be televised and she was not at liberty to tell me yet.  She also said that she wasn’t sure, but that she might buy one of them and her friend the other, that she would give her a choice.  I said that would be fine and proceeded to get everything ready.  She wanted to also buy a show halter that they could use when the horse was presented at the party.  I always love a good mystery and was up for it!

The next morning Armando and his son, Gabriel, went with me to the airport.  When we got there I wasn’t sure where to go, so pulled into the parking lot and called Tina.  She told me to pull out on to the tarmac and gave me the plane’s number.  She said her husband and son, their pilot, were already there and she was about 15 minutes away.  We pulled our mini pickup and mini trailer out to the plane.  When we unloaded the horses we drew a crowd of the workers and each plane that landed while we were there walking them around.

We took some pictures with Tina and her son/pilot, Houston, then loaded the horses into the plane, a Cessna Mustang.  Another irony, my nephew teaches pilots that plane at Simuflite Dallas, where he and his dad Ricky are both instructors. They had removed two seats, put down a tarp and had it nicely bedded with shavings for the four hour trip to the west coast.

After the horses made it and the party was done, Tina texted me that the buyer was Lisa Vanderpump and they were gifts for her husband, Ken Todd.  A day later I was at the USDA waiting to get paperwork for horses going to Mexico, Ricky called me and said, “Your horses are on TV.  They were just featured on TMZ.”  From there the publicity has been fun to follow.

It turned out, Lisa was shocked to see TWO horses, but decided that she couldn’t choose between the two, so she was going to buy both.   Hank and Tina wanted to buy Galaxy as their gift to Ken, but Lisa insisted and bought both of them. (TMZ reported incorrectly that she got a two for one deal for $3,500.  She had planned on one but ended up buying both.  Many other sources copied the erroneous info.)  It happens that about a year ago after a wonderful evening with Lisa and Ken, Tina asked herself what could she get a person who had everything.  Then she thought, Lisa loves animals, I love horses, how about a tiny miniature horse?  She discarded the thought, then a year later, Lisa came up with the same idea!  What is it they say about great minds?

Guess I will have to set my DVR to record The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills next season so I can keep an eye on our pretty pair!  Stay tuned…

The view of the inside of the plane

Lisa Vanderpump horse stall

Designed and built by Mohamed Hadid

The post Lisa Vanderpump’s Miniature Horses appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

By Alyssa McCarthy Parker in From The Field on on Feb 23, 2015

I don’t know if there is ANYTHING cuter than a miniature horse. I fell in absolute love with the little guys and gals at Little America Miniature Horses. Tony and Carol Greaves were fantastic hosts and it was great to learn so much about a breed of horses that none of us really had any experience with.

It was also heartwarming to meet Tony’s “Thursday Kids,” a group of young kids from the surrounding areas that come to the barn after school to work with the minis. They learn all about grooming, training, handling, they work on an obstacle course, and several of them practice showmanship.

Among the Thursday Kids is a young man named Kameron, who is legally blind, but comes alive with confidence while he works with his favorite horse Rainbow. Together the pair has won several World Championships.

We can’t wait for y’all to see the segment on Little America Miniature Horses! Stay tuned for updates on when it will air!

Until next time,

Alyssa

– See More Here

The post Wild About Barns Behind the Scenes: Little America Miniature Horses appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

“Lifetime Achievement

The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a nominee who has been an AMHA member in good standing for a minimum of five years. This individual is to have demonstrated an exceptional and specific contribution toward the perpetuation, use and/or breeding of the American Miniature Horse. They have earned documented recognition and respect as a positive, active and inspirational representative of the American Miniature Horse Breed and of the Association, having clearly served to strengthen the foundation and to direct the vision of the breed and/or the association.

Shared from Pete and Jennifer Welma’s nomination letter: Many of you know Mr. Tony Greaves, either through his constant smile and friendly demeanor or for the fact that he has been involved in the miniature horse industry for over fifty years. Tony has served the American Miniature Horse as a showman, educator, breeder and most of all an advocate for the breed himself.

Tony Greaves came from a long line of horsemen. He grew up on his family’s Quarter horse ranch but was inspired to own a Miniature horse by a Bozo the Clown comic book he read as a child. Fifty years ago, in the spring of 1963, Tony’s first miniature-sized horse, “Big Un,” was born. And in 1978 when the AMHA was founded, Big Un was Tony’s first AMHA registered horse, measuring at 31 inches tall. From there Tony began breeding Miniature horses in earnest, naming his farm Little America Miniature Horses. Today that farm in Buda, Texas is home to approximately 200 Miniatures. Tony is an international breeder, selling horses in Scotland, Thailand, Mexico, Russia and France. Each horse sold proudly carries the Little America name prefix. And they number almost 900 now.

Tony’s commitment to his business of breeding and selling Miniatures is just a small part of his passion. His enthusiasm and knowledge propelled him toward a more active role in 1993 when he became AMHA’s Secretary. From there his involvement blossomed as he served as Vice President (twice) and President of AMHA (3 times). He continued to be very involved and served on the Board of Directors and in 2005 received a well deserved “A” Award for Volunteerism.

Also in 2005, Tony’s daughter Lauren started a program called Thursday Kids that allowed children of all ages to come to the ranch and learn about Miniature horses. Now, seven years later the program is still going strong thanks to Tony and Lauren’s tireless efforts to educate children about the amazing Miniature horse, all the while promoting AMHA by supporting its shows and involving families that would not have otherwise ever been introduced to a Miniature horse. Tony uses every opportunity to share the Miniature horse with his community. The list of ways he’s found to showcase them is staggering from festivals and parades to career days at schools, Pet Appreciation Days, local nursing homes and yearly barn tours in his community.

But the most personal way Tony has found to share his love of the Miniature horse is with the hands-on approach that he uses with the numerous children that visit the farm every week. Kameron Welma is one of those fortunate kids who won the friendship of this amazing man over the past four years. Kameron soon learned the rules of the barn, “brush, water, check and clean the stalls and no running in the barn area.” In appreciation of the responsibility, knowledge and skills Tony bestowed, Kameron is now more confident, has a better attitude and his self-esteem has grown leaps and bounds. During the four years, Kameron has been involved in the Thursday Kids, he has won countless ribbons, belt buckles and other outstanding rewards. But he counts Tony’s friendship as his biggest win so far.

It seems fitting to award Tony Greaves this lifetime achievement award for his continued drive and faithful service to promote the Miniature horse and the AMHA on this 50th anniverary of the registration of his first Miniature horse.

Congratulations Tony!”

The post 2013 “A” Awards appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

By: Lauren Giudice, Lily Morris and Joshua Fechter (reposted)
For over 50 years, Tony Greaves has been raising miniature horses. His love for horses began when he was young boy. His father raised Shetland ponies and horses.

Greaves and his family now own Little America Miniature Horses. He and his wife, Carol, live on their 200-acre ranch in Buda, TX. The two raise miniature horses to sell them or show them.

The number of horses they have varies, but they currently have 170 miniature horses. Greaves said miniature horses are created through selective breeding.

“When I first started 36 inches was considered little,” Greaves said. “I would pick a mare and a stallion and hope that their baby would be smaller. I also want every generation to be better. I look at the good points and the bad points of the horse. If the mare has bad legs I want to make sure I breed her to a stallion who has good legs.”

Bloodlines, color and size determine the price of the horses. The smaller the horse, the more expensive they are. Prices of Greaves’ horses range between $500-$50,000. Horses that are sold as pets are less expensive than those purchased for the purpose of showing or breeding.

People who show horses seek out the bloodlines of Greaves’ horses.
“They want my bloodlines to put in their line,” Greaves said. “I’ve been doing it for so long and I’ve gotten them so small that people who really want to breed small want a small stallion. Usually people have larger mares and breed them with a smaller stallion. But I have such a large group of little mares that I get more little babies.”
Greaves said many people confuse miniature horses with ponies. But, Shetland ponies are up to 48 inches tall and miniature horses are 34 inches or smaller. He prides himself on the fact that all of his horses are under 34 inches and 80 of them are under 30 inches.

Little America is known around the world and Greaves has sold horses to people in Russia, Australia, Scotland, Belgium and France.

The Internet has revolutionized how Greaves does business. He said 60 percent of the horses that he’s sold over the past five years have been purchased over the Internet.

Greaves’ goal has always been to raise a herd of 22-inch miniature horses. Recently, he bred a 24-inch horse named Fan Man. Greaves still aims to breed that perfect tiny herd.

“As far as I am concerned, the object of breeding any miniature animal is to breed the smallest, good confirmation animal that you can get,” Greaves said. “My goal is to breed the smallest perfect horse.”

The post Little America: One family’s journey to breed the world’s smallest horse appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

I thought it might be fun to offer an aerial tour as well.

The picture above shows most of the ranch; it’s just missing one corner, the pasture where we keep the stallions in the winter.  This is the only photo that shows the back pasture where we keep many of the horses in the winter.

You can see evidence of the drought we’ve had in this picture, it’s been a very dry year!

We have three major barns that we use for the horses.  The one at the top of the photo above is our main barn.  The show string, our geldings, yearling and two-year-old colts and fillies live here.  The barn farthest to the right in the picture is our hay barn as well as a shelter for horses in that pen/pasture.  And finally, everyone’s favorite, the foaling barn is at the bottom of the photo.  The foaling barn has six stalls with closed-circuit cameras that run to the house where we can watch for mares to go into labor.  The mares who seem to be farther from foaling spend the night in the lot to the left of the barn so they can be checked on during the night.

The view above really points out the terracing of the land, which helps prevent erosion in those pastures.  That land is split into several pastures by electric fences.  During breeding season, we put one stallion and a specific group of mares in each of these pastures.

A big thanks to my friend Matt for flying me around the ranch and putting up with all of my cameras!

Here are some video clips from the flight:

The post Little America Aerial Tour appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

“Jumps for Hunters and Jumpers will be made of 1-1 1/2″ schedule 40 PVC piping or other suitable light-weight material with jump cups, not to include pegs, nails, bolts, etc.  All jumps must be a minimum of five (5) feet wide… Jumps thirty-two inches (32) or more in height must have a second rail added.  All post and rail jumps must have a ground pole.  Uprights are to be a maximum of forty-eight (48) inches in height. …Any decorations or jump wings must not protrude more than twenty-four (24) inches from the uprights.”

Supplies

• ??— 10′ length of Schedule 40, 1.5″ diameter PVC pipe (Use the underlined totals in the directions to calculate how many 10′ lengths you will need according to how many jumps you want to make, and which height of uprights you want–hunter and/or jumper.)

  

• 2-4 — 1.5″ PVC caps (2 for hunter uprights, 2 for jumper uprights)
• 2– 1.5″ PVC T connectors
• 2-6– 2″ PVC T connectors (For jump cups. 2 for hunter uprights, 4 for jumper uprights because jumps over 32″ in height must have a second pole added to keep horses from running under.. trust me, I had it happen at a show once when the rule wasn’t followed!  I like to have a cup/D-ring on both sets of uprights so I don’t have to change them out when I switch from hunter to jumper)
• 4– 1.5″ PVC Elbow connectors
• 2-6– D-rings (To hold jump cups. 2 for hunter uprights, 4 for jumper uprights. I like to have a cup/D-ring on both sets of uprights so I don’t have to change them out when I switch from hunter to jumper)
• 12– 1″ Sheet metal screws
• Saw
• Drill and bits
• Screwdriver

Directions

1. Cut the 1.5″ diameter PVC into the following lengths:

• Long side of base and jump pole length: 5′ (x3 for hunter, x4 for jumper) = (15′ of PVC used for only hunter, 20′ if doing jumper for an extra jump pole)
• Short side of base length: 10″ (x4) = 40″= (3.33′ of PVC used)
• Jumper uprights: 4′ (x2) = (8′ of PVC used)
• Hunter uprights: 3′ (x2) = (6′ of PVC used)

2.  Now it’s time to assemble the base!  Attach one 10″ piece to each of the two opposite ends of the T (x2) to form the sides of the base.
3.  Attach the elbows to the open ends of the 10″ pieces that are attached to the T (x4), with the open end of the T facing straight up so the uprights can go in later.
4.  Use two of the 5′ lengths to attach the two ends of the base and complete the rectangular base.
5.  Place the uprights in the T on the jump.  Put a cap on the top of each jumper or hunter upright pole.
7.  Use your measuring tape to mark where you will drill holes on the uprights:

• Hunter: By AMHA rules, hunter jumps have a minimum jump pole height of 18 inches and maximum of 28 inches, so I recommend starting with a hole at 18 inches, and ending at 28.
• Jumper: By AMHA rules, jumper jumps have a maximum jump pole height of 44  inches, so you don’t need holes past 44 inches from the ground.

8.  Time to drill holes for the uprights!  Grab a bit that’s bigger than the peg of the D-ring you’ll be using.  It’s hard to get the holes aligned perfectly through the upright and through the cup later, so you’ll want some wiggle room.  Get them as straight through both sides of the pvc as you can.
9.  Now onto the jump cups.  Take your oversized Ts and cut out a little more than half of the  section that branches out (see below).  You want it to be a little over half gone so it makes it easier for the jump pole to fall down.  That way your jump doesn’t get broken when a horse hits it!  Then drill a hole through both sides for the D-ring to go through.

10.  To keep the base together, I recommend that you use sheet metal screws.  You DON’T want to use PVC glue, because if any piece gets broken, you’ll have to cut it off and splice it together.  With the screws, everything stays together but if something gets broken, you can take it off without cutting.  We use screws at every connection point on the base except where the uprights go in.

11.  The final step is to put the jump cups on the up uprights, pins in, and adjust the length of your jump poles.  For measuring everything out, it’s easiest to use 5′ for jump poles, but for them to fall out of the jump easily, they need a few more inches taken off.  Just put the poles in the cups and see how much you want taken off, it should be at least two inches.

12.  Congratulations!  You’re now finished and can enjoy your jumps!  To learn how to make striped jump poles, visit our other blog post, How to: Paint Obstacle/Jump Poles.

The post How to: Build jumps appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.

Just outside Buda, Tony Greaves raises some of the smallest horses in the world. There’s also a handful of tiny donkeys and one accidental tiny mule.

Greaves has been raising miniature horses for fifty years and runs Little America Miniature Horses. He started with horses that stood 36 inches at the shoulder. Through selective breeding, he’s gotten some as small as 25 inches. His dream is a horse that is only 22 inches tall.

“Growing up, I always liked the smallest ones,” he said.

Miniature horses make great pets, and many of the ones he sells to city-dwellers are used for therapy animals, going to visit hospitals, hospice care and troubled youth. Their gentle demeanors and fuzzy bodies make it hard to resist petting them.

“People love them as pets,” Greaves said. “In fact, a lot of people end up getting another one because they like to see them playing together.”

Miniature horses are easy to handle because of their size and make great pets for children and the elderly.

“Our motto is, ‘it’s the horse for everyone,’” Greaves said.

Price: Greaves’s horses start around $500 and average about $3,000.
Life expectancy: 20-30 years
Equipment: Large backyard, shelter to keep out of the sun and rain, brushes and combs.
Diet: Horse feed and hay
Upsides: Fertilizer and short lawn
Potential pitfalls: Find a large animal veterinarian early because they can be hard to find.

Full article posting

The post Alternative Pets: Horses and Donkeys appeared first on Little America Miniature Horses.