Can i have some opinion on my ponies please..

[Calekio]

This is Tigga, my 36" show gelding. He's a rescue pony who'd proved everyone wrong (they all said he was worthless!) and does well for me in the ring and is generally lots of fun.

I'd like some honest (but please don't be mean! lol) opinions on him. He's matured out really nicely in the last year (so pretty sure what i got now, is what i got for life.. not that i'm complaining!)

Follow photos all taken last year, in show condition.

I know he's not a really high quility show pony but he does ok for us as you can see, we come home with red ribbons, but in general as a show gelding? (and anything i can improve on?)

 

[miniaddiction]

I think there is such a difference in the types of horses between the two countries that it will be hard for people to comment. But I think your guy has a nice head and he looks like he has a lovely big trot on him..very cute.

 

[Jill]

I think he has a very sweet face and I love his color. To my eyes, he looks like he's pretty correctly made. He is heavier boned than most of what we see here in the ring, but overall, I like your boy and think he is extremely cute

Very proportional and with a decent neck tie in and hip. He has the build to DO things. I bet you'd have a good time driving him

 

[BLACKWATER FARMS]

Hi-

He looks like a super sweet boy and you've had LOTS of fun with him. To see how your horse compares to others look at the results from the Nationals and the Worlds, look at other geldings his age and height and see how they compare. BUT it depends on the venue--some horses are performance horses, some horses are halter horses. A couple of recent top winning Halter geldings--Meridian's Ekletic Destiny, Arion's Boomerang are two very lovely HALTER horses. Look at head types, neck/shoulder sets, flow of body, hip , amount of bone ietc.

Best of Luck with your boy!

Linda

 

[Margaret]

You have done well with him..

I especially like his gentle soft eye and his willing attitude.

 

[Warpony]

I think he has a very sweet face and I love his color. To my eyes, he looks like he's pretty correctly made. He is heavier boned than most of what we see here in the ring, but overall, I like your boy and think he is extremely cute

Very proportional and with a decent neck tie in and hip. He has the build to DO things. I bet you'd have a good time driving him

I agree. He is also VERY much the type I like which I rarely if ever see in the show ring. The only thing that I don't care for is that he seems a little long bodied in proportion to his neck and leg length compared to my ideal horse, but since I have a mare that is built like a dachshund that isn't a big problem with me. I don't see him doing well at, say, a national level here in the states but he is very much the type of horse I would want in my pasture or at the end of my reins.

If my coming 2 year old matured to look like him I'd be tickled all kinds of shades of pink and purple.

 

[Echo Acres]

Well, I have only been showing for 3 years, but this is what I think about him compared to the horses showing around here. I would say is not an "ideal" gelding that is winning in the halter ring, BUT on the other hand he does look like he isn't a bad looking gelding and I think he would make a good performance horse. Looks like he might make a good driving horse and then you can show him in other performance classes and halter and have a Great all around gelding. I don't know if you are in a club, but some have all around awards or even at certain shows. Even if he doesn't win at halter, but places and does well in performance he could get an all around award.

Now, you had asked for honesty, so I gave it. But with that said I think he is a great horse to get your feet wet and see what you like to show in. I don't own all "ideal" halter horses either. We do show halter, but also concentrate on driving. I think it is a lot more fun. I also do jumping. I tend to see that the driving horses (mine included) can be a little longer and do better. It makes them a better driving horse. I did see horses with more substance placing in halter around here this year and that surprised me. But it was the slender ones that were winning at nationals still.

Hope you have fun and enjoy! That is the most important part.

 

[Keri]

He is a bit big boned, more the older style mini. But he's a gelding! You're not breeding him, just have fun with him! As far as halter goes, he's way too big boned. He may do well in a model class and amateur gelding class. I'm not a big halter person and don't buy horses for halter. I love performance. And when it comes to performance, it doesn't matter how your horse is built as long as he can perform well. I know a gelding built a lot like yours, that wins the country pleasure cart class every time along with the obstacle classes.

So just have fun!!!! You look like you've done an awesome job with him already! I'm sure glad he found a great home like yours!!

 

[Cedar Ridge Farm]

I like your boy! You seem to have done well with him by the looks of the ribbons you were wearing!!

Keep up the good work and keep having fun.

 

[Marty]

WOW I like this boy a lot. You have done an amazing job grooming and conditioning him and boy does he ever shine.

I know he is not the "popular" or "modern" type mini that we normally see here in halter, but I for one would sure like to see some of these larger boned horses back in the ring. What you have there is what I call a "using horse" and that boy is built great for all sorts of things. Very nicely presented.

 

[MountainMeadows]

I think your boy looks terrific, yes a bit heavier boned than what is winning in the halter ring, but he has a wonderful, reaching, well-balanced trot - looks like he could go all day. Seems to have a willing attitude - I would look into having him trained to drive and them see if there are any CDE clubs that you can get involved in - I would bet that he would do VERY well in that venue!

Good luck & congratulations on a wonderful success story, we see so many sad things this time of year that it really lifts my heart to see & hear about successes like your.

Keep up the good work,

Stacy

 

[Equuisize]

That was one lucky horse to come live with you!

You've done a wonderful job with him.

You are obviously having success with showing him, also.

I'd not worry to much with what is popular now as what

he is, is what used to be popular.

As time goes on peoples tastes change, which is fine,

but he will be your grateful friend forever.

 

[Calekio]

Thanks all for your lovely comments. I've always thought he was a little long in the back, but never held us back so far. Tigga is an excellent pony for teaching new handlers in the ring, he's so well behaved for them and when i have him and can get him 'working' in the ring in hand we seem to do very well.

Last year we tried our first liberty class (that was just funny! Since i really had no clue what i was doing and he just hared round the ring! lol But the catching was easy! ) as well as trying our first obstical halter, hoping the first of many to come.

And we do jumping which he is very good at and gets very excited in the jumping ring! lol

He is rather shiney! lol No idea why as i don't anything special really apart from feed him linseed & oil in summer!

My future aim is to get him into harness, but we have 'hangs up' so i need professional help to get him to accept a cart without thinking its going to kill him! But long reining is good fun for the both of us and he is a real little work horse! Also ridden by the local kids so does a bit of everything.

This was him when i first got him, as a terrified, poorly yearling..

I'm always amazed when we go in the ring and beat some really nice horses, made me feel very proud of him.

 

[Relic]

Loved your story and l like your guy in fact he very much reminds me of my daughters mare only in a different color. l see some faults in him same as her mare long back chunky style etc...the important thing was my daughter never once cared what someone else thought she just plowed right along and showed her because she loved her and she thought she had the same right to be in a ring with the so called good ones.

She's not so much into halter as performance and for this mare that also was a feat because she is scared of anything new. But she was high performance horse twice now at our local level a feat in itself as she competes with horses that show at Worlds. So if you have enough confidence in yourself and really believe in your guy anything is possible....

 

[Reijel's Mom]

I have to agree with the majority here. I think he is VERY pleasing to the eye and looks sound and well put together. I don't think he looks like the "winning" horses out there right now but I really do think he's VERY attractive!

Nice horse!

 

[Black Magic]

I have to wonder why you aren't smiling??? I noticed that most people that do well in the show ring SMILE!

Okay.. let me say that I don't show... don't feel a need to.. at this point. When and if we ever have a million minis.. maybe we will. So please realize my opinion isn't worth squat.

To be brutelly honest... These days.. a Shetland doesn't look what I think of as a Shetland... they are so refined their bone structure looks like it's made of very thing glass. So as far as heavy bones.. lacking that refinement that is necessary for a horse to go top show....

Your grooming is lovely. You get an A+ there in my book. I would try sweating his neck to show his throat latch a bit more. I would get him driving to get a bit more muscle definition on him. I used to body build. FIrst you bulk up... a couple extra 1000 calories a day.. then you go to alot less calories and all health food. When I'm getting our driving hroses ready for driving in the spring and summer... Ido the same thing. They always seem to put weight on in the winter... and drop it in the summer normally. But I have to watch them, because that winter weight.. doesn't look good and isn't health to be sweting too much when driving in the summer. So my questionj would be.. what month was this pricture taken??? I suspect in the winter.

I've seen shows.. (we used to go to everyone in town.. (seven a year usually) and I noticed when you have two horses that are very close.. the handler that shows the animal that looks most confident and polished is going to get the attention. Maybe it's just the horses I've seen... but that's my opinion. take it for what it's worth.

Many many people in the show ring have been doing it for YEARS.. with big horses... and then minis too. So it's not easy. I think you did great.. I think someday, you'll be out there.. showing us all how it's done. In the meantime... just keep working on the little things.. and how you can show him at yours and his best.

God Bless,

Lynn W

BTW.. we don't show.. but our little stallion had six mares in for stud in 2007... so we'll see what the heck he produces.. His sire is Dabble... (from Beth WIlson).. And it might not bring any ribbons.. but we took our gelding trail driving.. he did 16 miles out on the Fl. greenways... and never slowed down one. I am more proud of what our little guy accomplished.. then I am if he went Nationals. That boy is a driving fool.

 

[susanne]

I love this guy!

True, he is not of the refined type that is winning at Nationals, but comparing him to other "old-style" minis, he is very nice -- much nicer than many of the breeding stallions I see. I get the impression from your photos that he enjoys showing and really turns it on in the ring.

As the owner of a rescue turned show gelding, I love hearing your story. I'm always amazed that someone thought Mingus was a throwaway, and I think the same of your gelding.

As for the training issues, just take it slowly and definitely find a good, gentle trainer who understands where he is coming from and doesn't think one approach suits all horses. I would recommend doing halter obstacle and everything possible to build trust and a sense of partnership, and, if you can, find a trainer who will teach the two of you as a team.

His issues may complicate training, but once you have his trust I bet he would do anything for you. Above all, love him and have fun with him, and constantly reassure him that he may have suffered before, but now he's home forever.

Take care,

susanne

 

[dgrminis]

I think he is very pretty...

 

[mininik]

What a handsome pony! You've done a great job with him.

 

[keely2682]

very nice trot

i want to drive him

i also love the bridle you're showing in

it really looks great on him

i think it suits him much better than the fine halter