Mary Lou I have to agree with you. In the past I disliked the way AMHR was going towards the Shetland look. I had also thought oh this is just another selling point to make Shetlands more popular. Has it worked I’m sure it has. Everyone can say breed for what you want but now I strictly show, I no longer breed, my horses do not have the Shetland look but the style of miniatures back when I first started showing, which was in 2003. Now my horses aren’t the look, I have stopped breeding, sold all my broodmares, and just have my 3 geldings and I enjoy and show. I was really considering switching to AMHA. I got my membership, I was going to plan on hardshipping my 2 geldings to AMHA this year when my one turned 3. But then I took a step back and opened my eyes.
I enjoy my horses, I enjoy showing with the people in the club, and AMHR is membership friendly. Some may disagree, but that’s JMO. AMHR created the Western class, which we needed because the driving classes were all over the place, because of the Shetlands huge movement that has been brought into the registry. If it wasn’t for Western I probably would have thrown in the towel. This class is huge and I think really has brought people back into the show ring with their horses. Now why we can’t do the same in halter? The AR State Fair had draft type which was the biggest halter class of that show, if not the biggest class period. The smallest horse won the class, he was the correct type, but it was awesome due to the fact that usually the biggest horse wins in a height halter class. Like someone mentioned perhaps we are too focus on height and should focus on type. Or offer a draft type halter class at Nationals I would love to see. There was a lot of interest for this class on this forum, many may not have agreed on the name but that could change. AMHR did something right when they added western I think they can do it again.
Lavern I like you idea, I really do, I just want a reason to have that seal. I did not realize the foundation division for the Shetlands wasn’t created but just 10 years ago. I didn’t get into showing minis til mid 2000s. If they can do that with the Shetlands I don’t see why the minis can’t create their own foundation division, I really think its something that needs to be created. People that don’t want to see the AMHR miniature to go needs to get together and come up with it. I honestly think base it on the foundation division for the Shetlands. I will be more then willing to help with it as I have stated in the past I have always wanted some type of division but had no ways of figuring out how to start it or no help was offered.
Has the Shetland influence helped the miniatures? Yes and no. I think the minis have certainly have come along way and I think the Shetlands have something to do with it. I personally have nothing against Shetlands, I think they are very beautiful, but I also see how many on here don’t want to see the AMHR miniatures go away. I was definitely one of them, I have lightened up on it but I know where they are coming from, I thinking adding AMHR Foundation Miniature division would help keep breeders involved. I see so many ads people selling AMHR, AMHR/AMHA horses because they are changing their programs to AMHR/ASPC, everyone is free to choose what they want but at the same time it’s kind of sad.
This topic has certainly got off topic I think this sale was a great idea for AMHR, hope it brings in new members.
...so now if he does measure in I will hardship him in right away. At $200 it is worth it to me. And if it turns out that he measures a 1/2" over, oh well, I did buy him to be a pony and his ASPC papers are what I value the most.
