Well, I have to admit I’m hooked. I’m a handyma’am and live and work in New York City and my sisters, Jaye Ventresca and Pegi Van De Water own miniature horses. Of course, when I visit, I see them and play with them but until this summer I never drove one.

It happened this way. My sisters were invited to demonstrate what you can do with a mini at a 4-H Fair and wanted my expertise in building jumps. So I came down for a weekend to help design and construct jumps. While we were doing that, conversation got around to the drill team they were working on and the suggestion got tossed out that I try driving one of the minis in the formations. So I did. What a gas! I was following along and yelling, “What’s next? Where do I go?” At the end I was definitely hooked.

The horse I was driving, Chappie (What-Knott’s Prince Charming) was such a HONEY. He did everything I asked and then some. So I begged in on the drill team and proceeded to come down from New York every weekend for eight weeks to be able to drive in the demonstration. Which we subsequently did at the end of August and it went over very well.

I figured that was it for me and minis. But Jaye said, “Why not take Chappie in a show?” Why not? “But, Jaye,” says I, “you’ll have to give me some pointers about driving before the show.” After all, I’d only been driving for eight weeks, an hour per week, and strictly as a drill team member. Sure, she says. So we figure out my costume, what jacket I can wear, etc. and the day before the show I get a lesson from Jaye about what the judge looks for, what I need to get Chappie to do in the class, what NOT to do, etc. While we are doing this I kept asking, “You’re sure I won’t look too silly?” She said (and Pegi too) that I’d be fine.

The next day we get up at the crack of dawn, pile gear, minis, carts and STUFF in two trucks and two trailers and trot off to the show. I’m not particularly nervous because I have no thought of doing anything but going in the classes. Imagine my total surprise when, in the first class, my number was called for FIRST prize! Jaye took second and Pegi took third. We went directly into the second class, not even leaving the ring. And AGAIN I won a ribbon, this time a third. In the five classes I competed in I got four ribbons. I was blown away. Of course, mainly it was Chappie, who is a wonderful mini, and all the great support from my sisters.

We had horses – large ones – when I was a kid and we did go to shows. And I always lost and NEVER knew why – there was no one knowledgeable about horse ways in my court and I was always frustrated and confused after a show. Not so, here. I DEFINITELY recommend the second way – show with people who know what they are doing. Like I said, I’m hooked. I’ll be back for more and more and more…

The horse show mentioned was the Delaware Valley Horseman’s Association Driving show held September 22nd, 2002, judged by Dana Bright under American Driving Society rules. The first class was Pleasure Driving – Working for miniature horses with 12 entries; the second was Pleasure Driving Reinsmanship for miniature horses, also 12 entries. Suzi and Chappie also competed in Cones, Errand Obstacles and Ladies to Drive, the last being open to all types of horses and ponies.

Since then Suzi and Chappie have competed at the Garden State Horse & Carriage Association Pleasure Show, trying out dressage and cross-country classes. Suzi donated the Jill-of-all-Trades Very Small Equine Challenge Trophy at that show. For Suzi’s birthday in November, a group of us took our minis to the Wissihickon Park in Philadelphia just to drive for fun.

-- Jaye Ventresca