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Post by susanneandmingus on Nov 25, 2008 9:22:49 GMT
Hello...I hope you don't mind another American, but I'm reasonably well-behaved and I don't take up very much room. (Hopefully sharin won't think I'm stalking her -- she's our neighbor from three towns up the highway and a fellow NW Beach Driver) Both my horse and I are still fairly new to driving. Thanks to the support and coaching from some excellent trainers, his intelligence and common sense, and the 1-1/2 years I spent on ground-driving alone, Mingus is a wonderful, happy, safe driving pony. Here we are driving on the Washington coast (we're still working on form, so please forgive our shortcomings in form). Mingus is registered as an AMHR mini, but at 38 inches is more accurately a maxi-mini. I look forward to getting to know you all!
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Post by lazydaisy on Nov 25, 2008 10:13:46 GMT
Heya. Great to see new faces always. Love your littlie. Great trot there. Hey form and outline can come later.
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Post by rabatsa on Nov 25, 2008 11:42:12 GMT
Hello and welcome. The more the merrier. Your pony looks to be enjoying his beach jaunt. Hope to hear more about you.
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Post by wally on Nov 25, 2008 15:38:27 GMT
Hellooooooooooo
Lovely pony, look at him/her move!
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Post by goodgollymissmolly on Nov 25, 2008 19:44:32 GMT
Hello and welcome. What a fantastic picture, such a lovely beach - I'm really envious. Your little chap looks great too.
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Post by happyhorsedriver on Nov 25, 2008 21:35:37 GMT
Hiya and welcome to the forum ;D I am so jealous wish we were able to drive on the beach your wee fella looks fab
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Post by susanneandmingus on Dec 9, 2008 23:26:50 GMT
Thank you all for your warm welcome and your kind words about my boy.
Mingus (named after the late, great jazz bassist, Charles Mingus) does indeed love to be driven, but even more, he loves to be admired. He is a complete and utter ham. If a car pulls into our driveway, Mingus is at the gate, set up as if he's at a show. He is very high-spirited and can be a bit of a handful, but once he's harnessed, he is all business and beautifully behaved.
We adopted him back in 2002 from a rescue group; his previous owner left him to rot in a dry lot without enough food or any attention. He came to us skinny and with a dull, splotchy coat...but we loved him dearly from day one. He returned the favor by turning into a gorgeous horse with an unbelievable personality. He changed our lives completely -- when we first got him, we lived in the city of Portland, Oregon, (though on a half acre) and our lives revolved around art and music. Now we live in the sticks (close enough to the city to remain involved in music and art) and have added three more miniature horses to our family.
Mingus and I have taken the "forever" approach to his driver's education...I had little experience driving, so I enlisted an incredible trainer to teach me to teach him, and sought input from assorted friends and acquaintances. Oh yes...I spent over 1-1/2 years ground-driving him, doing everything possible to avoid the pitfalls of "green plus green equals black and blue."
So far, so good, but now I am looking for a trainer so that I can take him beyond just the basics. He has an incredible extended trot and bends pretty well, but is not yet truly on the bit, is still heavy on the forehand and needs to get his hindquarters beneath him...his walk is rather lazy -- the result of walking beside his dumpy owner, no doubt! We have our work cut out for us...
Sorry to go on and on, but I tend to do that when discussing my favorite subject.
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Post by happyhorsedriver on Dec 10, 2008 21:24:29 GMT
Go on as much as you like it is great to hear how you came about getting Mingus he really is adorable. Good luck with him and keep as posted on how you are both doing with the driving ;D We love to see pictures
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Post by rabatsa on Dec 11, 2008 11:52:30 GMT
It is also nice to hear about ponies coming through adverse conditions and doing well.
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