Quail Summit residents visit Little Church Minis!
July 25, 2007
July 25, 2007
What a perfect day. Residents from an assisted living facility came out for a visit. The bus delivered 14 to
our house at 1:00. The Activity Director’s daughter and young grandson came too. For 2 hours we shared
our miniatures with them.
The preparations started the day before with Kennedy (my barn buddy and former student) spending the day
with me watching horses at the county fair, and then coming home with me to groom the horses. We
finished clipping all halter paths, washed two tails, and after some vigorous brushing on the others, decided
they were good to go, unless it got hot the next day—then we’d bathe a few. At 9:30 that night I washed out
all halters and fly masks and hung them on the line.
Elizabeth, another former student, (my teaching job sure has its benefits!) and Kennedy arrived about 10:00
AM the day of the visit to help me get ready. Mark, my husband, had already set up 14 chairs in a semi
circle under the vast shade of the pine trees. He moved the picnic table behind the set-up for the treats to
be served. Rachel, my daughter, arranged the cookies and crackers in quilt like fashion on antique tin
plates. The girls set up the obstacle course and made up the stalls from the morning cleaning. I cleaned the
pastures again, and got all the horses into the cool barn under fans. They were appreciative since it was hot
and buggy. The heat gave us an excuse to bathe Blessing and Whisper.
our house at 1:00. The Activity Director’s daughter and young grandson came too. For 2 hours we shared
our miniatures with them.
The preparations started the day before with Kennedy (my barn buddy and former student) spending the day
with me watching horses at the county fair, and then coming home with me to groom the horses. We
finished clipping all halter paths, washed two tails, and after some vigorous brushing on the others, decided
they were good to go, unless it got hot the next day—then we’d bathe a few. At 9:30 that night I washed out
all halters and fly masks and hung them on the line.
Elizabeth, another former student, (my teaching job sure has its benefits!) and Kennedy arrived about 10:00
AM the day of the visit to help me get ready. Mark, my husband, had already set up 14 chairs in a semi
circle under the vast shade of the pine trees. He moved the picnic table behind the set-up for the treats to
be served. Rachel, my daughter, arranged the cookies and crackers in quilt like fashion on antique tin
plates. The girls set up the obstacle course and made up the stalls from the morning cleaning. I cleaned the
pastures again, and got all the horses into the cool barn under fans. They were appreciative since it was hot
and buggy. The heat gave us an excuse to bathe Blessing and Whisper.
Once they were sparkling, we put them in the front
pasture to dry. They of course immediately rolled on
the least grassy spot so their sparkles were hidden
under brown dust. So, the girls added more
vigorous brushing to their list of things to do before
1:00. But since the dust had to dry, the girls jumped
into the pool to cool off before lunch.
After eating, they got the sparkle back on the
2-year-old fillies, who waited for our guests in the
front pasture. I haltered the rest in their stalls and got
the lead ropes out. Camera was ready. Rachel had
her camera ready, and her boyfriend had arrived to
help. My in-laws had arrived to lend a hand wherever
needed. I made a last minute change in plans to do
the whole horse presentation first, then serve food,
rather than have the food out the whole time. It
seemed to make sense. Everyone who was on
lemonade duty was notified.
pasture to dry. They of course immediately rolled on
the least grassy spot so their sparkles were hidden
under brown dust. So, the girls added more
vigorous brushing to their list of things to do before
1:00. But since the dust had to dry, the girls jumped
into the pool to cool off before lunch.
After eating, they got the sparkle back on the
2-year-old fillies, who waited for our guests in the
front pasture. I haltered the rest in their stalls and got
the lead ropes out. Camera was ready. Rachel had
her camera ready, and her boyfriend had arrived to
help. My in-laws had arrived to lend a hand wherever
needed. I made a last minute change in plans to do
the whole horse presentation first, then serve food,
rather than have the food out the whole time. It
seemed to make sense. Everyone who was on
lemonade duty was notified.
We paced while we waited for the guests to arrive. The girls said “Wouldn’t it be terrible if they forgot!” I
assure them that would never happen.
Two minutes later the bus pulled in. “They’re here!” sounded through the gardens and pastures. Everyone
gathered around the bus to lend an elbow to hold as a seat for everyone was found in the semi circle of
chairs.
Once everyone was settled, I gave a brief introduction to my life with miniatures, how and why I got started
and how there came to be 7 in my care. They asked great questions. While they were here, no stone was
left unturned as we discussed nutrition, basic daily care, poop control, mare stare, foaling, working in halter,
things one can do with them (showing, driving), height requirements, and registries. They discovered by
watching that miniatures are indeed horses and need to be treated as such. They also learned how easy it
is to fall in love with a miniature.
assure them that would never happen.
Two minutes later the bus pulled in. “They’re here!” sounded through the gardens and pastures. Everyone
gathered around the bus to lend an elbow to hold as a seat for everyone was found in the semi circle of
chairs.
Once everyone was settled, I gave a brief introduction to my life with miniatures, how and why I got started
and how there came to be 7 in my care. They asked great questions. While they were here, no stone was
left unturned as we discussed nutrition, basic daily care, poop control, mare stare, foaling, working in halter,
things one can do with them (showing, driving), height requirements, and registries. They discovered by
watching that miniatures are indeed horses and need to be treated as such. They also learned how easy it
is to fall in love with a miniature.
Then came the horses. The mares and foals were lead out of the barn to the pasture right in front of our
guests. Oh the oooos and ahhhhs. Chloe and Claire were lead to the waiting crowd. One prep detail I
never considered is to have the foals take a romp out of the pasture before they came. They’ve never left
the inside of the fences. The color change from grass to driveway really threw Claire off; we chuckled as
she struggled to take the leap onto the stones. Everyone applauded her bravery. Claire was a big hit, of
course. They loved her beauty, her color, her softness, and the fact she’s the farm baby.
guests. Oh the oooos and ahhhhs. Chloe and Claire were lead to the waiting crowd. One prep detail I
never considered is to have the foals take a romp out of the pasture before they came. They’ve never left
the inside of the fences. The color change from grass to driveway really threw Claire off; we chuckled as
she struggled to take the leap onto the stones. Everyone applauded her bravery. Claire was a big hit, of
course. They loved her beauty, her color, her softness, and the fact she’s the farm baby.
Will Claire cross the scary divide?
Next came Gypsy and Rosie. Rosie provided a few bucks for entertainment. I was very careful to
guide her teeth and hooves so no one got hurt. She was adored. Oh how they raved about her
beautiful face. The driveway gave her less trouble.
guide her teeth and hooves so no one got hurt. She was adored. Oh how they raved about her
beautiful face. The driveway gave her less trouble.
"She likes me!"
Once the mares and foals had their moment, we got all hands busy to switch pastures between the
mares and 2-year-olds. Now it was Blessing’s turn. She was so good, and allowed many kisses to be
planted on her soft muzzle, but she was itching where her halter laid and it made it difficult to let her
get close for too long.
mares and 2-year-olds. Now it was Blessing’s turn. She was so good, and allowed many kisses to be
planted on her soft muzzle, but she was itching where her halter laid and it made it difficult to let her
get close for too long.
Say hello, everyone!
That's me talking.
My camera crew doubled once the foals
were back in the pasture. They got lots
of Blessing and Whisper pictures.
were back in the pasture. They got lots
of Blessing and Whisper pictures.
Some feel a miniature's muzzle is
just too soft to resist a kiss.
Thank goodness the horses were
well trained in this area. Ha ha!!!
just too soft to resist a kiss.
Thank goodness the horses were
well trained in this area. Ha ha!!!
Blessing demonstrated perfectly
how good she is a walk, trot,
whoa--and why she's my running
buddy!
how good she is a walk, trot,
whoa--and why she's my running
buddy!
Whisper’s behavior was a wonderful surprise. She was ever so gentle as she walked up to each
person for pets or kisses. She never shied at the walkers; I had desensitized them to walkers, but
the ones that came were much different than the one I walked around the pasture with. One
person said she could completely understand how I could fall in love with these animals just by
seeing Whisper’s sweet face.
person for pets or kisses. She never shied at the walkers; I had desensitized them to walkers, but
the ones that came were much different than the one I walked around the pasture with. One
person said she could completely understand how I could fall in love with these animals just by
seeing Whisper’s sweet face.
What worked well
was to first introduce
each horse, then start
at one end with
myself between the
horse and the
resident. I was so
scared of a stepped
on toe, or an
unexpected nip. This
worked well!
was to first introduce
each horse, then start
at one end with
myself between the
horse and the
resident. I was so
scared of a stepped
on toe, or an
unexpected nip. This
worked well!
There was a lot of kissing going
on at the end of the line!
on at the end of the line!
Once all the girls were back in pastures, and their halters were replaced with fly masks, half my crew left
to get the treats ready. While the guests were waiting, they asked about Jazz. I’d gone back and forth
about bringing him out. If a mare or filly was in heat, it could be a show, or he could just have a rowdy
moment. But, I decided to go for it. He was perfect. He walked so calmly out and stood regally in front
of the group. They thought he was posing for pictures. I was so proud of him. I didn’t take him from
person to person as I had the others for the cookies and lemonade had arrived. Jazz happily returned to
his pasture.
Everyone ate, satisfied their thirst, and chatted. The girls worked the 2-year-olds in the pasture for
entertainment. They trotted them over poles, had them side step and back (well, tried backing), and
stand. Then they free lunged them for a few minutes. The audience loved it!
to get the treats ready. While the guests were waiting, they asked about Jazz. I’d gone back and forth
about bringing him out. If a mare or filly was in heat, it could be a show, or he could just have a rowdy
moment. But, I decided to go for it. He was perfect. He walked so calmly out and stood regally in front
of the group. They thought he was posing for pictures. I was so proud of him. I didn’t take him from
person to person as I had the others for the cookies and lemonade had arrived. Jazz happily returned to
his pasture.
Everyone ate, satisfied their thirst, and chatted. The girls worked the 2-year-olds in the pasture for
entertainment. They trotted them over poles, had them side step and back (well, tried backing), and
stand. Then they free lunged them for a few minutes. The audience loved it!
Above--Rachel and Darryl serving the goodies. Below--the
groundwork demonstration by Elizabeth and Kennedy.
groundwork demonstration by Elizabeth and Kennedy.
Two hours after their arrival, it was time for
this most wonderful crowd to load the bus for
home. Many thank-yous were uttered, many
hugs were given. They loved their visit.
They said they’d never had anything quite
like it and can’t believe how much they
learned. They thought we’d had groups out
for years, and were quite delighted to learn
they were the first.
What a beautiful day. Everyone’s heart is
happy tonight.
We hope to make it an annual visit.
this most wonderful crowd to load the bus for
home. Many thank-yous were uttered, many
hugs were given. They loved their visit.
They said they’d never had anything quite
like it and can’t believe how much they
learned. They thought we’d had groups out
for years, and were quite delighted to learn
they were the first.
What a beautiful day. Everyone’s heart is
happy tonight.
We hope to make it an annual visit.
Cooling off after a job well done! Thanks everyone! You are terrific!
My deep appreciation goes to Rachel and Darryl for taking these
awesome photos. The story wouldn't be the same without their work.
awesome photos. The story wouldn't be the same without their work.
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