Miniature Horses, Austrailian Shepherds & Dachshunds
Miniature Horses
Showcase Number One EKF Blueblood
Brass Tack Miniature horses are all from registered show stock. So what can you do with a miniature horse? This is the most common question heard from the "big" horse people. More than just a pet or decorative lawn art, the miniature horse is a very versatile animal with a big heart for its size.
The American Horse Miniature Association (AMHA) describes the mini horse as a "horse for everyone." The miniature horse that is registered with the AMHA cannot exceed 34" in height (measured at the last mane hair, not the highest point of the wither). The miniature horse comes in every color imaginable and all are recognized as acceptable.
Each year, more than 250 AMHA-sponsored shows are conducted throughout the US and Canada. These shows consist of classes including, but not limited to: Halter, Showmanship, Driving, Obstacle, and Jumping. AMHA also hosts Championship Shows in the East, Central and Western United States allowing exhibitors the chance to compete for Championship titles in more than 140 classes. And for those who qualify, the AMHA World Championship Show signifies the ultimate competition for the association. The show is an eight-day event held annually in the fall. It is the aspiration of any breeder of quality AMHA registered horses to have their name attached to an AMHA World Champion.
The American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) is a subset of the American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and includes miniature horses up to 38" in height (also measured at the last mane hair). The AMHR has two divisions of miniature horses, A and B. Miniature horses in the A division are under 34" and horses in the B division are over 34" and up to 38". "These versatile little horses can do just about everything a full-size horse can do. They are big fun in a small package," according to the AMHR website. The AMHR shows are very similar to the AMHA shows and also have many shows around the United States and Canada.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Miniature Australian Shepherds In 1976, a single Breed Standard for the Australian Shepherd was adopted and in 1980 the two major breed clubs consolidated to become the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). Unrecognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) at that time, ASCA not only provided a registry for the Aussie, but held conformation, obedience, agility, and working trials. Although the AKC now recognizes the Australian Shepherd, ASCA continues to provide these activities to the Australian Shepherd and is currently the largest single breed registry in the United States. The Miniature Australian Shepherd was developed directly from the Australian Shepherd. Throughout the history of the Aussie, small (under 18") dogs can be seen in historical photographs. Many believe that the original Aussie was selectively bred larger as sheep ranching decreased and cattle ranching increased. Cattle ranchers preferred a larger dog to work the larger stock. Some Aussie owners have continued to prefer the smaller sized Aussie while others prefer the larger. In 1968 a horse woman in Norco, California, began a breeding program specifically to produce very small Australian Shepherds. Her name was Doris Cordova, and the most well known dog from her kennel is Cordova’s Spike. Spike was placed with Bill and Sally Kennedy, also of Norco, California, to continue to develop a line of miniature Aussies under the B/S kennel name. Another horseman, Chas Lasater of Valhalla Kennels soon joined the ranks of mini breeders. Cordova, Lasater and the Kennedy’s together attempted to form the first parent club for the miniatures. Although the club never quite got off the ground, their stated purpose for developing the miniatures was to produce an Australian Shepherd under 17" who had the heart, intelligence and drive to work stock, and yet be small enough to travel easily to stock shows and be a "house" dog. Cordova’s dogs were registered through the National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR) and eventually NSDR came to be the first registry to recognize and register the mini as a size variety of the Australian Shepherd.
Thompson's Palace Princess Sheila
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Miniature Dachshunds The Dachshund, meaning "badger dog" in German, is a lively breed with a friendly personality and keen sense of smell. Known for their long and low bodies, they are eager hunters that excel in both above- and below-ground work. One of the most popular breeds according to AKC® Registration Statistics, they come in three different coat varieties (Smooth, Wirehaired or Longhaired) and can be miniature or standard size. The breed became popular in the U.S. during the early 1900’s, but fell out of favor during World War I. After the war, a few U.S. breeders slowly rebuilt the gene pool by importing German stock, and the breed began to increase in popularity again. The Dachshund became recognized by the AKC in 1885 and is a member of the Hound group. Miniatures Dachshunds weigh 11 pounds and under, while the Standard Dachshunds weigh between 16-32 pounds.
Miniature Dachshunds (Illustrations from AKC website)
Dachshunds were first bred in the early 1600s in Germany. The goal was to create a fearless, elongated dog that could dig the earth from a badger burrow and fight to the death with the vicious badgers.
Brass Tack Miniatures
AMHA/AMHR/PtHA Miniature Horses
NSDR/ADSR Miniature Austrailian Shepherds
AKC Miniature Dachshunds
Karen Merrill
Sutherland Springs, TX 78121
210-273-7330
Copyright . Little Brass Tack Miniature Horses. All rights reserved.
