Over the weekend, about 150 youngsters and their four-legged companions strutted their stuff at the Missoula County Fairgrounds in separate 4-H competitions in which they were judged against certain criteria, not each other.
Although the events drew mostly competitors and their parents, the weekend served as the culmination of the 4-H'ers' yearlong efforts in training and working with their animals.
"This is the fair for these kids."
The two-day horse show that ended Sunday featured a record number of miniature horses.
Despite their diminutive size - measuring 34 inches tall or less at the shoulder - the little horses made a big impression on the small crowd of admirers that came to cheer them on.
As their breed name suggests the "minis" generally weigh between 150 to 200 pounds, are no bigger than a large dog, and have the confirmation and characteristics of a regular, large horse, said Rena Kammerer, a miniature horse breeder and owner.
"They are really growing in popularity because they aren't expensive to keep, they don't eat a lot, they don't need a lot of space and they are very rewarding to work with," she said.
Brianna Arnott, a 13-year-old newcomer to the breed, has had her mini, Danny, for only two months. But in that short time, the two have become best friends.
"He's just a sweetheart," said Arnott, who put Danny through his paces in showmanship and obstacle classes. "He's really smart and learns things really quickly."
Some things he's learned, such as how to open the gate to his pen and haze the family's sheep from the hay, are less endearing but nevertheless entertaining.
"He was a rescue horse, so when we first got him he was a handful," said Cindy Arnott, Brianna's mother. "But he's really settled in, and he's so good now. He's just a lovely guy who is fun to be around."
Skylight, a 2-year-old bay gelding is one of Jatanna Kammerer's best friends.
Kammerer has owned the mini since he was 4 months old, and the two have an obvious bond.
The little horse is sometimes willful, but will only listen and work for Kammerer.
"I just love taking care of him, and he knows it," Kammerer said. "I love being around him because he is so gentle - he's like a big teddy bear.
"When I'm feeling sad I'll go sit in his pasture and he'll lean his head against me. Sometimes, he'll lay down next me."
Although the price tag for a mini can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand or more, feeding and caring for minis is about one-tenth the amount for a full-size horse.
At the end of the year, the cost of caring for a mini is comparable to that of a dog, said Charlie and Missy Miller, whose 9-year-old son Colter competed with his gelding, Flasher.
"They're a great lawn mower," Missy Miller said. "They are easy to handle and they have a lot of personality and trainability."
Although the minis can only carry children who weigh 50 pounds or less, they are used as therapy pets, and can pull carts and compete in a variety of classes, such as obstacle and in-hand jumping, which looks somewhat like an agility class for dogs.
However, minis excel at being loving, mischievous, sweet pets.
"They are just like an oversized dog," Miller said. "Leave the door open and they'll come right in and lay down."
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com
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