KEMPSEY locals have done well in the world of miniature horses, winning categories in two national competitions.
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Stacey Milligan and Lesley Ratcliffe with their miniature horses, Ollie and Icy, have come home with ribbons from the Independent Miniature Horse Registry (IMHR) Nationals and the Miniature Horse Association of Australia (MHAA) Nationals.
Stacey Milligan said the country girls and country horses beat some of the best across Australia.
“We attended two national competitions and did really well,” Ms Milligan said.
“Myself and Leslie each took a horse to both nationals and we competed against the best there is in miniature horses in Australia.
"We competed at the Independent Miniature Horse Registry (IMHR) Nationals in Tamworth and the Miniature Horse Association of Australia (MHAA) Nationals in Sydney.
“At the IMHR nationals we didn’t miss out on a ribbon and Lesley with her horse Kimjara Vanilla Ice, which is her stage name or Icy as we call her at home, took out the Green National Reserve Champion.
“In Sydney at the MHAA Nationals, my horse, Sapphire Park Likatiger, or Ollie as I like to call him, won the Supreme Miniature Gelding Exhibit in the triple-shots, which is excellent as we were competing against the best in the country."
The miniature horse upon maturity must not exceed 34 inches - 8.2 hands or 86cm - in height.
If a miniature horse exceeds this hight it is known as a small horse.
Ms Milligan said she had loved the miniature horse most of her life, but started entering competitions in 1995.
“I started showing in 1995 in miniatures, however, I took a break in 2000 and went into dressage, but I got back into miniatures in 2012.
“I absolutely love it. I love showcasing the breed and showing what it can do. My little Ollie can jump well over a metre high and he’s only 32 inches.
"He performs in the Trail, Hunter, Show Jumper, Six Bar and Halter classes at most shows.
“I like showing people just how diverse the breed can be.
"They get shunned by the big horse people because they believe they are useless, but in reality they are great with people and perform just as well as the big horses."
