The 121st National Horse Show enjoyed it’s third successful year at the Palm Beach Polo Equestrian Club in Wellington, FL and this year the Nations top hunter, jumpers and dressage horses shared the limelight with some little stars--Shetland ponies and miniature horses. During the Family Festival held at the show on December 4-5, Shetland ponies and miniature horses strutted their stuff in four educational demonstrations hosted for spectators.

“I think most people were impressed by the versatility of the Miniature Horses,” said Linda Kerns of Loxahatchee, FL, who demonstrated several of her farm’s miniature horses in driving, jumping and showmanship.

Tony Lopes also of Loxahatchee, shared Kerns’ sentiments, “It’s fun to show people all the ways they can enjoy Miniature Horses.” Lopes and his family brought a few of their national champion miniatures and fascinated the crowd with their adorable size and versatility.

Meanwhile, the Shetland ponies could hardly get across the show grounds to the exhibition ring without being stopped by adoring fans. “The biggest question they asked was, 'What are they?'” said Marcia Yeager, who along with her husband, Gary, brought two national champion Shetland ponies from Ocala to present at the National Show.

Later the Yeagers, with champion Shetlands, Tap Dance Kid and JT’s Pythagoras (aka Petey), joined four other champion Shetland ponies in a Shetland driving demonstration. Alicia Slocumb, along with her sister and niece, drove over six hours to show off their two champion Shetland Ponies, Clueless and Sprinkles On Top. Connie Thorson also trekked from north Florida to share her beautiful Palomino CDE driving Shetland , Powder. And Dean Chambers, also of northern Florida, wowed the crowd, with multiple national champion, Pans Atomic.

Pan’s Atomic is a bit of a celebrity, as he was featured in a TV show about Shetland ponies, that aired nationally in August on RFD-TV. “People are discovering that miniature horses and Shetland ponies are the small equines that they can enjoy from childhood right through their golden years," said American Shetland Pony Club and Miniature Horse Registry Marketing Director, Johnny Robb, who was on hand for the event. “And we are overcoming the old misconceptions that people have about Shetland ponies. These fancy, well-built Shetland ponies are not the Thewell-type ponies that many people remember from 30 years ago. Today’s Shetland ponies were really turning heads at the National Horse Show,” added Robb.

For more information about Shetland ponies and miniature horses, visit www.shetlandminiature.com or call (309) 263-4044.

The American Shetland Pony Club (ASPC) and the American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR) is a non-profit organization established to preserve and refine the bloodlines of small equines. Recognized as the oldest and most versatile registry in the United States, the American Shetland Pony Club and the American Miniature Horse Registry offer a variety of programs for Shetland pony and miniature horse enthusiasts of all ages.