4-H family shows off stable full of miniature horses

With her miniature horse Bella in tow, Gabby Sutton, 9, made her coach Marian Ashley proud Monday when she won the grand champion ribbon in the 4-H junior showmanship class at the Northwest Montana Fair.

Ashley spent the summer working with Gabby and four other grandchildren of Frank and Kathleen Sutton on the finer points of showing little horses in 4-H competitions. All five showed well but Gabby was a standout, especially with her smile, as she left the ring with her rosette.

Kyla Reed, 10, who attends Helena Flats School, led her little horse to a reserve grand champion junior showmanship ribbon.

Just before the competition, Gabby, who attends Hedges Elementary School, was just a little worried about her dark bay mare taking her for a bumpy drag during her very first 4-H showmanship judging.

"Sometimes she wants to trot when I want to walk," she said with a giggle.

Ashley, the assistant superintendent of the miniature horse barn, said Gabby and all the Sutton children have put in a lot of hours on their 4-H miniature horse project.

"I've been working with them for two seasons," she said.

For showmanship, Ashley said she advises them to strut their horse as if they had a million-dollar animal at the end of the lead rope. She teaches them the proper way to 'set" their horse with its four feet evenly supporting its weight.

At the close of the junior showmanship class, judge Stacia McAdams had praise for the Suttons and other competitors, saying she had a tough time choosing the winners. In line with the 4-H tradition, she gave some praise and advice to the group.

"You all had great eye contact," she said. "A few of you grabbed the lead rope with your left hand. Always push the horse away from you and work on your setup."

Ashley explained that showmanship puts the exhibitor in the spotlight. Along with handling the horse, the 4-H youth must answer questions about tack and parts of the horse to demonstrate the results of their studies.

"The horse is like a prop in showmanship," she said.

She said the Sutton children and their horses did well in a couple of sanctioned miniature shows held this summer in other parts of the state. Two national organizations register these horses and sanction shows.

The American Miniature Horse Registry sanctions events for horses up to 38 inches, called B minis, while the American Miniature Horse Association registers and sanctions shows for A minis, those 34 inches and under.

Ashley said she enjoys helping the young people with the year-long 4-H show preparation that includes keeping a workbook and putting in a set amount of time, just like those showing steers or lambs.

"It's just fun watching these kids work really hard," she said.

A veteran of 12 years with little horses, Ashley said she became involved via her mother, Janet Patterson, who turned to miniatures as an easier alternative to large horses as she grew older.

For the last three years, Ashley and her mom have grown their Kila operation called JP Miniatures to 22 little horses.

"We breed, sell and train them," she said.

Ashley said she met the Suttons soon after moving to the Flathead Valley from Washington. They all belong to the Little Hooves and Harnesses, a club for miniature horse enthusiasts in the valley.

This year, five of the Sutton grandchildren qualified for the junior class of 4-H made up of youth 9 to 13 years old. A sixth comes of age to compete next year.

"We've been working with them all summer," Ashley said. "They're doing wonderfully."

She recommends miniature horses as perfect for children as well as almost any other age group. Ashley said many people mistakenly think of the mini horses as just pets.

"You can do anything with them that you do with a big horse except saddle them and ride," she said.

Along with showmanship, the 4-H competition included classes in which the horses were taken by their young handlers through obstacle courses and over jumps. The horses also pull carts.

"They're great for older people who can't ride any more," Ashley said. "You don't have to worry about getting up on them or getting bucked off."

Miniature horses also provide a good alternative with the recession tightening people's belts. Ashley said a person can feed two to three minis for the cost of food for one large horse.

"They're also a lot hardier and they have an even temperament," Ashley said.

People interested in the miniature horses have a second chance to watch them go through their paces Thursday at 8:30 a.m. when the judging begins on the open miniature horse show in the CHS Arena.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.