Miniature horses get their big moment at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
By Marcheta Fornoff, Fort Worth Report
January 19, 2023
Though they stand no more than 34 inches tall, measuring from the last hairs of their mane to the ground, miniature horses had a big day at John Justin Arena.
Miniature horses have been shown at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo since the early 1980s, but the breed’s history reaches back to 17th century Europe.
“They were bred down from larger horses, and they used them in mines because they could get into the mines easily where big horses couldn’t,” Nancy Braesicke, superintendent for the FWSSR Miniature Show, said. “They really took off in this country in the 1970s and then they became show animals.”
The show included opportunities for exhibitors to show their animals in-hand or compete in driving and roadster divisions where they rode behind their horses in carts.
It was a family affair for multiple competitors in the arena, including mother and daughter duo Connie and Denise Kennedy.
“We love showing minis,” the elder Kennedy said.
Daughter Denise added: “They’re a lot easier than other horses.”
Another exhibitor, Taryn Murphy, kept her approach for the day simple.
“I mostly just go out and have fun,” she said. “It sounds cliche, but I just try to do better than last time.”
-
Mother and daughter pair Connie and Denise Kennedy competed in multiple classes at the miniature horse show. The pair from Keota, Oklahoma, have been coming to the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo since about 2011. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) -
FreedomHills Farm Mystic Dream poses for the camera at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Miniature Horse Competition. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report). -
Several boxes of ribbons sat on a table in John Justin Arena for the competitors at the FWSSR Miniature Horse Show. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) -
Judges study Sarah Cole’s horse. Cole competed with her father and children at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Miniature Horse Show. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) -
Stacie Rhynes and her horse, Texas Angels Admirals Redchick, take a practice trip around the arena at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Miniature Horse Show. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report) -
Jojo Logan had multiple miniature horses at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Logan started out showing Quarter Horses, and has been showing “minis” for about 10 years. (Marcheta Fornoff | Fort Worth Report)
Marcheta Fornoff covers the arts for the Fort Worth Report. Contact her at marcheta.fornoff@fortworthreport.org or on Twitter. At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
This article first appeared on Fort Worth Report and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
