11/10/2009

PLEASE HELP OUR FRIENDS FIND THEIR MINIATURE DONKEY

Please help us recover our precious baby!

Reward for Stolen Miniature Donkey

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Perfection’s All Jetted Up was bred to Itsy Bitsy Front and Center (a beautiful black male that now lives in New Hampshire). On August 20, 2008, Topper was born. I went to work that day and my husband, Richard called and stated that a new baby had been born on the farm. When he went out to the barn, Topper ran up to him with no fear and from that moment on, a permanent bond was established. Not only is Topper gorgeous, but he has the cutest personality. Everytime Richard goes into Topper’s yard he bends down and puts his shoulder against Topper’s neck and Topper responds with a hug by pushing his neck and chest into Richard’s shoulder.

In no time at all, Topper was halter trained A favorite game is to run in Topper’s yard and have him run with you. And don’t even think about walking another donkey around Topper. He’ll grab the end of the lead and try to assist you. If your body is ever positioned at his level, you can count on Topper either placing his head on your shoulder or resting it on top of your head. He plays with our barn cats and loves going to the fence to inspect the cattle grazing next door. What a curious boy! Topper is now 1 year old and maturing into a beauty.

Technorati Tags: Companion Donkeys, Itsy Bitsy Donkeys, Miniature Donkeys, Miniature Donkeys For sale, Perfection's Donkeys

Here is a link to watch a behind the scenes preview of the song and the video. Click Here

If you want to see the just released complete video,

Click Here

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We just returned from the Tennessee  State Fair NMDA Miniature Donkey Show and we are thrilled and humbled beyond belief. Katrina, Kandi and I are still in shock.

We have just completed our first full year in showing miniature donkeys and will have a difficult time having more fun than we have had this year. These little four legged friends are the best medicine.

The State Fair NMDA Show saw competitors from Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and as far away as Michigan. The Judge said at the conclusion of the show that it was the best collection of miniature donkeys he had seen anywhere in the Country in the past two years!

Katrina and Kandi did all of the showing while I kept the animals happy that were not in the ring. Both Katrina and Kandi showed animals in the Halter class, and Kandi showed in the In Hand Trail class.

When all was said and done “Stroker” KKR Stroke of Midnight received a 2nd Place ribbon in the Weanlings/Yearlings Gelding and Jack class, “Hottie” Legendary’s Hearts Wide Open received a 4th Place in the Weanlings/Yearlings Jennet class, “Macy Lee” Designer Donkeys Macy Lee (shown by Katrina) was selected as the Grand Champion Jennet and “Lexus” Hill Country’s Lexus (shown by Kandi) was judged as the Reserve Grand Champion! Unbelievable and a very good day to say the least!

Kandi went back into the show ring and got a fourth place finish behind some excellent competition in the In Hand Trail class. This was only the second time Kandi and her less than two year old Hottie have ever been in the ring for this class. Now she is really motivated to work hard this winter on training Hottie for next season.

A few days ago we told you about the wonderful Cowboy Mounted Shooting Competition (CMSA) in Murfreesboro, TN over the Labor Day Weekend; now, on this September 11th anniversary we encourage you to take a look at the video below of the patriotic opening ceremony.

I hope you enjoy it.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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There is an event that comes to town once a year that Katrina and I try to never miss, the Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (CMSA) competition in Murfreesboro, TN every Labor Day weekend. We just stumbled onto it and have been big fans ever since our first event.

Not only is it extremely close competition, lively, action packed and fun; it is free. Unfortunately, very few people know about it and attendance is very low.

Basically, cowboys and cowgirls ride horse back through a course and try to burst as many balloons in the shortest time possible. Typically there are 10 to 12 balloons and they manage this in 10 to 12 seconds or less usually without missing a single balloon. If that is not enough of a challenge they must also change guns during their run. So that means they have to cock the gun and shoot 5 or 6 rounds, holster their gun, pull out the second gun and cock and shoot 5 to 6 more balloons all at full speed on a horse running a strange course. Now, to make it even better, in one class the second weapon is a riffle!

All riders also wear vintage style gear and use period correct style weapons. One of the most interesting classes has all the riders in authentic Civil War attire. If you ever get the opportunity to see one of these events please do yourself a favor and attend. If you like horses or shooting you will love this unusual event.

Here is a sample of the kind of action you will see. We will also have a video of a portion of the opening ceremony in a few days.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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First Place -  Matched Pairs

First Place - Weanlings/Yearlings - Jennets

First Place - 2 Years and Over Jennets

Second Place - Weanlings/Yearlings Jack/Geldings

Third - Adult “In Hand” Trail

There are times when you just want to stop, sit back and take everything in and enjoy it. Yesterday was one of those days. It started out as normal as most, but it was show day at the Wilson County Fair. That meant it was going to be a hectic and busy day with donkeys to wash and a trailer to pack.

With the chores done, it was off to the fair with four of our precious little animals. Stroker (KKR Stroke of Midnight) was going to have his first experience in the ring. My daughter, Kandi, and Katrina were going to handle all of the ring duties while I was the hired hand.

Kandi was especially nervous. Two weeks prior, she decided to try her miniature, two year old Hottie (Legendary Hearts Wide Open), in “In Hand Trail”.

For the two weeks prior to the Fair, she worked with Hottie for an hour, 3 nights a week and for several hours on the weekend. She made significant progress on several basic elements. Kandi remained steadfast and excited about the opportunity to compete at “The Fair”; until she got there and saw the course and competition.

She asked several times if she should just “pull” Hottie from the competition. Kandi thought the course was much too complicated for her and Hottie. I did the fatherly thing and convinced her not to quit, just go in, give it her best and believe in Hottie.

Besides, she had invited her husband’s family and some of her close friends to the Fair to watch her show. How could she back out now?

Early on Katrina and Kandi both went into the ring to show in the same Halter Class. It wasn’t the first time they have shown against each other, but it was the first time Kandi and Hottie beat Katrina. Hottie got a Blue Ribbon and Kandi won huge smiles and hugs from all of us.

Kandi and Hottie had just enough time between classes for the excitement to wear off and wonder if they should really enter the ring for In Hand Trail. Long story short, they went in and came out with a third place ribbon! Way To Go!

How did the rest of the night go? Katrina and Kandi entered a total of 6 classes and walked out with 3 First Place Blue Ribbons; 2 Second Place Red Ribbons and 1 Third Place White Ribbon. A very good evening indeed.

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It was a very good time on the property this past weekend. We had a new blessing added to our little family of Miniature Donkeys. Anastasia had a little baby boy. We were hoping for a girl but when we saw how cute he was and how wonderful his personalty is we fell in love with him anyway.

This little guy has no fear of humans what so ever. Have you ever picked up a new born, put them in your lap and had them go to sleep! Even Anastasia was ok with it. Katrina thinks everything should be held and kissed so she wasted no time grabbing the little guy, sitting down and started scratching him. It only took a few minutes and he was sound asleep. She didn’t do this just once but multiple times over the weekend.

I am impressed but I am waiting for the time when he is 6 months old, had a bad day in the pasture and wants Katrina to put him in her lap and rock him to sleep!

Here is the new little baby and his mother.

Katrina has just got the little guy to sleep and his mom is not the least bit concerned.

He is a doll and as friendly as any new baby we have ever seen.

I want to see Katrina try this in six months.

He does have a little playful side that is also starting to come out.

Look at that; his eyes are closed and he is sound asleep and I think Katina is about gone also.

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You often hear stories about family members reconnecting after many years. It just happened to me!

When my step-daughter and her husband moved to Tennessee, they went to the local shelter to adopt a dog. They were given the name and phone number of a local veterinarian that offered low cost spay and neuter services. It turns out that the veterinarian that vaccinated and spayed their new puppy is my cousin, Jana.

The last time I saw Jana, was in California (just north of San Diego) and I was 10 years old. THAT WAS MANY YEARS AGO!!!!!! As I child, I visited their mini ranch which was filled with dogs, cats and horses, including a Missouri Fox Trotter. That was the last I saw of Jana because her family moved away to Bend, OR .

Being a “blood” relative, of course, Jana would have to love animals. Well she does! Jana and her husband recently moved to Tennessee started up a small animal veterinary practice (Anderson Vet Clinic, Christiana, TN) just north of Shelbyville and raise and show Tennessee Walking Horses.

Dick and I recently watched Jana and her daughter Hannah showing at the International Grand Championship for Pleasure and Colts in Murfreesboro, TN. They walked away with a large assortment of ribbons.

Wow, I look forward to reconnecting with a long, lost relative!!!!

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