Posts Tagged ‘painting
The Paisley Pony Article
The Trick Ponies of Chincoteague and their sidekick, Ammo the Dachshund, were featured in the Winter 2010 Issue of The Paisley Pony. Ammo thinks he’s hot stuff now after I showed him his first published article. He told me he only signs autographs for his fans that bring him dog cookies. I’ve created a monster!
So head on over to The Paisley Pony and check out the Winter 2010 Issue.
Fun with Ammo
Just thought I’d share some photos of Ammo the Dachshund. He’s been braving the winter cold with me at the barn in his three (yes 3) winter coats. I think he’s longing for summer too. Here’s some cute shots of him from the past week….I just love that little dog.
Ammo’s favorite chair in the dining room. Hoping for scraps from the table.
Ammo checking out winter from the comfort of his leather chair
My Adorable Dachshund Valentine
Multitasking
Enjoying his Valentines Day Present
“I think it broke mom!”
Ammo starts dog training classes with me in March, and I can’t wait! I think it will be a great experience for him and I’m looking forward to transitioning him into other things, perhaps agility or maybe even flyball. He’s so smart I’m sure he could do anything. The tricky part will be channeling that Dachshund stubbornness in him. If you’ve ever owned a Dachshund you know what I’m talking about. Ammo is my very first Dachshund and I never imagined what a difficult breed they could be. He challenges me everyday, sometimes he frustrates me to no end….but for some reason his antics make me love him even more. I think I will forever be a “Dachshund Person” just like I will forever be a “Chincoteague Pony Person”.
I’m hoping to do some updates on Ammo when he begins his training classes (I also plan to use clicker training in them). And if I get myself in gear, I also plan to keep working on Ammo’s painting training so he can join the Trick Ponies in creating masterpieces. I will keep you posted!
My Favorite Chincoteague Links
I’ve decided that what will get me past my winter blues is thinking about the Summer ahead. In particular, my yearly trip to Chincoteague Island. This will be the third year that I attend with Chincoteague Minnow to paint and perform at the Chincoteague Pony Centre. I look forward to this every year and we start planning months in advance. So to sort of get my out of my funk, I’ve decided to post some of my favorite Chincoteague Pony and Misty of Chincoteague links. So check them out, and if you’ve never been to the magic that is the Chincoteague Pony Penning….maybe this is your year to go!
Pony Paintings
The website for the Trick Ponies of Chincoteague and an outlet for their creative endeavors. See videos, photos, and shop for paintings. Discover the magic of Chincoteague Ponies!
The Colorful Chincoteague
This website details all of the wide array of coat colors that Chincoteague ponies can come in. Run by fellow pony enthusiast, Amanda Geci, this website even features some of the Trick Ponies of Chincoteague. Chincoteague Minnow is under the Tobiano link and Chesapeake Lightning is under the Sabino link.
Misty’s Heaven
Everything you ever wanted to know about Misty of Chincoteague! This website is run by Matt DesJardins and Amanda Geci, and it is evident by their website that they really are Chincoteague Pony Lovers. Misty’s Heaven documents Misty’s life as well as the Misty Family Ponies and bloodlines. Be sure to check out the Misty’s Heaven Blog too!
The Chincoteague Pony Association
A must for any Chincoteague Pony lover. Registering your Chincoteague pony helps to keep track of all the ponies that left the island. The money they earn also goes to help feed and care for the wild ponies of Assateague Island. All three of the trick ponies are registered with the Chincoteague Pony Associations, we also make yearly donations to help their cause.
Thousand Welcomes Farm
A Chincoteague Pony Breeding farm located in Chapel Hill, NC. This is also where my own Blitz and Boomer were bred and raised. A wonderful family run farm that produces an excellent herd of ponies, I highly recommend if you are on the market for a new pony.
The Feather Fund
A wonderful non-profit group that continues the work of Carollyn Suplee by helping deserving children to purchase their very of own Chincoteague Pony. I think its a wonderful organization that brings the magic of the Chincoteague Ponies into a child’s home.
The Chincoteague Pony Centre
The oldest established breeder of Misty Family Ponies, also the once home to Chincoteague Minnow. During the summer season they put on a wonderful pony show at the Pony Centre, Minnow also performs here during Pony Penning week. They also have a gift shop and during the summer months the foals can be seen playing outfront. During the off season the ponies reside off the island on the Allen Family Farm.
Minnow Caught on Film
I really am on this “looking back” kick. Can’t help it!
I decided to check out some of my REALLY old videos on my Youtube account, so I went back to the very first video I ever posted onto Youtube. And of course it was a video of Minnow painting – published on February 21, 2007.
I had filmed this video for a class I was taking at Kutztown University. Now I must disclaimer first I am not a videographer, in fact I really suck at making videos. My brother is the videographer – and I’m dying to have him make me another video of all three of the Trick Ponies. But alas he is living in North Carolina right now (if you are in North Carolina and need a Videographer/Editor contact my little brother!), so it looks like I may have to reach my 2010 goal of making a new film of the ponies myself. I know it won’t be pretty.
But speaking of stinky videos of mine. Here are a few more I had done for the class I took in college. My downfall is music choice, I really can’t choose a good song if my life depended on it. So when it comes to making my new videos I may just have to enlist everyone’s help out in blog land!
I’ll be waiting until the Spring/Summer to start my new film project – as the ponies will look much prettier without their fuzzy winter coats. So I have until then to really work on some new exciting tricks for the new video.
Trick Pony Goals
So I thought if I wrote down some of my goals for the Trick Ponies in 2010 it might actually help me to accomplish them. Hopefully our cold winter doesn’t last too long and I can get to training them soon! So here’s my list (in no particular order):
1. Teach Minnow to rear
2. Teach Blitz and Boomer to lay down on command
3. Finish teaching Ammo and Boomer to paint
4. Come up with a new skit for Minnow to perform
5. Make a new video of all of the trick ponies (and the Dachshund) performing
6. Move Boomer up to compete in the Masters Division in Mounted Games
7. Take Blitz to a bombproofing clinic/and or some Dressage events
8. Teach Ammo and Minnow some tricks together
9. Find more venues/performances for Minnow to do – events that raise money for charities would be great.
10. Spend more time doing “nothing” with the boys
Blitz is the first of the Chincoteagues to learn to lay down
So what do you think? Anything I should add? Suggestions on new tricks to teach the boys? I’d love to hear your goals – maybe you want to learn more about clicker training – maybe you just want to teach your horse one trick? Whatever it is, I wish you much success in the new year! Click on!
