August 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN August 2020 Page 21 44 Edgefield Rd. • Quarryville, PA 17566 Carla’s horse education be- gan at Penn State University. She served many years as the leader of Frederick Blazing Saddles 4-H Horse Club in Middletown, MD, and then as a coach of the 4-H Horse Judging Team. She’s a cur- rent board member of the Mason Dixon Miniature Horse Associa- tion. In between all that, she still finds time to show her horses. Over the years, Carla has gained a following in the min- iature horse world. Now she is making waves with her Shetland Ponies. “At first we had a lot of pet inquiries,” Carla said of the business. “But I won’t sell a backyard pony. Horses are supposed to be horses. Over the years, people have noticed what we are breeding and the inquiries have changed. When someone comes to me, I ask them what they are specifically wanting to do with it. Do they want a performance horse, or driving? There are different styles of driving, too. I ask a lot of questions. Do they want AMHA [American Miniature Horse Association – which goes up to 34”], or AMHR [Ameri- can Miniature Horse Registry – which goes up to 38”], or do they want a Shetland? And I tell them they should never have just one. Horses are herd animals. If they are new to showing, I then suggest they come to our miniature horse club – Mason Dixon Miniature Horse Association.” Kimble said Carla works hard to make sure the horses she sells are finding the correct home. “I have known her for almost 30 years, and it is amazing to see the program she has built,” Kim- ble said. “She is supportive and always takes the time to follow up with the people who purchase or breed with her.” I asked Carla about genetic issues. “The studs can be slow to drop, so you need to check testi- cles. They can also have locking stifle and other genetic limb issues. But mostly, I recommend NOT breeding, unless you are an expert. Miniature horses can have huge issues foaling out, and it is not about size. It could be your 38” mare or your 30” mare. They are not easy to foal out. Another issue is dwarfism,” she added. Coolest Miniatures takes advantage of testing to make sure the mares and stallions are free of genetic disorders. DNA testing can find mutations of the aggre- can gene (ACAN) that is associ- ated with dwarfism in minis. Test- ing is important because minis without the apparent physical characteristics of dwarfism can still carry the gene. Despite their minimal diet, Carla said she doesn’t see much colic in the minis. She noted that they don’t eat a lot and are easy to keep. She said her focus con- tinues to be on conformation, and that’s something that her custom- ers notice. It’s what drew Warner to Coolest Miniatures. She credits Switching Horses in Mid-Stream Carla with helping her family fall in love with tiny horses. “I recommend miniature horses to horse lovers because they are a lot of fun,” Warner said. “They are easier to take care of, inexpensive, and can do so many thing big horses can do. They are a great option for peo- ple who can’t ride anymore, like people with disabilities or people who are frightened to ride the bigger horses. There is so much love in a miniature horse and it makes everyone smile every- where you go with them.” Visit them online at color yourdreamfarm.com . Tell our advertisers you found them in East Coast Equestrian. (Continued from page 20)