Miniature Ponies
Two womens passion for training little equine
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BY VALERIE BUSTAMANTE
light breeze flowed through the trees as the summer heat was cooling down and the sun was setting over a Guadalupe County ranch. Together, friends Kim Martin and Sara Harborth, tended to a pair of miniature horses, Cody, a 10-year-old mini and Sunny, a 22-year-old mini. Harborth trimmed Sunny’s mane while Martin took to cleaning up Cody’s hooves one by one. For the past six years, the two women have traveled together with a group of friends around the state to compete in miniature horse shows.
Kim It was originally Martins son Kyle that got involved in showing minies. However, as Kyle got older, his interest shifted, Martin said. “He lost enthusiasm because of girls and high school and driving,” Martin laughed. “I took on Cody because he’s part Arenosa and he can be a little bit of a wild child. He’s 10 but acts more like a 4-year-old, 5-year-old. We took him up and had somebody work with him on driving and they didn’t get along well. Other than the driving, I’ve taught him by watching (Sara).” Martin and Cody have grown together, Harborth said. 42 SEGUIN ~ GUADALUPE COUNTY LIVING
“I mean, they started from the bottom, literally you’re talking from the bottom up. They came from the bottom up,” Harborth said. “Neither one of them were really versed in it and they learned. They worked together. I mean, I’ve seen blood, sweat and tears literally, not necessarily in that order, come from these two.” Competing in about two to three shows a year — Martin and Cody tend to compete in a handful of classes together, including western pleasure, jump and obstacle. “I still got a lot to learn but I get out there and have fun. If I do well, I do well,” Martin said. “It’s always a learning experience.” Sara While Harborth and Martin started competing about six years ago together, Harborth’s mini pony love started long before. “In 2011, I got my first horse, a little mini. I had been after my parents very adamantly saying ‘I want a horse. I want a horse. I want a horse,’” Harborth said. “And my parents were like No, we don’t need a horse or anything. We have one acre.’” After more persuasion, Harborth’s parents finally let her get her first mini. “We had met another family that had had minies and I came home one