Painted Valley Miniatures

Home     About Us     Our Horses     Show Results     Sales     Photo Gallery     News     Links      
There is the cliché that every little girl begs for a horse, and needless to say, I was no exception. My first ‘ride’ (dad holding me steady as I sat on a patient horse’s back) got me started early. I was hooked.
 
   I started out taking English riding lessons on reliable mounts, a Quarter Horse named T.G. (Terrific Guy) and Abby, an Appaloosa, barrel racing for fun on a pony named Nick, and moved on to working Hunter/Jumper Thoroughbreds. The only experience I had with showing was thanks to my mom’s best friend, Chrissy. She let me compete with her eighteen-year-old Paint, Rocky, in the Kaysinger Horse Show Circuit in classes such as English Pleasure and Equitation. When Chrissy gifted my sister, Ashley, and I with Cocoamo in 1999 everything began to click.

Ashley and I did all of Cocoamo’s training, learning patiently what worked and didn’t. We’ve come a long way from being handed a weanling, when I was eleven and Ashley was nine-years-old, to where we are today. Once I got in a cart, I knew exactly where I belonged.

Cocoamo quickly became PVM’s mascot. Ashley and I proudly took him to school for show-and-tell type days where we educated our peers about the Miniature Horse breed. I absolutely love giving rides for little kids (if you’re ever in the area, feel free to give me a call).

In 2007 my dad, Brad, starting showing with me. He took Cocoamo to a Reserve National Champion win that same year - only his 3rd show!  My fiance, Andy, is also now showing with us.  He is very helpful around the barn and is turning out to be quite the handler.  At his first show he won Adult Jumper, Under with Cocoamo - a class of 19 horses! 

I was crowned the 2009 Registry Queen in Branson, Missouri in November 2008.  I had such a memorable year and enjoyed the opportunity to do so many things I never could have dreamed possible.

I graduated from college with my Bachelor degree in Accounting.  Even though I have a full time job now I still have plenty of time to play with the horses. 

Be on the lookout for all of us in 2012 and be sure to come say hi!