2017 Miniature Horse World April E-Magazine | Page 8

Tiny Trotters Easy Strider and Tracy Sprowles Sieverts Aladdins Dr Pepper and Shelley Oney Sieverts Aladdins Doctor Pepper is a 14-year- old, 32-inch gelding. When Shelley first purchased him, he was still a stallion and sired three colts and two fillies. Now, as a gelding, he is a registered Pet Partners Therapy horse. He and Shelley have enjoyed visiting with people of all ages and backgrounds, including special needs students. Their favorite place to visit is the University of Minnesota, participating in their PAWS program. In addition to their university visits, they also serve residents of a dozen or so other locations including assisted living facilities, schools and churches. Kids and parents also come out to their farm to visit with Dr Pepper and the other horses. What should we expect from this team in their next 500 hour plateau? They plan to continue bringing smiles and joy to senior citizens, the disabled, students and staff members of every facility they visit. And they will carry on with their university visits and possibly increase the range of other facilities. People are always amazed at how well-mannered and smart Dr Pepper is during these visits and Shelley would love to include day care centers in their schedule so young children could encounter hands on experience with mini love through Dr Pepper. Tiny Trotters Easy Strider and Tracy have accomplished a lot in their first 100 hours. Perhaps their biggest accomplishment is the happiness they’ve brought to those in need of companionship. Strider and Tracy recently became a registered therapy team and they continue to make a difference one person at a time with their visits. As a team, they have visited the elderly in nursing homes and those who are shut in. They also visit a local facility that cares for children with physical and mental disabilities. Their involvement with a reading program at a local school is called, “Reading with Strider.” This program allows children to read aloud to Strider while they gain confidence in their reading skills. The future goals for Tracy and Strider include more visits to those in need and to continue to make a difference in people’s lives both old and young.  An additional therapy horse will soon make his debut- one of Strider’s offspring is currently in training to be a future therapy horse! F&S ACRES ZIVA GRAND DAVI and Shelley Oney F&S Acres Ziva Grand Davi, aka Ziva, is a 5 year old black and white filly. Owner Shelley worked exclusively with Ziva last year and the two competed in many events. They participated in their local Western Saddle Club Association shows as well as Miniature horse shows in their area. Ziva was even named Grand Champion twice at one show last year. She was Champion over all the Miniature horses at the show. Then she took first in the all breeds class, besting five different breeds of horses. Shelley was so proud of her their accomplishments. It was also Ziva’s first year in driving competiton. She did place, not as high as Shelley would have liked, but she wasn’t last either. They had a lot of fun and success at all the shows they attended. Their goals for next season and for the upcoming 500 hours include working to improve their driving abilities and once again competing in as many Miniature horse shows and WSCA shows as possible. Shelley also plans to work on obstacle skills as well, both for in hand and driven. Her goal is to have Ziva place Top 3 in every event they try. We wish them good luck in every endeavor!   6 Miniature Horse World April 2017