Fans of miniature horses should plan to be in New Bloomfield this weekend for the 2020 Mid-Missouri Miniature Horse Show.
The show is set to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mid MO Saddle Club Arena, 2985 Route TT, in New Bloomfield. Schellie Blochberger, one of the organizers, said the event began a few years ago, as there are few to no other local opportunities to show miniature horses, which she specified are not ponies, but a specific breed.
"You'd think they were big dogs, but you have to treat them as horses," Blochberger said.
For this event, there is no requirement to be registered, which is typically done through two different miniature horse organization in the United States, but all horses entered must be no more than 38 inches tall at the withers, which is the ridge between the shoulder blades.
Blochberger said the show is open to spectators, who can watch as the mini horses compete in several categories, some of which have the horses driving a cart or going through a trail or obstacle course.
"It's a lot of fun," she said.
Blochberger said she has had horses since the third grade and has spent 20 years running horseback riding classes. Adding miniature horses was a great addition for small children, she said. Blochberger has had five or six mini horses over the years and currently owns two, who are both 19 years old.
The first couple years of the event have had really good attendance, but Blochberger said they are prepared for a smaller crowd this year and have made adjustments for public health concerns. These include eliminating concessions this year and ensuring courses have nothing a person showing a mini horse would have to touch. In past years, some events would require the person to touch an obstacle, while this year participants will be asked to stop for five seconds at obstacles.
"We're going to take it as it comes and see who shows up," Blochberger said. "It's just a fun, family-friendly event."
The cost to participate is $5 per class plus a $1 horse office fee. Anyone age 18 or younger participating must have a handler present in the cart for driving classes.
Blochberger said there will not be any riding classes available Saturday but noted some of the horses shown have been broken to ride.
For more information, visit the Mid Missouri Miniature Horse Show Facebook page.