Profile - Vice President
Mijke van Ratingen - Sweden
Hi all, my name is Mijke van Ratingen, 38 years. I live in Sweden together with my partner Chris. We moved from the Netherlands to Sweden in 2007. We have a hotel here that is (luckily) very successful. The downside is that I do not have that much time anymore to travel to the shows and other MHCE activities in the rest of Europe.
Almost all the free-time I have I spend with our 5 miniature horses and for the MHCE (promoting the MHCE in Scandinavia and duties for the board). In Sweden the miniature horse still every uncommon. I work there on promoting the miniature horse and therefore develop a future market for the rest of the European breeders!
We did have a seminar in 2008 and we continue in 2009 with a seminar, a trainings-show and a 2-day show! The miniature horse is becoming more and more popular as we notice! We started ourselves with miniature horses in 1999. We started with NMPRS and NAS miniatures. Later on did we import several AMHA horses from the USA. Now we have only AMHA horses. I totally love them, but I still have a special place in my heart for all the other miniature horse breeds. That is also why I’m so very fond of the MHCE. Truly the club for EVERYONE! ALL miniature horse breeds are welcome! As I see it, every registry (AMHA, AMHR, NMPRS, BMP etc.) has good and bad horses in it. It is very rewarding to be able to bring together so many owners and lovers of this unique equine breed! The halter (and liberty) classes in the shows are very good for breeders to optimize their breeding program and for the horses to let see in the performance classes that they are very multifunctional!
I have been active in the MHCE for several years now. The first years as representative from the Netherlands (promoting, organizing clinics, seminars and shows) and later on as secretary. After we moved to Sweden I became vice-president and am more active on the background (contacts with other organizations, people, AMHA etc). But, if I have a chance I will be at the shows again. It is always so much fun to meet the other members of the club! If you might have questions or need to share your ideas about the Club, please don’t hesitate to do so. I wish everybody a very pleasant and successful time within the MHCE and lots of pleasure with your horses!