News -
Sweden International Open Show 2009
It was a big success!!!
The very first Miniature Horse Show in Sweden from Miniature Horse Club Europe:
MHCE Sweden International Open 2009!
Since we (Chris de Groot and Mijke van Ratingen) moved to Sweden 2.5 years ago, we noticed that the number of miniature horses were rapidly growing in Sweden, Finland and Norway. New, enthusiast breeders are building up their herds and want to enlarge their knowledge about miniature horses. That resulted in several seminars over the last 2 years, that we did offer in Storfors in Sweden. It were very nice seminars, people came from all over Sweden and Norway to participate. They were eager to learn and had a chance to meet other breeders. The need for a show grew automatically and the MHCE decided therefore to organize a show in Sweden in 2009. The enthusiasm for that was BIG! Madeleine Jonsson and Mijke van Ratingen took it up their shoulders to do the organization. The aim was to have a nice, joyful show, with time to have fun, meet others and enjoy the horses from everybody in a relaxing atmosphere. Our motto: “take time for a good time!”. We knew that there were most probably almost all (more and less nervous) ‘new-beginners’ in showing that were going to participate. And we turned out to be right. We did get a big response from Sweden, and even Danish and Norwegian breeders wanted to join the fun!
At last we did have 60 (!) classes to offer and 34 horses in the catalogue! I think we can be proud of that result, considering how we started out in Belgium and the Netherlands in the beginning years… It is a very big promise for the years to come and proofs to us that Miniature Horses have a BIG future in Scandinavia.
Due to circumstances were 6 horses not able to make it to the showground on 29 and 30 august. But, with the rest, we still had a great weekend. The show was held in Storfors, in the historic park around Hotel Storfors. At the same time, a Country Fair was going on. A lot of PR was done before the show and Sweden was obviously very curious about the miniature horses! For the first time in history they had the chance to see them for real and a lot of them together, competing in a nice ambiance. It resulted in approximately 2500 visitors!!! About 10 times more than we expected! Among the spectators were several very seriously interested new starters in the Miniature Horse World. So, we expect even a better outcome next year!
The judge, Jane Davenport-Lyster from England and myself were very pleased with the quality of the horses. The Swedes obviously are very careful in choosing and breeding their horses and that shows! I’m proud to see that they are making big steps in quality horses and aim for improvement in the future. The horses turned up very nicely prepared for the show. Clipping, bathing, training…it was all done in a very good way and it gave a very good presentation of the miniature horse in general! For some people the AMHA show-’system’ was new and they expected to get more of a normal horse license test, where you get a written explanation on the quality of your horse. But the judge was very willing to explain to all present how and why she made her choices. I think everybody learned a lot during the show-weekend (from the basics of the showring-pattern to making choices in breeding with the horses). With this first showing experience and having gained knowledge it will definitely be more fun, more relaxing and maybe even better results next year for all of them!
This show will grow for sure in numbers of horses and amount of classes per horse. So, we are really looking forward to next year, seeing all of them back in the ring and extra horses and owners to join the show! The response from newspapers was tremendous and it really boosted the PR for miniature horses! Next year the show will be held june 19 + 20. Again in Storfors at the Storfors Country Fair (that will grow bigger as well!). Pictures from this year and more information: www.storforsfair.se
I wanted to thank our club: the Miniature Horse Club Europe for giving the chance to organize this first show and making it possible for everybody with miniature horses in Scandinavia to participate and promote their farms. And a very BIG applaud for all participators at this first show! You did a marvelous job preparing and showing your horses and I’m very much looking forward to the years to come, because both the judge and I thought that the quality of the horses was very good and VERY promising!
You are all very welcome 19 + 20 june 2010 to “take time for a good time!” in Storfors, Sweden!
Thanks again! Mijke van Ratingen Storfors, Sweden
Pictures from the show:-
