What is it about miniature horses that brings special charm, camaraderie, and a hint of impishness to a driving event?

We know about the charms of minis, their beauty and grace, their catlike agility, their endurance, their pound-for-pound great strength, their heart. We've heard all that, and we believe it. So….. what? Could it be that it is not just the horses themselves? Could it be that some pretty fine people are involved with these great little horses?

When a person competes as we did at Happ's, at the VSE Schooling Event in September, a person receives a warm reception not only from hosts Maureen Harkcom and Kenny Olsen, but also from all the other competitors. Maybe it sounds corny, but it's true that at Happ's, "everybody knows your name." Though we can't introduce all the folks to you in these few pages, a few introductions are in order, so that you can see another dimension of why these events are so special. Meet some remarkable people.

Hannah Stormer is just 14 years old. One of nine exceptional kids in her family, all are home schooled, all are versatile in their training. As are others in her family, she is developing into a gifted whip. Hannah achieved the best dressage scores in the whole event and went clean and fast in cones and marathon. (Wouldn't you just love to get a 32.0 in your dressage?) She accepted her training level awards to crowds chanting, "Move up, move up!" She'll follow her worthy brother Isaac into Prelim next year.

Dorothy Whiteman is a 6th grade teacher. If that's not enough in itself, she has raised and trained racing thoroughbreds and quarter horses and competed in ridden dressage to third level. Now it's Section A minis. She and her husband spend the entirety of their summers doing CDEs, breed shows, training and giving lessons. At this Happ's event, Dorothy drove a rescue pony (he's one inch too tall to be a VSE) whom she's developing into a breathtaking beauty. If there is one person who might be credited with starting mini fever in the Northwest, it is Dorothy.

Sandra Carr is new to carriage driving. Infected by the driving bug, she has also infected her husband Bruce, and the two drive minis together. They've done it right, attending training clinics and getting individual lessons, and now venturing into competition. Handy and gentle with the driving whip, and loving with her horses, Sandra is a highly respected law enforcement officer who also knows how to use "Mr. Sparky" for bad guys. Be afraid.

Ah, Tamara Hinck. Tam has driven a pair for some time, but she's now so enthusiastic that she has put away her cobbled-together harness and cart and brought together her new harness, her new Ite Bte four-wheeled carriage, and her growing confidence. After a scare with water earlier this year, Tam with her pair and her feckless navigator - and fellow whip -- Helen Stroklund, braved two creek crossings (as well as managing dressage, cones, and the rest of section E) to win Training Pair VSE. Tam is the worthy recipient of the inaugural trophy, the frightfully befeathered "Oh, Sugar!" hat, bestowed for use of indelicate language on course.

Gabriel Garnica cuts a dashing figure with his VSE preliminary pair. Gabe is groom, gator, and attendant for physically disabled - and highly capable -- whip Beverly White. Gabe is a skilled and confident pairs driver in his own right, and his horses are no strangers to speed. Was it Moxey or Doc, Gabe, who jumped that cone?

Ron Whiteman. Yup, Dorothy's husband. Special education teacher in middle school. Ex-SWAT cop. Sore back from so many years of sitting on his gun. He is kind and gentle in bringing his beautiful and headstrong horse along slowly, aware of the treasure trove of potential there. While he is deep and thoughtful, you don't want to get into a teasing match with Ron. You will lose. Ron has been threatened with Mr. Sparky. Ron won.

Tammy Osgood drives some mighty fine horses. It used to be Arabs, now it is minis. Not only does she excel in CDEs, Tammy also took her gelding Klyde to American Miniature Horse Nationals, where he won several national championships, five top tens and two hall of fames. She has said that Klyde's training and experience in CDEs were instrumental in his wins in the breed ring.

Linda Fairbanks. Linda drives hundreds of horses every year, training drivers and horses. Yes, our esteemed president of the jury had a go at the Happ's cones after the formal competition ended. She and the game little horse she drove on that VSE-sized cones course looked really good! Cheers and applause from the assembled multitudes!