They're such cute little buggers! Whattaya do with them, anyway? That head's so small, there can't be any brains in there. They're lawn ornaments, nothing more. Don't you feel guilty asking that poor little thing to haul your sorry @#$%s all over the countryside? Do you sit home nights and sew Barbie Doll clothes for them?

I don't expect that we've heard all the miniature horse jokes and jibes but we've heard a lot. For drivers of minis, all the dinky witticisms are fine. Sometimes we "mini people" even take the lead with a "little" humor. When view through spectacles that usually see statuesque warmbloods, these diminutive horses o seem a bit silly. They are not usually regarded as your traditional carriage horses. But when truly viewed among the ranks of carriage horses, their abilities and prowess stand them tall as Bucephalus.

Over time, our ADS has come to accept "mini drivers" into their membership and miniature horses into their events, and organizers have accommodated Very Small Equines in increasing numbers. ADS rules for VSE's have continued to undergo expansion and refinement, thanks in large part to loyal efforts of some very involved, knowledgeable, and tireless "mini people" and supporters. To those dedicated people, we are ever grateful.

When first allowed into ADS CDE's, it was thought that the "little buggers" could manage a dressage pattern and a cones course, but a full marathon would be beyond their strength and endurance. But what about those reports from knowledgeable mini owners that their little horses could trot ten miles with apparent ease and happiness right alongside a "big" horse? Were those isolated stories of very gifted horses? Could other minis handle more distance? Could they do a full three-section marathon? Time to find facts.

Maureen Harkcon & Kenny Olsen opened Happ's Ranch in Ethel Washington, to be a laboratory for an experiment that is, as far as we know, unique to the world of carriage driving and to the world of miniature horses. Happ's avidly supports equines of all sizes, and minis have come increasingly to find Happ's their welcome spot. Enter the Mini Macro Marathon.

With virtual nods to Dressage Bow and King of Cones, 20 Marathon Mavens with their small steeds had the times of their lives on the part of a CDE that is for many the most thrilling. The full marathon and nothing but the marathon, with three full-length sections, including Section E with five hazards. A licensed veterinarian, experienced with CDEs, was on hand to gather factual data about the physical condition of the horses. He took temperatures, heart rates, and respirations before, during, and after the event and made professional assessments of each horse's condition. Maureen gathered a treasure trove of other data as well, including the horses' training regimens, ages, weights, heights, weights of loads being pulled, types of wheels, and day-after conditions. (To see complete data, go to the Happ's website, click on Miniature Horse Research and select Happ's MMM 2005.)

No two turnouts had just the same constellation of factors. Horses ranged in age from 3 to 22, they weighed from 196 to 360 pounds. There were geldings, mares an stallions. 15 turnouts went in Training Level, 4 in Prelim (including one pair), and one Intermediate. With the exception of age of whips, all the ADS rules were followed assiduously. Drivers ranged in age from 8 to "mature". At the end of the day, all horses finished in cracking good shape.

Yes, every single horse finished splendidly and many were eager for more. Some of these horses had no experience whatsoever in a marathon event. They were novice training level horses and still they drove gallantly and in fine condition. One horse, whose whip is a magnificently sized man, finished in such remarkably fit condition that the vet's comment was simply and unequivocally, "Wow."

Miniature horses can do it. They are not little music box dancers to be admired on a shelf. They are vigorous, dynamic, sturdy, and athletic; indeed they are mighty. Are they able to execute a full marathon? The facts say yes. Can they do a full three-section CDE? Based on the data from the Mini Macro Marathon, it would seem that they could do this with alacrity. Might they be allowed to do so in future ADS events? The short story is that we are ready to do so!