Little Horses are a big passion for Parkbeg producers

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

A mutual interest in miniature horses sparked a marriage and a 20 year business for Dennis and Donna Russell, operators of Double D Miniatures in Parkbeg.

"Donna got into them in 1981," says Dennis Russell. "I was working bigger horses and then a friend of mine bought some miniatures. She was showing them and I was showing for a friend of mine, and that's how we met and got married."

The result was the Double D operation, originally established in the Wolseley area, but now located in Parkbeg.

Miniature horses are literally small copies of the well known larger breeds. They represent everything from draft horse types to elegant Arabians in look and colour, and can be found with the look of the appaloosa, pinto and many other variations.

Miniatures are shown right across North America, and sold as pets, therapeutic animals, and often seen in parades, exhibitions and at petting zoos.

Dennis Russell has seen an evolution in the breeding towards a slimmer and longer legged animal.

"At one time they were short-legged," he says. "You buy good stallions to put some leg under them, and then they look like small versions of full-sized saddle horses rather than a short, stocky draft horse."

Standards for breeders are established by the American Miniature Horse Association, which sanctions shows, including the World Championship, across North America. Dennis and Donna Russell normally take in five or six shows per year, showing their horses in several categories. They are proud to have had a national championship with a stallion in the under-28 inches category at Tulsa in 2005.

The Russells are running about 50 head of miniatures, of which some five or six are being shown in any given year. Showing and selling are closely linked.

"You're trying to sell horses all the time," says Dennis. "The show circuit is in spring and summer, and the better you do, the more you can sell."

The Russell herd includes stallions, mares, geldings and foals. They range from 25 to 32 inches in height at the shoulder, and come with names like "Shirley's Gem," "China Doll," and "Meadow Pussycat."

"We've made sales from the east coast to the west coast," says Donna Russell proudly. "Our horses went to Nova Scotia last year and to Washington state this January."

Many of the miniatures are sold as pets, which brings a price of several hundred dollars. Breeders looking for the best stock will pay thousands for the right animal. In Saskatchewan, there are at least 45 members of the provincial miniature horse club. Sales are generally conducted privately through contacts made at shows or on the Internet.

For the Russells, small is big. Along with the horses, they sell mini-carts in a sulkie style or even a tiny grain wagon, along with the harness required for the miniatures to pull the carts for shows or pleasure rides. They are also breeders of registered Yorkshire Terriers, the teacup-sized puppies that grow into the perfect lap dog.

They welcome inquiries about their horses, carts, and dogs at http://www.doubledminiatures.com/ or at 355-2399.

For more information, contact:
Dennis and Donna Russell, Owners
Double D Miniatures
Phone: 355-2399
E-mail: drussell@facmail.com