Having come from showing and breeding Quarter Horses and Arabians most of my life, we weren't really sure what to expect with the miniatures!
Well, in 1988, Shirley Stanford (mother of Dusty Hartzog), decided she wanted to get a miniature horse, just to have as a pet! She had seen an ad in the Houston newspaper and said, "Dusty, let's go look at this little horse!" I said okay, but we are leaving the checkbook at home!! Well, needless to say, the checkbook went with us and she purchased our first miniature, Mighty Oaks Munchen. He was only 4 months old and the cutest little fuzzy critter I had ever seen!! However, we had a small problem, Shirley was living in a townhome in Houston at that time! Having been a few years since we had been raising and showing our big horses, I still had my Arabian Gelding and he was being boarded at a local stables. Well, now we had two horses, so, we decided we NEEDED a farm! Off we go looking for alittle bit of country to house ourselves and our horses!!
Shirley joined the Greater Houston Miniature Horse Club shortly after she purchased Munchen and she attended the meetings and decided WE were going to show him! So, DUSTY drives out to the Great Southwest Equestrian Center in Katy, TX for the G.H.M.H.C. horse show that weekend and has a look at what all is involved with showing these little guys and decides, OH IT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT than their larger cousins! HA! Well, that was okay, we knew we could do this! Long story short, Munchen is what put the ROCKING EK RANCH on the map. His accomplishments and titles are truly unbelievable!! Both in youth and open classes, from halter, hunter/jumper, driving, obstacle & liberty. He has received the Youth Superior Event Horse with Dusty's daughter, Erika Hartzog. Munchen is now retired and enjoying life, but, our farm has truly grown! We owe it all to this little white horse!
We are breeding our miniatures for "quality, not quantity" and have selectively picked all our mares and stallions to fit in our breeding criteria. Producing a 2 X National Champion & Res. National Champion, Rocking EK Rio's Majestic Dream! Also, 2 X National Top Ten, Rocking EK Rio de Janiero. With a Special "Thank You" to Cindy & John Cherry and "Rio" for both the opportunity of breeding to their WONDERFUL stallion and all the faith and support through the years of "Dream", "D.J." and ourselves!!
With many other of our horses winning Supreme Halter Championships, Regional and National titles!
For Dusty, Brad & Erika hard work is not an issue, "it's all in what we have accomplished"! We are very proud of our horses. When we step into the showring, we have the attitude, "We're going to Win!!" |
