Page 44 - The Mini Horse Magazine 2023 No 1

AN INTERVIEW WITH A HANDLER
How do your horses travel to the shows? an amazing team working together. So they are
I drive them. I have all the necessary EBF’s results, not mine.
documentation to transport horses. In Europe
we need a specific license to transport living If you ask me what I have won? I win every
animals. So I spent time doing the exams that I second while with a horse in the ring. And that,
needed to be able to transport them. and I am sorry for my team, is something that will
stay with me.
Every horse travels in his own individual space
with food and water available. We travel EBF SH Confetti Explosion owned by Linn
during hours with less traffic, and acceptable and Jeanette Lemmeke and Cédric Dubroecq
temperatures. We have the necessary insurance
to replace our truck and/or van in case of an event
in order to assure the security of the horses.

What kind of car-trailer do you use to transport
horses?
EBF has a truck and van specifically designed
for miniature horses.

Do you compete in other countries?

I compete in most of the approved shows in
Europe, the ones where transport is possible
and EBF clients decide to take their horses.

You handle many different horse breeds, Do you have any superstitions or routines/
what do you enjoy most when handling the procedures to bring you luck, maybe a lucky
Miniature horse? suit or special lead you prefer to use?
The idea of anyone, no matter how much you I don’t have any specific routines and I am not a
fear horses, is that you will be able to love these superstitious person. But I am an easily stressed
ones. American Miniature Horses are not only in person. I’ll do what I can to calm me down: eat
the reach of a group of people able to lose their sugar, candy, go for a walk, pet my horses.
fear of a 300 kilos horse, they are reachable for Whatever makes me less stressed.
everyone.
Do you have any advice for anyone who might
What is most difficult about handling the be interested in learning more about handling?
Miniature horse? Search for information. Do not, at any time,
Their sensitivity. It is difficult to train them stop learning. Build your own way of showing;
without making them losing their capacity for accept criticism and learn from it. Bad or good,
love. It takes a lot of patience from the handler. made with good or bad intentions, critics will
always teach you something and use this
What has been your greatest handling criticism to get the strength of going through
achievements and memorable wins with the rough times.
Miniature horse?
If we are talking about prizes, I don’t work alone. Would you like to add something?
EBF is a team of people working hard that allows Don’t handle horses just looking for results.
me to spend time training the horses. The same Handle your horses because you love them.
team that, during the show is running all the
time to make my horses ready for the ring. All On behalf of The Miniature Horse Magazine we'd
the prizes that I have won so far are the result of like to thank you for this wonderful interview.

44 | Miniature Horse Magazine • Issue 1/2023