Maple Mountain Miniatures Star News

 

Judi Morris on winning the Tri County Gold Whip Award for high point whip of the year with her pony, Tickle:

     I have now recovered from my shock at winning the high point award and gold whip pin, and thought I would say, at least to the directors, what my brain was too locked up to say at the general meeting. 
     First and foremost, heaps of thanks and gratitude to Lori Rafter who encouraged me to drive Tickle, helped me acquire a cart, started him and taught me.
     I met Lori after having joined Tri County, which was the reason I joined the club, to meet up with people in the discipline so that I might learn. I had no interest whatsoever in showing then, I just knew it was the place to learn. It was there I met Lori Rafter.....

Desiree Wallace of Midnight Star Stables writes:

When I knew I needed to find a trainer for my, at the time, youth show gelding, Lori Rafter, of MiLo Acres, was the ideal person. Town And Country Pat, otherwise known as "Nitro", had a number of quirks and could be quite feisty at times. Lori had the firm and calm hand that "Nitro" needed to help guide him to become my beloved driving horse of today.
"Nitro" has since become a well known show horse, with such titles as AMHR Canadian All-Star Awards, AMHR High Point Horse (at shows), multi AMHR Area II Regional Driving Titles, multi Stake class wins and soon to be an AMHR Driving HOF inductee. I truly feel that without Lori’s solid training Nitro would not be half the horse he is today.



I was so pleased with Nitro’s results that I entrusted my prized mare, BKS Early Morning “Joy”, to Lori to also train her to drive. After just shy of 5 months of training Joy returned to me, in excellent condition. She has entered the show ring with great success and has made me very proud. But I am even more pleased with her outside the ring, her manners in the cart are second to none! For a green horse, Joy is very responsive and fun to drive and I see many years of driving in our future together.



Lori consistently trains and “fixes” horses with remarkable patience and a soothing atmosphere. With such an extensive background in horses through out her life, she continues to impress those around her with her vast equine knowledge. Some one that works with a horse, to improve their confidence, as opposed to forcing them into it, is definately the minority. I am definately a fan of her kind hands.

I know that I personally have been very pleased with many of the things that Lori has done for me and my horses over the years. I know that I will continue to admire her training methods and that my next driving horse will once again be trained by Lori.  ~ Desiree

DIESEL DRIVES! ~ as reported on Lil Beginnings Forum by Carol Lloyd

We purchased our first mini about three years back. Off and on we worked on ground driving with him, but realized that with no knowledge of driving, we shouldn't take it to the next step and hitch him ourselves. We bought our own small farm two years ago, got another mini for company, and driving took a backseat to lots of other things especially our saddle horses.

We finally took the plunge and took our black "B" gelding Diesel down to Lori Rafter at MiLo Training Centre and HE DRIVES! It was so amazing to go and see him actually drive! Trotting around pulling a cart, just as casual as could be! Traffic on the highway next to the field, ambulance with lights flashing, bitterly cold wind that brought tears to our eyes watching! And he's just trucking around (OK -- a little attitude here and there, but you know what I mean!) pulling the cart.

So, now I have to replace the "mennonite" harness that I originally bought (which is really dreadful and awful and completely not safe to drive in*) and we can just get the little guy trucking around the fields, and down the sideroads in beautiful rural Washago!

Oh, I am so absolutely excited! Thank you, thank you, thank you Lori!!! Carol Lloyd

*Editor's Note: Sorry Carol - just trying to keep you safe and alive! Lori

Your herd totally knows and loves you.  I’ve really never seen horses act like that.  It’s obvious that you genuinely love them and they are happy.  I’ll never forget coming for the first visit to see Jewel, and me trying to lead Madeline around so Jewel would run beside her and it was a so so thing with me dragging poor Madeline and all the rest of the horses just watching or ignoring me but then when you took Madeline, the whole herd ran around with you – THAT was something for a tv show!!!  It looked so funny all those tinies following you around so happy to be running.  And when Beau called out to you when you came to help us out that time I was driving with the harness hooked up wrong?  Remember?  He totally knew you and that you were coming to make it all right.  You obviously don’t have the time to spend with each one of your gang but the time that you DO spend is obviously of some importance cause everyone of your horses reflects it.  That is why I am just sending everyone who might need training to you – I love that you love their unique personalities and bring the best out in them and make them safe and happy about driving.  Beau un-nerves me with his obedience – his round penning is something else and the WHOA when he’s loose is quite impressive.  People always comment on it (as though it is as a result of my hard work – ha).
                                        ~ Sue Flaherty, Current owner of Noblebrook's Mighty Del (Beau)

We really owe you! I may just have to drive to Manitoba and kiss Holly for telling me to give you a call. LOL I am really glad that we have gotten to know you and Mike and Mickey and, of course, all the fur kids! I look forward to our Sundays at your place every week. You didn't know what you were letting yourself in for when you took us on.
                                                                            ~ Kim, Garnet & Nick Barnsdale
                                                                          Owners of Fleur, Duke and Peek