If you are new to the Miniature or Pony world you may not have heard of the Arenosa . However, if you have been involved in this industry for long, you have undoubtedly heard of the Arenosa Pony and most likely have had your socks whipped in the show ring by one of these truly outstanding horses!

Whether it be halter or performance, ASPC, AMHR, AMHA or Pinto, the Arenosa horses have had amazing show ring accomplishments and have made major contributions (unsurpassed by any other bloodline) to the breeding stock in the world of small equines.

Arenosa Pony Farm was born in 1941, when Audrey Barrett moved to Victoria, Texas. Audrey was an outstanding horse expert who'd had a riding academy in Arkansas. With an outstanding string of cow horses, Audrey had no trouble finding work with local Texas ranches. Children of friends and neighbors were always pestering Audrey to ride her fine saddle horses, which she did not allow. Because of this, a couple of grade ponies were purchased to occupy these local children. Little did Audrey know, but the love affair had begun, and the rest is part of Shetland history!

In the late 1950's and early 1960's, Barrett began acquiring nationally known show ponies for their breeding program, including Richardson's C-Jo Topper, a "Top Ten" harness pony and son of the $56,000 C-Jo's Topper. However, one illustrious Shetland sire has become synonymous with the Arenosa program: Kewpie Doll's Oracle. This exquisite 39" black and white stallion was sired by Hillswicke Oracle, one of the breed's most influential stallions, and a champion in-hand and under harness.

An excerpt about Kewpie Doll's Oracle was found in a Perry Carlisle Sales Catalog: "Irregardless of their likes and dislikes, everyone who has seen this pony has kind words for him. He leaves a lasting impression that few can equal . . . With a natural spring to every stride, Kewpie has the greatest pair of natural hocks we have ever seen. Without benefit of training, he literally 'boxes' with his hind feet."

"He certainly had the ability to transmit quality," Audrey Barrett said of Kewpie Doll's Oracle. "To see him move was a joy to behold. He passed that down, too." Audrey couldn't have been more correct with that statement. Oracle sired some top ponies, including the sorrel and white Kewpie's Topper of Arenosa, and Kewpie Doll's Diablo, the sires of many champions in both the Classic Shetland and Miniature Horse divisions. What proved to be sheer genius, and has stood the test of time, was the crossing of the two half-brothers: Kewpie's Topper of Arenosa and Kewpie Doll's Diablo. Intense line-breeding and ruthless culling was understood and practiced unconditionally by Audrey Barrett. This set the type forever and the "Arenosa look" was born.

Many other extremely exotic Arenosa horses were bred to carry into the next generations. Kewpie's El Monterry of Arenosa was nothing short of MAGNIFICENT. This double registered ASPC/AMHR stallion was NEVER DEFEATED in Model or In Hand. The list of Champion Arenosa ponies and Miniature Horses goes on and on and will continue to do so.

Today, Rivenburgh Farm is continuing the Arenosa legacy and has one of the most concentrated and rare groups of Arenosa bloodlines within the height standards of AMHA. This feat was accomplished by crossing a group of fine 50% Arenosa mares with driving and halter legend, Flaby's Supreme, also 50% Arenosa. Supreme is a 30-1/2 inch son of the great Flying W Farms Charro of Arenosa, and grandson of Kewpie's Topper of Arenosa. He is an amazing stallion with the uncanny ability to pass on his athletic abilities and extreme refinement.

I have always felt that our little horses have the potential of being much more than cute and adorable. We can, by careful breeding, make these little horses more horse-like, more athletic, and, hence, more talented and versatile. These traits can be introduced through cross-breeding with other lines. The question is: where to go, while factoring in our miniature horse height restrictions?

They can never move like a full blown Hackney horse, because leg length is just not there - HOWEVER, the miniature horse can have similar action as a Hackney, and can enhance their athletic abilities and natural talent in the trotting gait.

In order to have this ability, these horses must be conformationally correct, have that highly-desired impulsion from behind, balance, elegance, and low-set hocks that give the power and strength of stride, strong hip, and agility. Their hooves must be more like a bigger horse, with a rounder shape and a flat surface. They must have strong, balanced leg bones. They also must possess a hot-blooded disposition and an egotistical attitude - like all true athletes. 'You are looking at the Best.' This is what most of the Arenosa horses have been bred for and contribute to the miniature horse breed.

I have noticed with my Arenosa-mix animals that they are somewhat different in many ways from other horses in my herd. They are always quite spirited and, although intelligent and well-disciplined, they never quite move into that quiet, calm world of the miniature horse. This might just be my imagination, but Arenosa ponies, or horses with a large percentage of Arenosa blood (including their foals), in general, seem brighter and more alert.

My sampling is small and I am sure that there are, indeed, dull, pitty-pat, and conformationally-poor Arenosa ponies out there. Audrey Barrett did a lot of line breeding and there had to be a certain percentage of culls. There always are in all breeding crosses. I do know that she gave away many inferior Arenosa ponies to families in the area, and to kids that she knew would love them. Because of this, one has to be extremely careful when choosing an Arenosa-blooded horse to buy or for breeding purposes. Pedigree information and research are the key to obtaining quality in the Arenosa bloodline. In my case, I not only had to be sure I was choosing the best, but the smallest as well. My hope is to breed down into our size measurement. These Shetland ponies were much bigger than our 34" requirement.

My feelings about this method of breeding are really quite simple: due to our limited AMHA genetic pool, this type of Shetland is a good one to mix with our miniature horses. I have also found that they are pretty potent in their positive transferable attributes.

This is not to say that their aren't other bloodlines out there that would certainly add a dimension to the AMHA miniature horse as well. The problems are height restriction, hard-shipping, and breeder apathy. I honestly feel that crossing good miniature horses with these Arenosa ponies brings something to the Shetland pool, as well.

I suppose if I were to list one trait that I greatly admire in the Arenosa pony it would be their wonderful sense of cockiness and confidence. Many of the miniature horses have this too, but it is so very consistent in the Arenosa pony.

As I wrote earlier, they seem to say, 'Hey, you are looking at the Best!'"

To see photographs of these beautiful Arenosa horses, visit Rivenburgh Farm by clicking on the farm name.