SPECIAL MINIS
"Primo"
You can't help but love him.
It was an exciting time. The timing was not the best....the doctors in Houston had to see me. Our very first foal was due, and I was attending my first show in Katy, Texas. People were standing watching over the mare to make sure everything went all right.
On March 15. 2001, the big day arrived. I received lots of phone calls telling me about the tri-colored colt that was born. Pictures were emailed to me and I was one proud "momma". With pictures in hand, I showed every one the pictures of my little boy. I noticed his little legs were crooked, and I posted it on the Lil Beginnings forum. People were so nice and showed me how "crooked" some newborn's legs are..and then showed pictures of how they corrected within a few days. I thought his neck was a little short....but surely that was because he had a dark neck and the barn lighting was not the best.
People were so nice, and told me what a sweet little thing I had. I was still beaming!!!! I had emailed this very intelligent mini man several times......his name was Tony. Tony what??? I didn't know, but I made sure I found him to show him my colt. He looked at my pictures and with his soft, steady voice told me that he might be a dwarf. A DWARF I exclaimed. I don't think so...it must be bad pictures. He suggested that I get a farrier as quickly as possible to work on his hoofs to see if that might straighten his legs. With a sadness in my heart, I looked forward to holding my "Primo" myself so that I could dismiss this notion that "Primo" was nothing but perfect.
I took more pictures and went to another show. Still the beaming "mom", because dwarfs were supposed to have bad bites and nostrils on top of their heads. My "Primo" didn't, so he must just not be completely developed. I couldn't wait to show them to Tony. ((I had since learned that Tony was president of AMHA.)) I showed him my pictures and with great honesty, he said Teresa he does have dwarf characteristics and offered his condolences. I ran to Arlene and said surely this beautiful baby is not a dwarf and she, too, confirmed the truth.
"Primo" , although a dwarf, is the first born on my farm. He has so much love to give. Maybe God gave me a dwarf so that I could understand that I shouldn't let my health problems get in the way of discovering what talents lie beneath.
"Primo" was gelded and his parents will never be bred to each other again. I understand that the dwarf gene is carried in miniatures and sometimes a dwarf is produced. I will never breed for a dwarf, but I will never turn my back on Primo.