The Magnificent Mini Horse Tony Smalls
Tony Smalls has never had a bad day in his life, according to owner and trainer Annie Parsons. The feisty Miniature Horse was foaled in 2009 on Marthas Vineyard, Mass., where Parsons lives. When his breeder was downsizing in 2017, she offered Tony Smalls to Parsons for free.I always thought people who owned Minis were maniacs, she laughs. Until I got Tony. I take it all back. They are wonderful.Originally named Smoky, Parsons renamed him after her fathers friend who had recently passed away.He was a second father to me, she shares. My friend Mo Kelly added the Smalls to it.Her friend also owns Tonys daughter, Sugar Smalls. She was the product of an accidental breeding before Tony was gelded by the breeder, and has dwarfism.Tony comes along to join the beach riding fun with Parsons and her Dales Pony, Bucky. Photo by Elizabeth LuceA Knack for TricksParsons, who also rides a Dales Pony named Bucky, decided to try clicker training when she got Tony.My husband is a dog trainer, so he does a lot of clicker training, she says. So I said, Lets give it a go with Tony and see how he does with it. And he just was amazing. He will do anything you ask if youve got a treat. He gets mostly timothy pellets for treats, though she says his favorite rewards are Jolly Ranchers.Parsons used George Bruces Click with Horses program and learned with Tony as they went. It was clear from the beginning that the 30-inch-tall gelding had a real knack for tricks.They started with the basic tricks: target, fetch, spin around, stop and wait (which she says is the hardest for Tony because its so boring), and then moved on to more advanced tricks, including rear, lay down, Spanish walk, slow down and speed up, standing on a pedestal, and jumping.Tony quickly learned an array of tricks with clicker training, such as Spanish walk and rear. Photo by Elizabeth LuceBut these are regular horse tricks that many horses are trained to do. What makes Tony Smalls so special are his more advanced tricks.He takes money off people, says Parsons. He takes laundry off the line and puts in a basket. We take him shopping, where he pulls bags of Swedish Fish off [the shelf] and puts them in a kids shopping cart. When inside the house, Tony often offers to bring you a cushion. It was something he just did on this own, she laughs.Artistic TalentTony Smalls also plays the keyboard, but his real specialty is painting. In December 2019, Annies friend Danielle saw a video of another horse painting and told Parsons, Tony Smalls needs to do this!While there are other horses that paint, Tonys version of the trick is very complicated.Most horses that paint, the owner just hands them a brush and they move it around the canvas, explains Parsons. With Tony, we wanted him to do as much as possible. So, we give him several colors of paint in cups and each cup has a brush. He picks up the brush he wants, paints with it, spits it out and grabs another one in another color. My only job is to make sure there is no paint on the handle, because he doesnt like the taste, and to pick up the brushes and put them back in the cups.Tony picks up the brush from the color he wants while Annie just puts them back in the cups and keeps paint off the brush handles. Photo by Elizabeth LuceRaising Money for a CauseThis incredible talent has helped Tony Smalls raise money for Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center on Marthas Vineyard. The nonprofit is a PATH Intl. Accredited therapeutic riding center. Their mission is to offer an environment where horses and humans work together to transform lives. Misty Meadows offers many programs, including youth and adult horsemanship programs and therapeutic horsemanship for veterans and those with disabilities.They are brilliantthey do so much for the community, says Parsons, who teaches mounted archery at the center.Tonys paintings raise money for Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center on Marthas Vineyard, a PATH Intl. accredited therapeutic riding center. Photo courtesy Annie ParsonsDuring the worst of the Covid pandemic, Tony had a lot of time to paint, so Parsons decided to start selling his artwork to benefit Misty Meadows, as well as other charitable organizations.I have people contact me asking for paintings for auctions, and we always send one or two, she says.Tony is probably the only horse that has ever had his work in a real art gallery. There happens to be a gallery by Misty Meadows. The owner allowed Parsons to do a proper art show, filling the gallery with Tonys pieces, which raised $5,000 for Misty Meadows.Tony Smalls has had paintings hung in the same gallery as Thomas Hart Benton, one of my favorite artists, says Parsons. It blows me away.Tony signs all his artwork with his hoofprints. Photo by Elizabeth LuceTherapy VisitsWhen Tony Smalls isnt learning tricks or raising money for charity, he is visiting hospitals and senior centers as a certified therapy horse.We had a donkey that we did therapy visits with, but we stopped because he just didnt like it, says Parsons. When Tony came along, we decided to try again. Up until the pandemic we used to go every other week.Photo courtesy Annie ParsonsParsons is certified through Pet Partners, but their tests and program is geared toward dogs, so she looked for something that was for horses. She found the Miniature Equine Therapy Standards Association. Through them, Tony did a series of assessments, including video calls during visits, so they could watch him work. They required a long checklist of everything he can do, which he passed.Parsons says that Tony Smalls seems to understand and enjoy his job.Hes a funny one because when were out and about doing stuff, me and him, hes very feisty and has got a lot of energy, she says. He can out-run all my horses, and hes got a lot of character. But when I take him to the hospital, hes perfect. Hell stand quietly next to a wheelchairhe knows his job.Tony knows his job to stand quietly during therapy visits, and through clicker training keeps a relaxed head. Photo by Danielle MulcahyThey spent a lot of time clicker training Tony to stand quietly with a relaxed head. Parsons says even if someone accidentally pats him a bit too hard, he wont react. Of course, she intervenes if someone is getting too rough, but Tony is patient with those he visits.I can personally attest to the healing power and joy that this compassionate duo brings to others, writes one woman in a letter. I have a rare autoimmune neurological disease and was diagnosed with an aggressive form of uterine cancer. When Annie learned that I would be on Cape Cod for a respite from chemotherapy, she contacted my daughter and arranged a surprise visit. The joy I received from their visit still brings tears to my eyes.That visit was a special one for Parsons, too, as they had to sneak Tony Smalls into a hotel room!Photo courtesy Annie ParsonsHaving PatienceTony also is involved in Parsons archery demonstrations, and is now learning ground driving to do skijoring, if he enjoys it.If youre ready to try your hand at tricks, Parsons has one piece of advice.Patience. Go slow. If you go too fast, your horse will get frustrated. So many times, horses are labeled as bad or naughty, but its because they are confused, usually because of lack of clear communication from the human, which can be frustrating for them and us. So be patient.You can follow Tony Smalls on Facebook or purchase his artwork through Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center website.This article about Tony Smalls appeared in the July 2023 issue of Horse Illustratedmagazine.Click here to subscribe!The post The Magnificent Mini Horse Tony Smalls appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.
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