Kissimmee youth showing miniature horse at fair

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Kissimmee youth showing miniature horse at fair

County News

Friday, 11 February 2011 13:12

Photo/Sam Gilkey
Nine-year-old Hunter
Bronson with Tiny Possum, a miniature horse that he is showing at the Osceola County Fair.

By Sam Gilkey
For the News-Gazette

It can get a bit crowded at the Bronson home south of Kissimmee.
Nine-year-old Hunter has amassed a collection of citrus trees, chickens, ducks, rabbits and horses that all live together in harmony with his parents, Andy and Paula Bronson.
But during February everything and everybody is loaded up, driven across town and relocated at the fairgrounds, where Hunter has entered more than 60 different items in the 4-H competition.
His pride and joy is a 9-year-old miniature Shetland pony named Tiny Possum.
The little mare had been abused by her previous owner, attacked by dogs and weighed just 200 pounds when the Bronsons took her in in September 2009.
Over the period of five months, Tiny Possum got plenty of care and quickly gained weight. Trainer Caitlin Daniels was asked to work with the horse and Hunter. Everyone’s efforts paid off when Tiny Possum won the 2010 grand champion honor in the mini-halter horse show at the Osceola County Fair.
Hunter then got first-place for showmanship in the Orange County Fair, a gold medal in a show at Clarcona and fourth-place in the halter mare category at the State Fair in Tampa.
Hunter said he is looking to win the blue ribbon again this month at this year’s Osceola County Fair.
“I don’t ride her, but lead her with the halter,” he said. “They judge us on showmanship, with the halter, how we do in the obstacle course, and our costumes.”
Show rules dictate that Hunter can only compete for two years in ground work at the horse show. He is working one day a week with Daniels and expects to ride in a fair event next year.
Hunter and Tiny Possum also are entered in the pet show. Last year, they were dressed up as a hunter and a deer.
“This year I have made them rockstar costumes,” Paula said. “Possum will have an Elvis cape with a lot of bling, bell bottoms, a large hair piece and big flashy glasses.”
Hunter also has entered his rabbits, ducks, poultry and citrus trees for judging at the fair.
Expenses connected with raising animals can quickly mount up. But Hunter has been able to cash in on the two dozen eggs the chickens lay each day.
“I sell some of the eggs at school,” Hunter said.
The money helps pay for the feed. What is left over goes into his personal bank account.
Hunter is no stranger to the local fair. When he was only 3 years old he entered a few categories.
This year he will have a new assignment during the fair. He will be one of the escorts for the contestants in the Little Miss Silver Spurs event Monday night.
He has been a member of the Silver Saddles 4-H Club for four years and is club historian this year.
In the past year, Hunter became a member of the Osceola County Junior Florida Cattleman’s Association. He has registered his own cattle brand and will be raising cattle for competition next year.
The fair is a yearly event that requires participation by everyone in the family.
“I’ll check on the animals every day,” Andy said.
“I’m Hunter’s personal assistant,” Paula added.
And Hunter will bring home the ribbons and start work on next year’s entries.