Pura Vida Miniature Horses Take Top Honors at World Championships

Championship bloodlines from Antelope Valley-based miniature horse ranch

 place in Top 10 at 2007 World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas
 

JUNIPER HILLS, Calif., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- From a record field of 1,100 miniature  horses, the champions of Antelope Valley-based Pura Vida Ranch trotted away with top honors at last month's 2007 American MiniatureHorse Association (AMHA) World Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.
Competing in 14 classifications, the eight Pura Vida miniature horsestraveling to the championships all placed in the Top Ten in 12 categorieswith two earning Top Five honors. See http://www.PuraVidaMiniatures.com (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071108/NYFNSX31) In addition to horses from the United States, competitors also traveledf rom England, Belgium, Japan, Australia and New Zealand to compete. Events included pulling miniature wagons, leaping scaled down hurdles, and walking on a lead. The miniatures competing from Pura Vida, which means "the good life," are no taller than 34" at their withers and average 120 - 180 pounds. Various colors and coat patterns mimic those found in larger horses withinthe equestrian world.

Pura Vida horses are bred from champion bloodlines, according to owners Ben and Robbie Benjamin. Under the training of Sheri Reidel, Meridian Training Center, the 12 Top Ten 2007 World Titles earned were:
-- Senior Stallion 30" - 32": Abrias Signature Buckeroo
-- Two Year Old Stallions > 29" - 31": McSperitts Rowdy Special Image
-- Weanling Stallion 26" - 30": Zarzuelas Modigliano, shown by Kriss Calao

Viadera Training
-- Solid Color Stallion or Gelding: McSperitts Rowdy Special Image
-- Yearling Mares 28" and under: Zarzuelas La Brisa
-- Weanling Mares 26" and under: Alliance Zodiacs Curtain Call
-- Two Year Old Mare > 31"- 33" Futurity: Zarzuelas Sweet Surrender
-- Yearling Stallion > 28" to 30" Futurity: Scott Creek Monarch Indio
-- Two Year Old Gelding Futurity: Abrias Signature Emphasis
-- Youth 7 and under Junior Gelding: Abrias Signature Emphasis
-- Youth 8 - 13 Junior Gelding: Abrias Signature Emphasis
-- Youth 13 - 18 Junior Gelding: Abrias Signature Emphasis

In addition to champion show horses, the Pura Vida Ranch herd consists of stock available for purchase as domestic pets, which range in price and vary in bloodline. A selection of Pura Vida's miniature horses available for sale can be viewed online at http://www.PuraVidaMiniatures.com or phone 1-661-944-0705 for details.

ABOUT PURA VIDA MINIATURE HORSE RANCH
Pura Vida Ranch is located in Juniper Hills, California, the foothills on the northern slope of the San Gabriel Mountains facing the Antelope Valley in northern Los Angeles County. The community is nestled between the towns of Littlerock and Pearblossom and adjoins Devil's Punchbowl, a 1,310-acre natural park with some of the most unusual rock formations in California. Owned and operated by Ben and Robbie Benjamin, Pura Vida (which means "the good life") breeds and shows championship miniature horses.
http://www.PuraVidaMiniatures.com



Photo and story credit go to Pura Vida Ranch and PR Newswire.