Wednesday, October 10, 2007

County miniature horse dominated the New Mexico Expo this year

Tim Singer bought Brewers Major Dominator in Texas when the horse was 3 years old

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

A little Socorro County horse trotted away from New Mexico Expo with a big bunch of awards this year.

With his registered miniature horse, Brewers Major Dominator, Tim Singer of Rancho de Veguita won Supreme Halter Champion of all miniature horses at the fairs. Dominator also brought in two first-place awards in the class for senior stallions 32-34 inches high, two Grand Champion places in the stallions championship class and first and second place in the Supreme Solid Color Stallions class.

At the state fair, Singer also won two second-place awards with a 2-year-old filly and third- and fifth-place awards with a 16-year-old mare, which is Dominator's half-sister.

Seven-year-old Dominator has taken Supreme Halter Champion several times, as well as being listed on the American Miniature Horse Association Inc. Top 10 Honor Roll for three years in a row.

When Dominator was 3 years old, Singer bought him from miniature horse breeders in Texas.

"The Brewers are foundation breeders," Singer said.

Singer wanted high-quality horses, and the Brewers had produced champions, including at the national level.

Singer, 67, has 21 miniature horses.

For five years, he has bred them, sold foals and shown miniature horses, including at the state fair.

"For 30 years, I had Arabian horses," Singer said. "Then when you get some age on you and a little arthritic, these are easier to handle."

Singer said he produces winning horses with good feeding and exercise programs and grooming. Miniature horses don't have a fine coat like their large counterparts do, so their coat must be cut.

"He's been body clipped all over," Singer said of Dominator.

Singer also lunged his horses, which means having them run in circles around him at the end of a long rope, 15-20 minutes a day for three months.

Singer has developed a strong attachment to horses and working with them.

"Oh, it just kind of gets in your blood, and you love horses, and you love animals, and I've had them all my life," he said.

aduncan@dchieftain.com

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