Horse of the Month Contest Winners Winner of April 2008: Request Midnight Byron, New York Owner: Brittany Colton I have two barrel horses. I work them 20 minutes everyday weather permitting. I expect them to stand while being tacked, work the program and stand to untacked and then they get their Studmuffins after everthing is done. Request Midnight is like the Energizer bunny! He is 16 yrs old and just doesn't quit. He's fun to ride, and I have only had him a year so we are still learning about each other. Winner of March 2008: Ima Hot Fancy Pepper McDonough, Georgia Owner: Casey Whitaker 2 Winners (a tie) for the month of March, 2008 This is our first foal that we have bred. He was born on September 31, 2007. He is so smart. I know everyone says this, but he has learned voice commands like, halt, walk, trot, his name, and the soud of the gate going to the barn--opening and closing. He nickers everytime he hears it. My baby boy will refuse to eat his food (I know not good). He will sniff at his food, paw on the ground and start grunting if I forget to put a Stud Muffin in his food. It really surprised me on how far a horse will go to get what he wants. He is my first horse to do this with ANY treat, and I have tried a lot of other treats. I guess he is just spoiled and since I am keeping him a stallion, I will know what to give him (Stud Muffins) when he gets a little wild with me. Winner of March 2008: Miller Brightwood, Virginia Owner: Laurie Hale 2 winners (a tie) for the month of March, 2008 Miller came to me as a two year old and has truly blossomed into a wonderful horse. He is now 10 years old and we compete every year at judged pleasure rides. In 2006, he got his first Grand Champion. He always puts forth his best at each competition. Last year an obstacle came down around us as we were walking through it. It was very windy that day. The judges were amazed that Miller didn't panic and that he stopped and stood as I had asked him, so that the judges could fix the obstacle. They wanted to give him extra points! Miller has been a true gift and a loyal friend. I don't hesitate to give him what he enjoys because he deserves it. My niece was giving him StudMuffins just the other day...and they both had a great time! Miller loves StudMuffins and will do most anything to get one...including searching my pockets. He will bow for me for a StudMuffin. When he sees the StufMuffins bucket, he comes running! I also use StudMuffins to get Miller to flex, to the right and to the left, as a warm up before we start out on the trail. Thank you, Stud Muffins! Winner of February 2008: Teddy Bear Davidsonville, Maryland Owner: Michelle Eller Our horse will do anything for a Stud Muffin. Jump, Dressage, Pony Camp, Horse Show, pick pockets, act like a blood hound if there was any thought of a Stud Muffin anywhere near him. When we took part, reluctantly, with an animal psychic and we asked what Ted likes to eat....we were waiting for "Apple" or "Carrots". The woman said with a quizzical look, "He keeps talking about his special cookies." My mouth fell open. His "Stud Muffins" are his ultimate. I looked differently at psychics. We buy Stud Muffins because he's a wonderful horse who always tries his best and he deserves them! Winner of January 2008: Thunder Binghamton, New York Owner: Kelly Palmer Thunder is a 9-year old American Quarter Horse. He's an awesome Jumpers competitor, but struggled with the Hunter "style". On May 13, 2006 - one week before Barbaro injured himself in the Preakness - Thunder broke his left coffin bone when he pulled - and stepped on - a shoe during turn-out (actually two criss-cross fractures which thankfully missed the joint). Thanks to special attention from our stable owner, a caring vet, and the best trainer, after eight months of stall rest and and eight more months of retraining, this September Thunder went to his first show in almost two years and won Schooling Hunter Champion and Green Hunter Reserve Champion awards. Thunder loves his treats! And he knows exactly in which pocket I "hide" his Stud Muffins. Although he is sometimes eager (ok - bold) about getting them, I make him do stretches to each side to reach them. Then, if I softly tell him "Politely . . . Politely . . . " he takes them like a nice boy. Winner of December 2007: Okie Ames, Iowa Owner: Rose Danaher Okie absolutely loves Stud Muffins! The first time I introduced him to the treat, the completely sane "old man" got all wound up! Since then, he has learned to be patient and wait for me to give them to him, but he turns his nose up at any other treats. He bows and turns up his lips for Stud Muffins. Everyone around the barn know that trouble is coming if his bucket of Stud Muffins gets low! I have never been one to spoil a horse, but Okie is the love of my life. Here is a picture of him BEGGING for a Stud Muffin! Winner of November 2007: Lyric Shelton, Connecticut Owner: Dawn Breda Lyric is the most amazing animal I have ever met! I owned him for 6 years before I was forced to sell him and, 2 years later, I have finally got him back. He means the world to me. Whenever I am having a bad day, I go to the barn to spend time with him. He will put his head on my chest and just stand there and let me pet him; not moving till I am done. He likes to play jokes line sneak up quietly behind you and nip at your jacket, then run away! He also dumps the wheelbarrow on me. Every time he sees me, he whinnies and would do anything for a Stud Muffin! I don't know what you put in those treats, but he loves them more than carrots or apples! Winner of October 2007: Iza Valentine Paris, Kentucky Owner: Our Mims Retirement Haven Iza Valentine just loves Stud Muffins! If she thinks someone has a Stud Muffin treat in their pocket, she will push her nose in until they finally relent and give it to her. Iza Valentine was the 1985 California Broodmare of the Year; she is the dam of Fran's Valentine and the great granddam of With Anticipation. Now a resident of the Our Mims Retirement Haven, a nonprofit that takes in retired Thoroughbred broodmares, Iza lives comfortably in her 31st year, despite having two strokes and a bowed tendon. Winner of September 2007: Nick Clemson, South Carolina Owner: Virginia Bailey Nick was used with handicap children, and children with autism, to help develop certain skills due to his gentle and people-oriented nature. He has helped many children and in return they taught him many tricks. His favorite trick is begging for treats. He does this by sticking his head out of his stall as far as he can reach and then he turns his head to the side, opens his mouth, and sticks his lips and tongue out as far as they can go. He holds this postion until he gets a STUD MUFFIN. Now, whenever I pick up the Stud Muffins container or bag he automatically does this and won't stop until he gets one. He LOVES them!! Nick is 22 years old now and is retired. He enjoys hanging out with his brothers in the pasture and getting treats... and Stud Muffins are by far his favorite! Winner of August 2007: Ronin Clemson, South Carolina Owner: Gray Foreman Ronin is a Hanovarian who does EVERYTHING! He is successful doing the higher level jumpers but continues to be a great teacher to me in the lower level stuff. I can take him on trail rides, cross country, anywhere and he will act like a bombproof horse. His abilities are limitless from the trails to the jumper ring! Ronin will give hugs for Stud Muffins. He always knows the difference between regular treats and Stud Muffins and will not settle for anything less than Stud Muffins! Winner of July 2007: Dusty Hannibal, Missouri Owner: Christina Boyce I rescued her from an abusive home and I've had her for two years now. She nods her head up and down when I ask, "Dusty, do you love me?" She gives kisses on command! And, for Stud Muffins, she gives kisses without me having to say the word! Winner of June 2007: Rahy Johnston, Rhode Island Owner: Laurie Tuozzolo Stud Muffins are Rahy's reward for shaking hands, bowing, saying his prayers, kissing me, and just being Rahy. After a racing career of six years, I rescued Rahy. I have had him for seven years now. He is my soul mate and the reason for a collection of poetry I have written (you can check it out @ www.whentheywhisper.com). Winner of May 2007: Juliet Atlanta, Georgia Owner: Rebecca Liberman Juliet is a Straight Egyptian filly born 3/22/07. This little girl will knock her mother right out of the way for a "Stud Muffin!" This is the first treat that she was fed and she wants no other treats! As you can see, both mom and baby are happy and healthy and love their Stud Muffins! Winner of May 2007: , Owner: Winner of May 2007: , Owner: Winner of May 2007: , Owner: Winner of April 2007: Honey & Angel Goshen, Ohio Owner: Elaine Kerly Honey is a miniature and a dwarf! She RACES her buddy, Angel, to the barn when she knows there's a stud muffin treat!! And she beats Angel to the barn...her little feet just pump and run...and then she'll grunt like a little pig until she gets her Stud Muffin. Honey is the sweetest girl! And Angel is her guardian Angel...she looks over Honey and protects her. Honey has special issues like not being able to run as long or as hard as others; and she can't lift her head up too far or she passes out from constricting her airway, but she'll run for her Stud Muffins!!! Winner of March 2007: Sir Flaming Beau (Flame) Felton, California Owner: Linda Mackenzie For his entire life (almost 29 years) Flame has devoted his palate to taste testing horse treats & Stud Muffins have always been his favorite!! There's not a lot he needs to do to get one, just being my best friend for 26+ years is enough!! Flame is a retired purebred Arabian show horse, competing succesfully in stallion halter, english pleasure, pleasure driving, native costume & side saddle, as well as a trustworthy trail horse...now, he's enjoying a well deserved retirement & plenty of Stud Muffins! :-) Winner of February 2007: Rooster Columbia, South Carolina Owner: Susan Quinn Rooster loves Stud Muffins! He will dig into my pockets with his nose to find them when I go out into his pasture. He follows me everywhere just to get one of his favorite treats. Rooster is an 18 year old Appaloosa who takes care of the other horses at the barn. He's the granddaddy of the barn and is currently babysitting a rescue horse. Rooster has befriended the rescue horse and has helped him recover from months of neglect and starvation (and yes, Rooster shares his Stud Muffins with his poor little friend!) Winner of January 2007: Alpha Fox Brookfield, Wisconsin Owner: Chrystal Schultz Every time I bring out a Stud Muffin, he acts like a Stud himself prancing around and begging me to give him the treats! When I am ready to give them to him, he bows down without me even asking him to. Then after they are all gone he keeps bowing and stomping his hoof on the ground as if he's telling me "I want more". These are the perfect treats to bring to a show. Conveniently packed and ready to go when you are. Fox is a 20 year old Quarter Horse who acts as if he is 9 years old. He loves to act like he is young and especially likes to make his owner happy. I am his 9th owner and will have him for the rest of his life. He's lived and shown in various places around the United States and is always moving.