Triple Crown is excited to announce Janell Jensen as the winner of our first “Crown Jewel Collection” contest. This summer, we offered participants a chance to win a beautiful limited edition picture titled “Crow War Pony-1. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to register and encourage you to participate in our next “Crown Jewel Collection” Contest. For now, we’d like you to get to know a little more about Janell, this season’s winner.

There are many horses roaming around the Jensen’s Johnny Creek Farm including a bay paint mare named Babe. However, the main attraction is the Miniature Horse herd that Janell refers to as “the Biscuits”. This little herd includes a number of Dwarf Miniatures who hold a special place in Janell’s heart. Janell has taken in Dwarf Mini’s over the years, providing them a forever home and addressing the special needs they require. Janell has adopted 10 Dwarf Mini’s over the last 17 years and still owns 8 of them. Tessa, who was her first, is now 17 years old. Five of her 8 dwarfs are 9 or more years old which is quite a testament to Janell’s care, as Dwarf Mini’s have a fairly short life expectancy. One of Janell’s first Dwarf Mini’s was Little Bit, who lived inside Janell’s home for the three short years of his life. Little Bit slept beside Janell’s bed every night and the backyard was his pasture. It was during these years that Janell gathered the knowledge, and gained the experience needed to care for the special needs of these little equines.

Janell is fond of all of her Mini’s, but holds a special place in her heart for “Little Bit”. Little Bit became an inspiration for what Janell refers to as “Little Bit’s * Magic Shoes*”. When Janell took in Little Bit at just 12 days old, he was walking on the bulbs of his heels on his back legs and on the sides of his front hooves. Over a period of trial and error, Janell looked at ways to help Little Bit stand up on his hooves and walk better. During this learning process she developed “Magic Shoes” which are lightweight, glued on shoes with proven results to help dwarf Miniatures, normal Miniature Horses and large breed foals overcome structural anomalies. Janell knew these shoes could continue to be used to help more “special needs horses”, as many have tendon laxity, severe leg deformities and underdeveloped limbs. Today, Magic Shoes have helped to correct and alleviate the leg and hoof issues of horses across the U.S. and internationally.

Janell’s wealth of knowledge on the special care Dwarf Mini’s require is sought out by horse owners across the world. For the last 17 years, Janell has assisted dwarf Mini owners, vets and farriers with advice about proper care for these little guys. Janell has written several articles and hopes to publish a book on the needs of Dwarf Mini’s. Janell advises that Dwarf Mini’s are not for everyone and they should NOT be bred. Janell has had first-hand experience with caring for a dwarf mare named Sealtainn who was pregnant when she rescued her. Through two hours of labor, Janell, her son and a vet worked to help the little mare deliver a “normal” foal, who unfortunately was stillborn at delivery. They almost lost Sealtainn in the process as well. Many Miniature Horse owners including Janell, hope that breeders will not mate any miniature horses that they know are carrying the dwarf gene.

Janell acknowledges that owning and caring for a dwarf mini is a huge commitment, as they often have a lot of health problems, leg and hoof problems and generally do not live very long. With all the time and effort Janell puts into the care of her little herd of “Biscuits” and to helping other dwarf Mini owners, she states: “The rewards of seeing these babies thriving and being able to walk like a normal foal with their shoes on, is what keeps me doing this!!”

If you have questions about Miniature Horses or dwarf Minis, or want to contact Janell about her “Magic Shoes”, send Janell an email at: littlemagicshoes@gmail.com or join her online forum titled Little Bit’s Forum: http://wwminis.forumup.us/index.php?c=5&mforum=wwminis and connect with other mini owners.