After 41 years of incredible memories, laughter, and shared passion, it’s with bittersweet emotions we say farewell to the Mid-America Miniature Horse Club (MAMHC). It’s been an amazing journey since its inception on February 20, 1983.

 

Reflecting on its beginnings, twenty visionary families gathered at Little King Farm, driven by a shared passion for the miniatures. Under the guidance of the club’s founder and first President, Marianne Eberth, along with Mick Sohngen (VP), Sandy McEvilly (Secretary), Bud King (Treasurer), and Phoebe Kerby (Head of Jr. Macs), MAMHC embarked on a mission. The club aimed to promote and educate others about the miniature horse, develop a show circuit in the tri-state area, and offer a platform for our members to qualify for the prestigious AMHA Nationals (now Worlds). Fun fact: before the club was organized, in order to attend an affiliated AMHA show, exhibitors would have to travel to Tennessee, Illinois, or lowa. 

 

Our club or members of the club organized and chaired three to four shows a year, including The Silver Jubilee and the Julep Cup (started by Michelle McQuade) at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. The Julep Cup grew into one of the country's most prestigious shows, a testament to the spirit and hard work of our members. 

But MAMHC's legacy is not just in the shows organized or the competitions won but in the community we built and the friendships we made. Over the years, we’ve seen some of the industry’s most iconic breeders come from our club and have watched our youth grow, achieve, and contribute, earning scholarships, and national titles, and becoming ambassadors of the miniature horse world.

 

As we close this chapter, I want to extend my deepest thanks to every member, past and present, for your dedication, passion, and contributions. Though MAMHC as a local club is concluding its journey, the memories we've shared and the impact we've had on the miniature horse community will endure.

 

After thoughtful consideration, our club voted to evenly allocate the remaining funds, estimated to be around ~$12,500 total, to be donated to the American Miniature Horse Association (AMHA) and The American Miniature Horse Registry (AMHR). This contribution establishes two one-time scholarships to be awarded to high school students in 2025. 

 

In the unlikely event that one or neither organization receives any eligible applicants, the funds designated for the scholarships will be donated to the youth funds of AMHA and/or AMHR at the conclusion of 2025 in honor of MAMHC.

 

These scholarships aim to honor the legacy of MAMHC and contribute to the education and development of the next generation of enthusiasts within the American miniature horse community. We are grateful for both registries voting to accept these funds, contributing to a smooth and purposeful dissolution process for our club.

When I took over as VP for the late Ed Birchler (who we greatly miss), I didn’t see myself becoming President of what was once the largest miniature horse club in the country, and I certainly didn’t see myself having to be at the helm when it dissolved. BUT all good things must come to an end. I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up in this club and will never forget the thrill of showing at the Horse Park. It was nothing short of magical. Cheers to MAMHC and to the youth whose door could open as ours closes.