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Skijoring video tops two million views

A local entrepreneur and miniature horse enthusiast says her business is exploding after a video she posted to Facebook went viral, clearing two million views Jan. 3.
Patty Kramps (above) says a video of her miniature horse Tonka pulling her business partner Kelly Miller has received two million views online. The exposure has been a boon
Patty Kramps (above) says a video of her miniature horse Tonka pulling her business partner Kelly Miller has received two million views online. The exposure has been a boon for her business, Patty’s Pony Place.

A local entrepreneur and miniature horse enthusiast says her business is exploding after a video she posted to Facebook went viral, clearing two million views Jan. 3.

Patty Kramps of Patty's Pony Place posted a video of her miniature horse Tonka pulling her business partner Kelly Miller on a set of cross-country skis through the woods on Nov. 30. She said that for the first little while the video, depicting a little known sport called skijoring didn't generate much interest.

'It's been quite a ride the last 24 hours," she said. 'It was pretty quiet for the first few days, but one big page shared the video and it just went nuts."

Since then, her custom harness business has exploded. Kramps said she expected to break 100 sales this year at the rate she's been placing orders, compared to 43 harnesses sold last year, including one she was shipping out to Norway where the sport got its start.

'Be careful what you wish for," she said with a laugh. 'I am buried, absolutely totally."

Literally translated to 'ski driving," skijoring normally uses dogs instead of miniature horses, though the novel yoke is gaining in popularity.

Despite the name of her business, miniature horses are a specific breed of equine and are not ponies. Kramps explained that the maximum height permitted for a show horse is 38 inches, though she does not participate in horse shows, or competitions.

'We're not part of that at all," said Kramps. 'None of our horses are registered, they're just salvaged horses."

For Kramps, skijoring is just a fun thing to do with her pets. She started keeping miniature horses in 2009 as a fun way to entertain her nieces, but things really took off in June of 2010 when she saw Tonka at a horse sale in Westlock. She fell in love with little Tonka and has been hooked ever since.

'I saw him standing in the pen, he had his little head down and his little foot raised and just looked so depressed and that was it. He was coming home," she said.

'I had no idea just what that decision was going to eventually do."

While the harness sales help pay the bills, the real reason for her business is to provide the horses with a loving home.

'That's what we do. We pick up these little horses that were basically thrown away," she said.

'We've got about 20 of them so far. We may or may not get to drive them, so for the time being they just hang out until we can get them sledded up."

Patti's Pony Place offers skijoring rides and other miniature horse activities to all ages. It is located just south of Pickardville. For the video go to: https://www.facebook.com/PattysPonyPlace/

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