Have you ever had one of those experiences that changes your life? Well, this page is the result of one of those experiences. It was actually just a minor and otherwise insignificant decision.

In August '96 I was testing internet search engines, and chose of all things to search for "Falabella", those delightful miniature horses I had read about as a youngster, and always thought to be beyond reach.

That was when I discovered miniature horses and ponies. Adorable, affordable and available!

A couple of weeks and a phone call later, I met Yvonne Young of Beltona Stud, and her herd of adorable four legged friends.

Not long after I had the opportunity to play with a three day old filly, and even assisted with the birth of a foal! Since then, I've spent many hours with these friendly little creatures.

The year's "Christmas present" came a few days early with me again being present for the birth of a foal. A tiny bay filly, she is best described as "adorable", so that's what we called her.

And on the 3rd of March 1997, the inevidable finally happened... I bought my first pony - Mouse! Also see some of her pictures in the picture gallery.

Mouse also provided inspiration for this stud logo. Ilinga is my registered AMPS stud name.

In October and November 1997 things really started moving, with my second pony Beltona Baringa being born. He's a bay and white pinto, full brother to Beltona Antoinette. I bought him when he was only a couple of days old. I also moved into my new home, on twelve acres in the Dandenong Ranges. Mouse moved here with me, as did my two other mares, Charity and Moonlight. A year or so later Beltona Adorable and joined the herd, and the year after Moonlight moved on. The last mare to arrive was Beltona Jadey, Mouse's mother.

Moonlight's first foal, Florian, now has four daughters of his own, and Baringa has gone to new pastures after fathering eight foals here. His first daug