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Correspondence
Once in a while I will get a note
from another pony person--sometimes from one of my pony's new
owners--and these letters are just too good not to pass on.
Our thanks to Deana Travis of beautiful Fox Croft Farm in Warrenton for sending along this note about Cricket aka Merlot.
 March 12, 2009
I bought Merlot from Michelle when she went off to college. He is doing great! I use him as a lesson pony and he is very happy. He is a little sweetie and we love him to death! Spoiled Rotten!
You are welcome to stop by and visit him if you’d like. Michelle was here and rode him over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Let me know if you'd like to come for a visit. I'm sure he would love the attention. As if he doesn't get enough as it is!
Deana Travis
http://www.foxtrotfarm-va.com
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 January 5, 2009
Mimi,
I just wanted to let you know how happy we are with Rocky. He gets better every time we ride him. Thanks for such a special pony.
Karen Hall
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A dear friend of mine--who just happens
to be a non-horsey person--imagine that!!! has sent me the following
story and I just had to share it with you....
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August 24, 2008
When driving down the road I began to observe in a field
along the road, two horses who were pasture mates.
From a distance, each horse
looked like any other horse. But if you stopped your car,
or walked by, you would be able to see something quite
remarkable. If you look carefully at the eyes of one of
the horses, you can see that he is blind. And if you stand
nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound,
you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the
field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.
It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is,
so he can follow. As you stand and watch these two friends,
you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking
on the blind horse. The blind horse will listen for the
bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is,
trusting that he will not be led astray.
When the horse with the bell returns to
the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally
and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't
too far behind to hear the bell.
Perhaps we should all take this simple observation as
a lesson. Perhaps we could try harder to help those who
need some special assistance to negotiate the fields of
life. And sometimes we might be the blind horse looking
to a friend to help guide us....and at other times we
might become the guide horse, helping others to find their
way. Certainly we should take a little extra time--try
to be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet
is fighting some kind of battle...and certainly our world
would be made better if there were more friends around
with bells on. |
We are happy to hear from Kerianne
Manipole who owns Breezeway Peace Pipe. She has done such a
great job bringing out the best in him and is now offering him
for sale. Here is her recent note to me:
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 June
9, 2007
It's going to be really hard for me to part with Piper
because he is just such a sweetie, so I assure you that
I will find him a good home. The photo shows Piper and
me in October at the Washington International Qualifying
Show... we won a 5th and an 8th out of 64 ponies. You
did a great job creating an awesome pony! Today, we showed
at Hazelwild Farm (it was his first show back after having
about a month and a half off) and got a 3rd in Pony Equitation,
a 1st, 3rd, 6th, and Reserve Champion in Pony Hunter (out
of 10 ponies) and a 2nd in the Forrest Linton Memorial
Pony Classic.
Kerianne
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Our thanks to Heather Antonacci of
Equus Springs Farm for sending along a "family photograph"
of three of the four ponies she has who are by Medicine Man
and are becoming part of her riding program.
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April 9, 2007
 Just
had to share these with you. I let the kids spend the
day here, and about midway thru the morning as the kids
were working with various ponies and horses...... we realized
that Flutterbye was in the ring with two of her kids,
and the third one was getting tacked up. I sprinted for
the house and the camera to take advantage of the photo
opportunity. It was great fun.
Flutter (on the end) is
the dam of all and is the smallest at 11 hands with a
star and snip... she is around 20 years old - Leslie Walters
riding. Snugglebug - the largest and youngest with the
wider blaze with the lacy edge on it - almost 3 years
old, started showing - Taylor Walters riding. Firefly
- the smallest, black with a narrower blaze and a petite
head- almost 4 years old - started over 18" fences,
started showing - Taylor Thomson riding Magic Potion -
the bald face black and white - almost 6 years old, showing
with Blair Bickley in Green Pony Hunter this year - Kimberly
Buonomo riding.
Heather
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We have just received another update
from Lisa and Taylor Graves who purchased Breezeway Magnolia
from us earlier this year. Makes me realize what this "pony
business" is all about! Thanks, Lisa!
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November 10, 2006
Hello, just wanted to let you know how Maggie and Taylor
are doing. Taylor showed her for the first time on Oct.
29 and they did great. He got a 2nd, a 3rd, and another
3rd on her. He was so happy with how she went.... she
is very quiet and lazy at shows and you have to really
work at keeping her going. When he got done and got off
he said he never had to use so much leg in his life and
that they were going to hurt tonight.
He has been cantering her
at home regularly now and is ready to start jumping her.
He said next year he is doing short stirrup on her after
a couple of more walk/trot shows.
Thank you so much for this
wonderful pony. She has completely changed my son and
what he is willing to do. Before we got her he never wanted
to canter. One week after she got here he was cantering
his small pony and once and a while cantering her. He
also started jumping and is trotting into lines and cantering
out and cantering single jumps. He loves her very much
and loves to hug on her and feed her carrots.
Lisa Ann Graves
Pardners' Farm, LLC
2990 Sixes Rd.
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
(410) 414-2171
Cell (301)742-5741
pardnersfarm@aol.com
www.pardnersfarm.com |
Thank you to Kerianne for this update!
It is always good to hear such a glowing report. We always thought
"Piper" was a beauty and to hear that he is also great
because "pretty is and pretty does!" is a fine testimonial.
We look forward to receiving more photos.
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November 3, 2006
 Mrs.
Hirsch,
Hello! I just wanted to
give you a little update on Piper. I have decided not
to sell him, but to keep him and continue showing him.
I tried not to get too attached to him, but it seems like
it didn't work!! He is just the sweetest thing!
Also, about 2-3 weeks ago,
we went to Maryland to try and qualify for the Washington
International Horse show. Piper (as always) was great.
He was just hilarious in the barn... he was living the
big life. Every person that walked by had to pet him because
he just looked so sweet!
Anyway, we went in 5 classes,
2 warm-ups, 2 o/f pony hunter classes, and the pony hunter
flat class. In the outdoor ring, he got a 5th and an 8th
out of 62 people. Indoors, the ring seemed to "excite"
him and was a little quick. He still had great courses
though! Although we didn't qualify, it was a great experience
and I would have never had that opportunity without Piper.
I just thought I would let
you know that you did a wonderful job raising him and
he is just the sweetest pony around. Well, I figured you
might like an update, and I will try to send pictures
of the qualifying show to you as soon as proofs come in!
Feel free to e-mail me anytime!!
Thanks,
Kerianne |
As summer and the show season draw
to a close we are so happy to hear what a successful year it
has been for the Harrington girls and Raven. Proud papa Jeff
has sent us the following update.
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October 10, 2006
 Raven
and Jessica competed twice over the summer at the Keswick
Hunt Club shows and did well. They have competed at some
shows at Oak View Farm in Gordonsville and in one schooling
show at Crossing Pointe. They finished as Reserve Champion
(in total annual points) in the Green Pony Division of
the Oak View Farm Horse Show Series for 2006. They are
slated to compete in the VHSA Associate Horse Show Championship
November 17-19 in Lexington. They will compete in the
Green Pony Division.
Ashley and Raven won Reserve
Champion in the Pre-short stirrup Division for a show
at Oak View on September 9. This was Ashley’s first
show outside of Crossing Pointe and only her second show
overall. Ashley and Raven also won Grand Champion in the
Pre-Short Stirrup Division at a Crossing Point Schooling
Show September 23.
The girls spend time with
their pony almost everyday. We are blessed beyond measure.
Thanks again.
Jeff |
Just got this Lisa Graves from Pardners
Farm in Maryland. She tells us about how Magnolia is doing.
She bought this nice pony from us earlier this summer. Thank
you, Lisa, for the good news!
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September 12, 2006
Hi,
I wanted to update you on how Maggie is doing. Sunday
Sept 10 I took her to her 1st show and she did 3 walk/trot
classes with my teenage rider. She was absolutely perfect!!
She was very calm and quiet, nothing got her upset. She
got a 1st in her 1st class, a 3rd and a 4th.
I got so many compliments
on how pretty and nice she was. We plan to take her back
to this show next month and have Taylor show her in a
beginner rider division that has a walk, walk/trot, and
trot over 4 poles classes. I'll get lots of pics for you.
Lisa |
We thank Sue Craddock for sending
along to us the following essay...(Author unknown.) For those
of us who love our ponies and horses, this little piece speaks
volumes. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. (August
26, 2007)
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To have a horse in
your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short years,
a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab
mane and hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies
is mightier than the tallest of girls. To conquer the
fear of falling off, having one's toes crushed, or being
publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable feat
for any child. For that, we can be grateful.
Horses teach us responsibility.
Unlike a bicycle or a computer, a horse needs regular
care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly
and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen
to break the crust of ice off the water buckets is to
choose responsibility. When our horses dip their noses
and drink heartily, we know we've made the right choice.
Learning to care for a horse
is both an art and a science. Some are easy keepers, requiring
little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay, and
a trough of clean water. Others will test you -- you'll
struggle to keep them from being too fat or too thin.
You'll have their feet shod regularly only to find shoes
gone missing. Some are so accident-prone you'll swear
they're intentionally finding new ways to injure themselves.
If you weren't raised with
horses, you can't know that they have unique personalities.
Indeed, there are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even
horses with a sense of humor. Those prone to humor will
test you by finding new ways to escape from the barn when
you least expect it. Horses can be timid or brave, lazy
or athletic, obstinate or willing. You will hit it off
with some horses and others will elude you altogether.
There are as many "types" of horses as there
are people which makes the whole partnership thing all
the more interesting.
In addition to listening
to your instructor, your horse will have a few things
to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to
go along with the program and tolerate your mistakes;
on a bad day, you'll swear he's trying to kill you. Perhaps
he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up with how slowly you're
learning his language. Regardless, the horse will have
an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can
ultimately make you a better rider) or he may carefully
carry you over fences... if it suits him. It all depends
on the partnership - and partnership is what it's all
about.
If you face your fears,
swallow your pride, and are willing to work at it, you'll
learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion,
in addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover
just how hard you're willing to work toward a goal, how
little you know, and how much you have to learn. And,
while some people think the horse "does all the work",
you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your
horse may humble you completely. Or, you may find that
sitting on his back is the closest you'll get to heaven.
You can choose to intimidate
your horse, but do you really want to? The results may
come more quickly, but will your work ever be as graceful
as that gained through trust? When it works, we experience
a sweet sense of accomplishment brought about by smarts,
hard work, and mutual understanding between horse and
rider. These are the days when you know with absolute
certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.
If it is in your blood to
love horses, you share your life with them. Our horses
know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes
and whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary
in an unsettled world, a sheltered place where life's
true priorities are clear: a warm place to sleep, someone
who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals... Some
of us need these reminders.
When you step back, it's
not just about horses - it's about love, life, and learning.
On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of
a foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That
same day, there is also loss: a broken limb, a case of
colic, or a decision to sustain a life or end it gently.
As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of
horses: the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death
that caring for these animals brings us. When our partners
pass, it is more than a moment of sorrow. We mark our
loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have
been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder.
We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and
willingness to give. To those outside our circle, it must
seem strange. To see us in our muddy boots, who would
guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We celebrate our
companions with praise worthy of heroes. |
We just got an update from Lisa Graves
at Pardners' Farm on how Maggie and her son Taylor are doing.
Sounds as if it was the perfect match!
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 June
22, 2006
Since Maggie has come into our lives Taylor has really
enjoyed riding and is even willing to try things. He started
cantering two weeks after Maggie got here though I don't
let him do it too often as I want her farther along so
she is comfortable just carrying him around at the canter.
Hope to take her to a show this weekend to hang out with
us so she can see what will be in store for her with no
pressures.
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It was good getting a recent update
from the Roush Family in Pennsylvania. They purchased Eskimo
Pie and Kachina Doll from us and we love hearing such good news.
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 June
6, 2006
I wanted to share some quick pics of Dolly and Rich in
the round pen yesterday. I cannot tell you how many people
compliment her. Her temperament is as wonderful as she
is pretty to look at. Folks that are here consistently
and are around all of our horses also comment on how unbelievably
sweet both Dolly and Eskimo Pie are --- guess we have
to contribute much of that to Medicine Man. They are both
so loveable! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to have
such special ponies as part of our equine family!
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In January of 2005 we sold Raven's
Prairie Rose to Jeff Harrington and his daughters Jessica and
Ashley. Jeff has been wonderful to keep us up-to-date on how
the "girls" are progressing and there are some great
pictures documenting all this is our photo albums. But his last
note to me should be "required" reading for all pony
parents who wonder sometime if what they are doing will make
a difference. As you read Jeff's note below you will understand
how one pony has made a great deal of difference in the lives
of one family.
Mimi
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5/16/2006
When I reflect on
the level of "experience" my girls have gotten
through Raven it truly is amazing. And we're still not
done yet! It's more than ribbons and accolades.....its
about life-lessons and building character.
Raven has really helped
Jessica in so many ways to refine her skills. Jessica
has a "gift" and a "passion" for
riding. How many people have a "passion" for
anything these days? Raven has helped to bring out so
many of those gifts in a girl who is still a fairly
green rider. I did not grow up around horses and still
know little about them. I sense that Jessica will be
actively involved with horses either vocationally or
recreationally for the rest of her life. She couldn't
have asked for a better first pony.
Ashley has been riding
for about 1 1/2 years. She has gone from a 7 year old
girl who was apprehensive, sometimes scared and sometimes
frustrated to an 8 1/2 year old girl who loves the barn,
loves to ride and who now takes on each new riding experience
with an exuberant tenacity and confidence that was absent
a year ago. Raven's calm demeanor helped to transform
her frustration into an infectious enthusiasm.
I will have more stories
to chronicle for you as the year unfolds. Stay tuned.
Jeff
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I have told Jeff that he needs to
write a book and it will sell a million copies! And I also am
eternally grateful that Raven wound up with such an exceptional
family.
For all you horse and pony breeders
and agents and especially for all you hard-working parents who
do so much for your youngsters so that they can have a pony
or a horse in their lives, don't ever think it isn't important.
I just got this wonderful letter yesterday from a "youngster"
who purchased Breezeway Zephyr. Zephyr who is now 15, was one
of our first foals born here at Breezeway and we sold her in
1994. Our great thanks to Nicole for sharing her thoughts and
the great news about Zephyr. We are so glad that she is still
bringing joy to her new family. And who knows!? One of these
days we might be reading articles and learning from Nicole as
she tackles the mysterious world of genetics.
 3/13/2006
Dear Mimi,
I was recently going
through Zephyr's memorabilia and noticed it was ages
since I wrote to you and that you had asked me not to
disappear after Zephyr and I parted ways.
My life in a nutshell--I graduated from Virginia Tech
and am now working on my Ph.D in Genetics at Harvard.
Sadly, my life at VT and here have precluded horses.
The family I sold Zephyr to sold her about two years
ago. Last I heard she was still with the second family
outside of Winchester. They've been in horses for several
generations and swear they'll never part with her. They
think very highly of her---you've bred some very popular
and appreciated horses.
Thank you for bringing one of them into my life. My
years with Zephyr were very happy ones and put me on
a good path.
Nicole
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 March,
2006
I wanted to send you an
update on Patch. We bought him from Lori Aylor in July
2005. My daughter Kelly took him in their first show
together last Sun. (2/26). It was a horrible day with
30-40 mile winds and a high of about 40 degrees. The
wind was blowing so hard that jumps were blowing over
and all the other ponies were spooking. Patch handled
it all like a pro and took great care of Kelly. He wasn't
even phased when a runaway pony ran into him! They got
a 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their classes and came home with
Champion in the Pre-Short Division. We are so thrilled
with Patch. He is a wonderful, sweet, quiet and dependable
pony. We are looking forward to many other good times
with him, and will keep you updated.
Gwynne & Kelly
Newton
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Thank you to Gwynne Newton for this latest
update on how her daughter Kelly and Patch are doing. Patch
is by Medicine Man and was owned and trained by Lori Aylor.
We are so pleased that this super nice pony was found by such
a nice family. Medicine Man's foals continue to bring a lot
of pleasure and success to their owners. (March 12, 2006)
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