Smokey, pony mare, 36 years (privately owned by Lucy Beyer)
The boss of the ponies and our fast granny (her German nickname: "Renn-Oma"). Smokey wasn't only faster in a gallop than most of our big horses she also outwalked them on the treks if she was allowed to be in the lead:-).
According to Ian she has been one of the most difficult horses to deal with when she was given to him as a "fire breathing monster". The former owners were even too scared to get near her, her feet were in terrible condition (they resembled skies) especially after she had foundered years ago. The first time she got shoes put on Smokey picked the farrier up with her front feet and smashed him on the concrete...the first time Ian rode her out on the trails she did the whole show: racing backwards down the river (when she tried to jump it first and landed in the middle of it), spins in both directions, rearing, bucking, you name it she did it. And the last few years? She was settled, happy, incredible fit, ridden in a rope halter, an absolute joy for beginners and experienced riders and even 5 year old kids have ridden her off the lead on the trails. If the rider wasn't paying attention out on the trails she would put her head down to eat and would catch up in a trot (why walk, if you can run?). Smokey was also a great teacher for for more experienced riders very fine hands, she taught you softness and not to pull, because she knew every pulling game she would win. Smokey used to follow her former 8 year old share rider Christabell around like a dog, they had a unique relationship: Smokey even went through the slalom at liberty when Christabell asked in the right way.
In the last few weeks of 2011 Lucy became Smokey's new share rider. Lucy and Smokey have really bonded and had a wonderful connection. Smokeys truly loved Lucy. Sometimes Smokey would put her ears back at children and with some more than with others, not so with Lucy. Smokey was always happy when Lucy was around, enjoyed the cuddles, never put an ear back on her and even came up to her in the paddock. Out on the trails with Lucy, Smokey jumped sometimes higher than anybody else. Those two were an amazing team together and since Christmas 2012 Smokey belonged to Lucy, her two legged soul mate. In December 2013 Smokey got very sick but showed an incredible strong will to fight her old and chronicly ill feet . Despite all medical undertaking, nightshifts and her will to carry on living she didn't come right anymore and she let us know when it was time to let her go. Thanks to everyone who supported us and her, thanks to our friend Andrea and her amazing knowledge of homeopathics, thanks to Jill for her amazing body work, treatments and herbal knowledge, thanks to our vet and our friends Michelle, Claudia, Miriam and Denise for their support.
Now Smokey galopps along the evergreen fields together with her best friend Sparkle and Podge and can eat as much grass she likes. Thanks and gratitude to you, Smokes, a pony with the strongest heart and mind we have ever met.
According to Ian she has been one of the most difficult horses to deal with when she was given to him as a "fire breathing monster". The former owners were even too scared to get near her, her feet were in terrible condition (they resembled skies) especially after she had foundered years ago. The first time she got shoes put on Smokey picked the farrier up with her front feet and smashed him on the concrete...the first time Ian rode her out on the trails she did the whole show: racing backwards down the river (when she tried to jump it first and landed in the middle of it), spins in both directions, rearing, bucking, you name it she did it. And the last few years? She was settled, happy, incredible fit, ridden in a rope halter, an absolute joy for beginners and experienced riders and even 5 year old kids have ridden her off the lead on the trails. If the rider wasn't paying attention out on the trails she would put her head down to eat and would catch up in a trot (why walk, if you can run?). Smokey was also a great teacher for for more experienced riders very fine hands, she taught you softness and not to pull, because she knew every pulling game she would win. Smokey used to follow her former 8 year old share rider Christabell around like a dog, they had a unique relationship: Smokey even went through the slalom at liberty when Christabell asked in the right way.
In the last few weeks of 2011 Lucy became Smokey's new share rider. Lucy and Smokey have really bonded and had a wonderful connection. Smokeys truly loved Lucy. Sometimes Smokey would put her ears back at children and with some more than with others, not so with Lucy. Smokey was always happy when Lucy was around, enjoyed the cuddles, never put an ear back on her and even came up to her in the paddock. Out on the trails with Lucy, Smokey jumped sometimes higher than anybody else. Those two were an amazing team together and since Christmas 2012 Smokey belonged to Lucy, her two legged soul mate. In December 2013 Smokey got very sick but showed an incredible strong will to fight her old and chronicly ill feet . Despite all medical undertaking, nightshifts and her will to carry on living she didn't come right anymore and she let us know when it was time to let her go. Thanks to everyone who supported us and her, thanks to our friend Andrea and her amazing knowledge of homeopathics, thanks to Jill for her amazing body work, treatments and herbal knowledge, thanks to our vet and our friends Michelle, Claudia, Miriam and Denise for their support.
Now Smokey galopps along the evergreen fields together with her best friend Sparkle and Podge and can eat as much grass she likes. Thanks and gratitude to you, Smokes, a pony with the strongest heart and mind we have ever met.
Podge, ponymare, 20 years
This pretty chestnut girl was Smokey's best friend for the last few years. Ian got a phone call one day and the people told him there was an abandoned 5 year old pony with a 3 year old foal at foot up on some hills. The owners hadn't been able to get close to her for 3 years. The last time as a 1 year old they tried to stick a needle into her as she was in foal way too early. So if Ian could catch her he could have her. It took 10 minutes and then Ian started to load her into the trailer.
What a little pearl Podge was and dearly loved by her share rider Christabel and so many other children, young adults and grown ups. She wasn't really a beginners pony, because her riders had to be very soft in their communication: If you were doing too much, being too controlling and too busy with the hands, she would turn around and trot home. Around humans she didn't know, she still tested on the first contact if she could really trust you, if you respected her space and if you could invite her in instead of catching her. The reason why this is now written in the past tense is that Podge died in a tragic paddock accident in autumn 2012. For all of us it was a big shock and still is. We will treasure her in our hearts for ever. Christabell has written an amazing poem for her which she read also at her grave. As all the others Podge is burried here on the farm, still overlooking everything.
MY SUNNY SUNDAY PONY
You were the best teacher ever,
Cute, Pretty, Cool, good friend to Smokey
Good friend to me, good friend to all,
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
Sunny Sundays you and I would go on beautiful treks.
Jumping the deepest sandy drain
Your coat flaming in golden honey
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
Cop Island I remember
Going as deep as ever on your back.
The water was reflecting on your beautiful chestnut chest.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
"All around the world"
Going round and round on you.
Winning all the races
In the sunny sandy arena.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
When I groomed you it was like golden sand
Swiping off your cute bunny ears.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
You pretty chestnut girl
You're the best teacher ever.
I hope you enjoy horsey heaven
As much as you enjoyed us.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
Christabel Waldron, April 2012
What a little pearl Podge was and dearly loved by her share rider Christabel and so many other children, young adults and grown ups. She wasn't really a beginners pony, because her riders had to be very soft in their communication: If you were doing too much, being too controlling and too busy with the hands, she would turn around and trot home. Around humans she didn't know, she still tested on the first contact if she could really trust you, if you respected her space and if you could invite her in instead of catching her. The reason why this is now written in the past tense is that Podge died in a tragic paddock accident in autumn 2012. For all of us it was a big shock and still is. We will treasure her in our hearts for ever. Christabell has written an amazing poem for her which she read also at her grave. As all the others Podge is burried here on the farm, still overlooking everything.
MY SUNNY SUNDAY PONY
You were the best teacher ever,
Cute, Pretty, Cool, good friend to Smokey
Good friend to me, good friend to all,
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
Sunny Sundays you and I would go on beautiful treks.
Jumping the deepest sandy drain
Your coat flaming in golden honey
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
Cop Island I remember
Going as deep as ever on your back.
The water was reflecting on your beautiful chestnut chest.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
"All around the world"
Going round and round on you.
Winning all the races
In the sunny sandy arena.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
When I groomed you it was like golden sand
Swiping off your cute bunny ears.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
You pretty chestnut girl
You're the best teacher ever.
I hope you enjoy horsey heaven
As much as you enjoyed us.
My Sunny Sunday Pony.
Christabel Waldron, April 2012
Sparkle, Maori Bush Pony mare, 37 years
Sparkle, former name Sparky, nick name Oprah...the most out of shape pony you can imagine with the sweetest nature. Flint's mum and Smokey's best friend. Smokey grieved for weeks after Sparkle died.
Ian got her from a friend's trekking centre up north when she already wasn't the youngest anymore. She taught a lot of kids how to ride, especially William love to ride her. He used to canter her everywhere and "jump things". Sparkle seemed to be a boy's horse, for the boys she always did more than for little girls who came to ride. She was very love sick for Thunder, even went into the river once that deep that only her nostrils, eyes and ears were out of the water just to get near the stallion. For him, she would even forget about her best ponypals Smokey and Podge, who used to spend hours with her standing at the gate starring at Thunder. The only other horse which conquered Sparkle's heart as much was Jameela. When she was born in 2010 Sparkle became Jameela's first aunty. Sparkle even chased her ponymates away from Jaffa's foal. It was an incredible burst of life for our retired lady (she retired from trekking at the age of 34). But the winter of 2010 was too much for the old girl and we decided to let her go. She is dearly missed and since December 2013 reunited with her bet friend Smokey.
Ian got her from a friend's trekking centre up north when she already wasn't the youngest anymore. She taught a lot of kids how to ride, especially William love to ride her. He used to canter her everywhere and "jump things". Sparkle seemed to be a boy's horse, for the boys she always did more than for little girls who came to ride. She was very love sick for Thunder, even went into the river once that deep that only her nostrils, eyes and ears were out of the water just to get near the stallion. For him, she would even forget about her best ponypals Smokey and Podge, who used to spend hours with her standing at the gate starring at Thunder. The only other horse which conquered Sparkle's heart as much was Jameela. When she was born in 2010 Sparkle became Jameela's first aunty. Sparkle even chased her ponymates away from Jaffa's foal. It was an incredible burst of life for our retired lady (she retired from trekking at the age of 34). But the winter of 2010 was too much for the old girl and we decided to let her go. She is dearly missed and since December 2013 reunited with her bet friend Smokey.
