BY RACHEL BITTON
My very loving husband devised a ‘pony in the house plan’.
Truth be told I’m not a huge fan of ponies… I’d much rather find an old rodeo horse to stick my kids on, but you can’t beat a pony’s size! My youngest daughter played with a gate most of the summer, pretending it was her “horse” while the older kids practiced with their fair animals. My youngest is petite, and the big horses scare her. Enter another bad animal decision!
I had been on the hunt for a few weeks before I broke the news to my husband that I was pony shopping. He took the news well! I had even pre-gamed a pen plan for said pony and knew exactly where it would live on the funny farm.
It’s hard to find a good pony around Christmas. Most ponies are half Satan, one quarter sass, and a smidge of nice. The first two ponies I went to look at tried to bite me. The third pony was the perfect one, albeit a little timid. I arranged to come back a few days later to pick her up. On our way to get the pony, we blew a truck tire. Thankfully, we have a great family, and my brother came to rescue us. I asked, begged, and asked again if the pony could come in the house to greet her new owner. After the life-or-death experience and impending snow in the forecast, my very loving husband devised a “pony in the house” plan.
Our three kids were not phased at all when I rolled out an old rug by the front door and said someone was coming to pick it up. My husband attached a big bow to the pony’s mane, walked her right up the front steps, and in the front door. Our youngest daughter was in awe of her perfect black pony and promptly named her Stardust. She even got a short bareback ride in the house!
Josey and Stardust are the cutest little team. Josey is aiming to become the next Amy Fleming (from the hit show Heartland) and spends a lot of time with her pony. Stardust carried Josey through her first rodeo queen contest and first horse show this summer. They didn’t win, but they both learned and gained confidence in each other. One of my favorite quotes was said by Pam Brown: “Horses lend us the wings we lack.” Josey and Stardust will learn to fly together.
Now, what do you think the chances are that my husband will approve my new plan of breeding Stardust?