08/10/2021
It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my paint mare Peaches. It might seem silly to mourn a pony when there is so much human grief lately, but not only was Peachy my business partner and coworker, she was my friend and a member of my family. It is rare that a unregistered “backyard” $1600 Shetland be able to touch so many lives during her time on Earth. I thought I would honor her here and ask anyone that met her to share their memories in the comments.
Peaches was with Ponies & Paints for about 12 years. Before I bought her, she was with another pony ride company in southern California. She was a working girl: all business and sometimes quite defensive when it came to being shod, bathed or saddled. It took some time to get her to let down and enjoy people. Her true nature was intelligent, patient and kind, though. I tried to add up how many kids may have ridden her in her lifetime. Thousands for sure. For many of the children, it was their first ride. Some of these kids were on her back before they could even walk. Many of them rode her year after year on the 4th of July and would ask for her by name…even bringing her carrots.
I don’t know if loyalty is a quality you can attribute to a pony, but I know she trusted me and she did all I asked. I asked a lot.
When I made the shift from hauling the ponies to events and started inviting families to the ranch in Santa Ynez, I did not use Peach much at all. She was the one that I would pull out at the end of the sessions for visitors to lead around and maybe ride ba****ck. It gave the kids a huge feeling of independence and confidence to lead a pony by themselves. I trusted her so much. She would never nip or step too close even if a tiny one was holding the lead rope. She got to where she would even come over to the gate to visit folks and be sociable. I am glad that she had almost a year and a half off for a nice retirement.
I would like to thank my work family, the doctors and staff at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center, for their expertise, kindness and generosity. They pulled together and did all they could for my sweet girl. Truly the most compassionate, knowledgeable, talented and dedicated veterinarians to be found. I am forever grateful.
At the end of her 25 years, the only thing we could give her was peace and freedom from her body. It has been over a month now and I am not grieving as much so am able to share this. I don’t know how poor Egg Nog feels. He seems ok but maybe a bit lost and lonely. They were together every day and night for so long and, although he has Hawkeye and Strawberry, nobody his size to get into mischief with and certainly nobody to keep him in his place. Peaches was definitely the boss and he adored her.
I am still doing plenty of private pony rides (see posts lower down on the page for info on that) and it makes me sad and happy at the same time when the kids ask about her and tell me what they remember. One little girl told me recently “I remember Peaches because she was so cute. I was so scared to ride a pony when I was little but she let me pet her and then I rode her and I was not scared anymore. Now I love riding ponies”.
What a wonderful gift.
I wrote this short piece inspired by our time together:
How do you thank a working pony? You cannot write a card or send flowers. They like carrots and apples and grass but a pony will eat itself to death if allowed. You can say “thank you” a million times over but do you believe they understand those words? I guess a new halter would look nice but ponies do not set much store by that sort of thing. You can make a fuss over them if they happen to be the snuggly sort that likes that kind of attention. But what if they are a stoic creature?
I think thanking a working pony has to be done in the little day-to-day things. Basic things. Fresh hay. Clean water to drink. A mineral lick. A shelter to hang out under when it rains too hard or gets too hot. A softer place to lay down at night. A doctor to keep them well, a farrier to keep them sound. A saddle that fits and a fuzzy cinch. A fly mask. Some fun, hard galloping the night before a gig to tire the body and quiet the mind when standing still, walking slow and being extra patient is required on the job. Cotton in the ears when the band or tractors may be too loud. Reassurance and a steadying hand when things seem overwhelming. A nice break in the middle of a job….pull off the tack for a vigorous back scratch before the next round of kids. A salty bran mash for the trailer ride home. A life balance of structure and freedom seems to do the trick. A working pony is happier being shaggy and muddy and with their rowdy friends than shorn and blanketed and kept in a barn.
I wonder if I have given you at least a fraction of what you have given me my dear Peaches. You have pulled more than your weight. You walked endless miles of countess circles and put a smile on so many faces. You put hay in the barn and food on my table and did all of it just because I asked.
For this I hope I thanked you enough in all the ways I knew how.
I love you and we all miss you.
You are irreplaceable.
Photo credits: Elizabeth Hay Photography
Rebecca Rivera Photography
Song credit: “One Soul” Caitlyn Taussig
Production and Editing: Sean Kennedy
