y air ady

I had a very humble start to my life. I was born on a farm in Walkertown, NC in 1994 to a Quarterhorse mother and a Welsh Pony father. I enjoyed frolicking around the farm with the other babies, but my breeder decided I needed to learn how to become a responsible young horse, so she sent me to Raleigh, NC to join my full brother, City Slicker. At the stables there, I learned how to become a hunter jumper. With a great deal of patience, Shep taught me the basics and turned me over to a young lady named Elise. Elise had a wonderful way and was very kind to me. I learned a lot from her, and I will always have a soft spot in my heart for her.

In 2000, a number of different riders tried me out. I worked with a girl named Amanda for quite a while late that summer and early fall. We took a number of lessons together and did some horse shows. She wasn't as experienced as Elise, but she was nice to me. That fall, a lady I didn't know came out and watched Amanda and me ride together. I hear that she said very nice things about both of us. Not long after that, a vet came out and did all kinds of things to me in a "pre-purchase exam" or something like that.

Right before Thanksgiving that year, Amanda and her family bought me. I am enjoying the jumping and flat work, and Amanda is good about doing things with me that keep me from getting bored. We do our lessons along with different flat exercises on "off" days, and pond and trail rides to keep things interesting.

Well, things have gone very well with Amanda and me. We did well in our barn Young Entry shows in the 2001 show year (along with a few away shows), then moved up to North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association (NCHJA) "C" Short Stirrup for the 2002 show year. We continued to learn together and grew as a team. We ended up being NCHJA "C" Reserve Champion in both Short Stirrup Hunter and Equitation that year.

Thing got even better in the 2003 show season. We made all the Greensboro Sedgefield "C" shows (in spite of some ugly spring weather!) and were the year-end Hunter Champion there. Then we finished up the season as both Hunter and Equitation Champion at the Triangle Farms show series. Shortly after that, we had the Triton Stables year-end show where we got both the Hunter and Equitation Champion awards as well. Amanda went down to Pinehurst in January to collect the big ribbons -- I am the NCHJA "C" Short Stirrup Hunter champion, and she is the NCHJA "C" Short Stirrup Equitation champion. (Hmmmm, for some reason I wan't invited to that ... I'll have to check in to that!) Check out how I've helped Amanda decorate her room!

In the 2004 season, Amanda and I moved on to Medium Ponys and Pony Equitation in the NCHJA. We did well -- we finished first in Small/Medium Pony and received an award as the top point-getters for all ponies! We also qualified for the year-end NCHJA "C" Equitation on Ponies award and finished in second place (Reserve Champion, that is). We also joined Progressive Show Jumping and finished fifth in the Combined Pony Hunter division and in the top ten of their Pony Medal (Equitation) -- not bad for three shows! Unfortunately, it is quite obvious that Amanda is getting too large for me. Knowing that I have a lot to teach other children, Amanda and her family started to look for a new family for me.

I spent most of the 2005 season being looked at and being tried out. It took a long time before a pony broker in Virginia finally found me a home. We made many trips to horse shows in his area, and many kids tried me out (one even took me home for a week, but that didn't work out) before I finally found my new home. Unfortunately, I cannot write well with a pen and my new family has not given me a computer, so I am unable to tell Amanda and her family where I am. I assume that they are as curious about me as I am about them. If you see me and can drop Amanda and her family a note, I would really appreciate it!

Triangle Indoors February 2004	Triangle Indoors March 2004
Triangle Indoors April 2004
Pinehurst PSJ June 2004

What we've done together

2004	NCHJA "C" Medium Pony Hunter Champion (top point-getter all divisions!)
	NCHJA "C" Equitation on Ponies Reserve Champion
	Triangle Farms "C" Combined Pony Hunter Champion
	Triangle Farms "C" Fourth Place Equitation Cup (only pony in finals)
	Sedgefield "C" Small/Medium Pony Hunter Champion
	Triton Stables "C" Combined Pony Hunter Champion
	PSJ Fifth Place Combined Pony Hunter (in three shows!)
	PSJ Top Ten Pony Medal (unable to attend finals)
2003	NCHJA "C" Short Stirrup Hunter Champion
	NCHJA "C" Short Stirrup Equitation Champion
	Triangle Farms "C" Short Stirrup Hunter Champion
	Triangle Farms "C" Short Stirrup Equitation Champion
	Sedgefield "C" Short Stirrup Hunter Champion
	Sedgefield "C" Short Stirrup Equitation Champion
	Triton Stables "C" Short Stirrup Hunter Champion
	Triton Stables "C" Short Stirrup Equitation Champion
2002	NCHJA "C" Short Stirrup Hunter Reserve Champion
	NCHJA "C" Short Stirrup Equitation Reserve Champion
	Triton Stables "C" Short Stirrup Hunter Reserve Champion
	Triton Stables "C" Short Stirrup Equitation Reserve Champion
2001	Triton Stables Young Entry Hunter Champion
	Triton Stables Young Entry Equitation Champion