Minimum horse, maximum smile

BY TRISHA THOMAS

Roy is a very special little gelding that I didn’t know I wanted until I had him. My daughter and her friend Corinea told me about a little mini that needed a job and wondered if I would take him, so I went to see this little horse. It was love at first sight.

My friend Julie brought her huge horse trailer to pick up little Roy and before I knew it I was a horse owner again after 25 years of being horseless.

We had no barn, just a shed, so that became little Roy’s stall. I had to buy all new things for Roy as I had only owned large horses before him and those things were long gone anyways. Out to Jumping Jodhpurs I went, my free pony cost me tons! Only the nicest and the best for Roy!

My husband, Gord has said to me, “Are you financially strapped right now?” To which I reply, “No, Why?” He will go on to say, “Nothing has come in the mail this week for Roy, so I was wondering if everything was okay!”

I have been very thankful that he is a small pony because it has taken a lot out of me to get him to the point we are at a year later. Roy has stepped on both my feet at the same time, backed over me, bit me, dragged me and just been a little puke in general! I did say to Jennifer that we will look back at this and say, “Can you believe how bad he used to be?” So yes, I’ve said it! I can not believe how far he has come.

The people who live on Southview Road all know Roy now as they have also seen the progression of training he has gone through over the year. He pulls his pool noodles and now we are pony Joring which is a sport of being pulled on skis by a pony. Since I don’t ski, Roy pulls while I run.

ACCESSORIZE ME: Roy (above) came free to owner Trisha Thomas, but she’s spent a fortune on right-sized gear. Plus, of course, a companion retiree: Brawyn (left), who needed a whole barn.

I’m pretty sure this is going to have some phenomenal wrecks for me in the future! This year Roy will be pulling the cart that I bought for him and our great adventures will become quite long and fun.

We are pretty sure he is about six years old but I might be off by a few months. He is an oversized mini, in that he is 39” at the wither – true minis are up to 38”. He would also be considered a pinto due to his colouring, he has short legs and a plump belly.

Roy also hikes in most of the north of town trails with me as well. He is great on the board walks and has figured out how to climb the few stairs that there are. I have a little western saddle that my friend Sheryl gave me and I turned it into a pack saddle for all my gear. We even have a saw so I can cut any logs out of the way. My game plan this year is to hike into Theodosia for a couple of nights with Roy and my three dogs.

Jennifer has since brought Brawyn out to retire with us. Roy has a best friend now, they play and play. This, of course, cost some more money, because we had to have a proper barn to accommodate such a large horse!

So our free pony was a very expensive pony!