Hello Christy: 

Thank you for continuing to send me pictures of ponies and useful information. Just thought I'd update you on Treasure.  She has three students now on the weekend, one a day. The two little girls 5 and 6 love her madly and after only 6 lessons are beginning to ride her independently and at the sitting trot on the lunge line.  During the week she hangs out in the paddock with her 33 year old granny babysitter, my retired Arab mare.  They are inseparable, but have got used to the routine that on Thursday night they separate until  Sunday brunch so their herd boundness will not interfere with the children catching their pony. When Treasure is with her mare, she really does not want to be bothered with two legged beings and their nonsense, all except for Jason, the 11 year old autistic older brother of one of her little girls.  He could care less about horses or anything physical or messy for that matter and the first time he was brought here ( to make him stronger) he had an anxiety attack and almost threw up.  Treasure and I were most concerned about him so we asked what he really liked to do or wanted to be.  He is a video game role playing fanatic and sits in the house all day in his fantasy electronic world. He said he wants to design these when he grows up.  So right away Treasure and I and Linda Tellington Jones figured out what was needed.  I told him he didn't have to ride unless he wanted to, but he was going to do magic with a magic wand and that Treasure was going to be a heroine in a giant video game, the screen would be the round pen and the arena.  Then after her breakfast, he and Treasure and I went into the round pen and she was looking for weeds and grabbed one ( she is a real chow hound and has grown quite plump). So when I asked her to walk on, she had a little tantrum, shook her head bucked a bit and took off.  Oh look, I said to Jason, she doesn't want to go back to school and is having a little tantrum...she doesn't want to take the stupid test.  He could relate to that.  But then I said on the other hand how would you like to see your little sister on the back of that act? 
Not a good idea he agreed.  O.K. so this is where you come in as master mind the save the day.  We agreed it was too hot to ride and probably to hot to run around like a fool and since Treasure was no fool she'd probably agree with us if we suggested to her that it wasn't a good idea.  So within 5 minutes, Jason had the lunge line and his Harry Potter magic wand and said Hey Treasure why don't you just walk and then how about

WHOA!  She turned around and looked at him like finally someone understands me!  He had her walking and whoaing very nicely and went home to tell his parents that even Treasure has a tantrum sometimes, but he talked her out of it.  Yesterday, his fourth time here, he rode Treasure independently, mounting by himself from the ground, the two of them negotiated that they would only stay on the shady side of the arena to keep cool because that made sense to both of them. When Treasure sees me coming for her she knows it means stinky fly stuff and other unpleasant prospects, but when Jason shows up she comes right up to him and lets him halter her, because after all he has some common sense, so why not?

Catherine

Hi Christy,

You've done it again!  Now does Bri look happy or what?  Thanks for your service of trading Felix for Butterfinger.  Felix was a wonderful pony and taught Bri a lot!  Butterfinger is so willing and able to take them to the next level and we appreciate you giving us the opportunity to upgrade.  It puts our mind at ease that you were able to find Felix a great home.  It was a very difficult and exciting transition for us due to the fact that we loved Felix so much and he was the perfect lil beginner pony for Bri.  Bri still misses Felix a bunch, but Butterfinger has lessoned the hurt and he is so good with her.  Butterfinger is one lucky pony to have Bri has his friend.  She spends so much time just talking and loving on him!  Yesterday they competed in a leadline horse show.  They didn't win, but she got a ribbon and was extremely happy....it was PINK! Her favorite color.... (We actually have his pink pad covered with the Navaho blanket)  Next year they will be off lead and on their own doing walk trot.....   Butterfinger was the perfect gentleman at the show and was very quiet with Bri and all the commotion going on around him.  Thanks again for trading/upgrading ponies!  I am so thankful that you care enough about the ponies and kids to give your clients this opportunity!  I don't know of another person in the horse business willing to go the extra step! 

Vona

Vona