I was in the sixth grade in Pinellas Park Florida going to Belcher middle school. There was a horse stable behind the trailer park I lived in by the name of Quarter Stock Farms, I worked there after school and on weekends mucking and exercising horses, I didn't have a horse of my own, my grandmother and I couldn't afford one. I knew not to ask for one, there was no way and it would only make my grandmother feel bad. So I worked and was happy for the chance to be able to be around them and get to ride, I was lucky. I had charge of the concrete barn, about 15 horses in all.
One day Dave Wiggins (a horse trader) arrived with a small malnourished colt who's mother had died of old age just after he was born. He was Cremello with the most amazing ice blue eyes you ever saw. He had no spark in his little eyes, I didn't think that he would live. His body condition was very poor, he had a huge belly that was filled with worms and the rest of his little body was so skinny.
He was put into my barn so I started talking care of him, little by little he started looking better and getting more life to him. He was so smart and cute, when he had his weight back he looked like a perfect Quarter horse (the miniature version). He was the offspring of a son and a daughter of leo. Despite of being inbred he was the most intelligent and conformationally correct pony I have ever had the chance of being around.
Well months went by and we didn't hear anything from Dave. It was almost X-mas, unknown to me Charles (the barn owner) had asked my grandmother if it was ok to give me Shaton (as I had named him), she said yes. So on Christmas day I was given the little orphan, with the understanding that if Dave ever came back I would have to return him for either cash or another pony, I was over joyed, we did every thing together, I taught him Halter and Showmanship.
Our first show came at the Bay Area Horsemans Association and we took 2nd in halter, the Judge even gave my pony a big hug and told me how cute he was, I was so embarrassed, here I was ... trying to be profession and the judge is hanging from my horses neck, what an experience.
Almost a year went by with us being the best of friends, we were having a resell-it-day at the barn, horse people from all over were there buying and selling things, trucks and trailers had been coming and going all day. Only one caught my eye, I was getting Shaton from the pasture when I saw it, I just knew it was him, I went cold all over.
Well I was right, he took my little pony, there was nothing I could do but cry as I watched him walk into the stock trailer, this was the chance I took when I accepted him, I begged and pleaded with him to no avail.
I saw him about a year later at a farm called Painted Lakes, he was dirty and nasty, he had been branded on both hind quarters with no medical attention given after they were applied, they were very infected and nasty. I would sneak over to him as often as I could and doctor on him, he remembered me. Then again one day I went out to visit him and he was gone, that was the last time I saw him.
Little Pony where ever you are, may the wind be always at your back and your belly be forever full, I love you.
Tabitha Binney
U.S.A
Bethlehem, Ga.
