meettheponies

Hobbit
Horse
Farm

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Meet the ponies

When we first became interested in ponies and miniature horses, we found lots of ads for well-bred, well-trained ponies. But in our search for the "perfect pony" we realized that there were many more miniature horses and ponies that had been left far less than perfect through lack of care, improper handling or neglect. It seemed far kinder to give these hard-luck ponies a chance at happiness, especially since they faced an almost certain future of further abuse and neglect through the cycle of reselling that awaits little horses with bad past histories.

So we brought them here to Hobbit Horse Farm with the promise of a forever home. And that decision has taught us that "perfection" doesn't necessarily lie with good breeding or good training, but in giving love and having it returned by these grateful little animals.

It is now our joy to share these ponies - and their stories - with you.

Fiona
This sweet little sorrel and white paint is one of our rescue ponies, traded to a horse trader by a family who decided they didn't want such a little horse after all. When we found her, she was standing in a makeshift stall fashioned from coral panels with hardly enough room to turn around and was up to her hocks in manure.
When we took her out she was nervous, but there was still such kindness in her eyes. We knew she wasn't so much anxious as confused about how she could have ended up in such a place. How could we not take her home? So we did, trailering her back from Winston Salem. She made the trip like a champ and ever since has expressed her gratitude with kindness.
Fiona is gentle and patient with children. She loves to be groomed and she especially loves having ribbons braided into her long, beautiful mane.

Luna
Lunas's story provides the perfect example of what can go wrong when horse owners are uninformed. When we went to see her, the owners told us she was dangerous and would have to be sedated to even have her feet trimmed. They knew little about her past, only that she had been "traumatized."
They were afraid of her, and in the process of trying to halter her while we were there ran her through a chain link fence, causing cuts to her mouth. When Luna clambered to her feet, shaken and terrified, we had three words for the owners: "We'll take her."
We spent several hours at the farm winning her trust, and after she was transported to our home, another several hours a day just standing with her and teaching her it was OK to be touched. Soon we could touch Luna all over her body, including her feet. Before long she was letting us pick them up and clean her hooves. And her first farrier visit here? She behaved as well or better than our other ponies.
Luna is still learning to trust, and because she may be pregnant we have not trained her to ride or pull a cart. But she loves to be groomed and has the shiniest black coat you've ever seen.

Storm
Auction and horse sales hold an uncertain future for horses and ponies who end up there, waiting to go home with the highest bidder. When our friend Jewel went to a horse sale last spring, she was upset to see a tiny white stallion being mercilessly kicked and beaten by the boy driving his cart. In typical Jewel fashion, she went over and pulled the boy from the cart, announcing that this was "her" pony, and then proceeded to find the owner. Jewel bought the pony on the spot, even though she didn't need another horse. We bought him from her over the summer and can't understand how anyone could ever mistreat such a fabulous little gentleman.
Even though Storm is a stallion, you'd never know it by his gentle demeanor. Small children can hug and climb on him, and he takes it all in stride. He rides and pulls a cart, which makes him loads of fun for little ones and adults alike. We drive him through the fields behind our house and he enjoys it very much, although he does stop from time to time to call back to his friends.
Storm's feet were in terrible shape when we got him; he has a club foot and is still undergoing corrective trims. He loves to be groomed and is a fast learner. We've taught him to give hugs! Come see him and he may even give you one!

Kipper
Kipper is the little old man of Hobbit Horse Farm, but despite being 17 he's still spry and saucy. He came from the egregious conditions of a farm where many of the horses were malnourished. A veteran of a pony ride business, Kipper is very good with children. He pulls a cart and rides, making him a good all around pony. But what he loves more than anything is being petted, groomed and going on long walks. In the mornings, Kipper follows whoever is feeding him out of the corral and up to the grain bin to "supervise" the dispensing of morning rations!
Many horses and ponies Kipper's age get passed around from owner to owner because no one wants to be stuck holding the financial bag for their age-related needs. But having had one pony that lived with us to the ripe old age of 30, we know how fulfilling it can be to provide a safe - and deserved - forever home to one of these loyal little animals.

Lyric
Lyric was our very first pony. We found her in the barn of a local horse trader where she'd been taken - heavily pregnant - from an auction. Not long after arriving at his barn, she'd delivered a stillborn foal. When we first saw Lyric, she as depressed and had a terrible respiratory infection. She was also quite terrified of men. Our hearts just went out to her.
It took almost a year for her cough to go away, and a lot of time and patience before she would allow us to approach and halter her. Because she also had a terrible fungal infection in her ears when we first got her, she was terribly head-shy. It was many months before she got comfortable with our touching her ears.
Today, Lyric is a well-behaved and trusting horse and the very best friend of our 10-year-old daughter, who enjoys sharing her very special pony with others.
Lyric loves to be groomed and enjoys being ridden both in the corral and in the fields behind our house. In the winter, she is a plush silver-gray, and in the summer a sleek chocolate dapple. She also has the largest, most expressive eyes we've ever seen.

Rob Roy
Rob is the only one of our ponies who came to us from a good home. His former owners didn't really have time for him, and wanted him to be somewhere where his unique and fun personality would be appreciated. And do we ever!
Rob is Hobbit Horse Farm's resident clown, with a mischevious streak as wide as his girth. For such a small pony, he finds ways to get into big trouble, whether it's chewing up a new leather show halter or stealing food from one of the other ponies.
But he's also our little boy's best buddy, and is small enough even for little kids to lead about. Rob also loves to be groomed and hugged, and how can anyone resist?
Rob is currently being trained to ride and is doing very well.

Mr. Big
He may be only 34" tall, but the newest pint-sized resident of Hobbit Horse has a full-sized attitude and personality to match it!
Mr. Big's former owners provided him great care and kept him in great shape, but when the grandchildren he was purchased for lost interest it was decided that he should go to a home where he'd get lots of attention and fulfill his potential. How thrilled we are that they chose Hobbit Horse Farm!
After months of living in the backyard with a dog, Mr. Big is learning how to be a horse again. He's slowly getting used to being groomed, walking quietly on leadline and learning the ground manners that will serve as the basis of his training. Once his training is complete, visitors will be able to groom and handle Mr. Big. But for now he'll be used for demonstrations. He is currently learning to jump in hand, and is sure to be a favorite with visitors sure to be impressed by his beauty and enthusiasm.
We see a future for Mr. Big as a wonderful cart horse. (Subscribers to our newsletter will be able to stay abreast of his updates through Mr. Big's Diary)