March Winner: The Last Pony

by Lori Woodruff
(Brookville, OH)

Zamirr in the Snow

Our favorite mare was 19. We always wanted a relative of hers in our barn, and we were running out of time.

She is a special horse, and we sure wanted to have one that looked and acted like her.
We bred her and at age 20, the filly we hoped for came, but it was a COLT!

At 3 days of age, Zamirr, (Pronounced Zuh-Mirror) was given a chance to continue the legacy of his mother, Aziza Star. He would not be gelded until he gave us a reason to geld him.

By 3 he was still intact, at 4 I started him under saddle, and even took him to a little show.

Then a tragic truck accident killed my beloved brother. I had already signed up for a show to be held just a few days after the accident, and I took Zamirr.

I was shakey, hadn't eaten much, and was a nervous wreck. I did get ready for our class, and barely remember my daughter leading him to the arena, with me sitting in the saddle, I dont' think I was riding, I was sitting...

We went round and I was only choking back tears, and staying on top. A whole section of people were cheering from the rail. I was thin, pale and shaking, but they cheered for me and clapped while I sat in the line up. Some of them I knew, some of them were just amazed to see such a frail woman on a stallion!

The next thing I knew, I was collecting my first place ribbon, for walk/trot, on a young black stallion in a snaffle bit. It was a large class, and I just broke down and cried. Zamirr did like his mother had always done, he took care of me.

This winter, Zamirr and I played in the snow. I promised him that I would not be absent in mind when riding him this year, I would pay attention and help him when I ride, but he doesn't really need me, he showed me that when we played in the snow.

He is a big boy now, 6 years old and expecting HIS first foal out of another mare we have. He is the Mirror of his mother. We are lucky to have them both in our barn.