Willy

Heather bought Willy as a baby, sight unseen.  He was at an auction and since she had shown his champion mother and knew his champion father, it was a no brainer.  Willy was boarded with a friend since there was no barn in our future ( haha no one dreamed Vern has going to make the deal of our lives!)

Willy came to the farm as soon as a fence could be built.  The inside of the barn was in the beginning stages of renovations so some boards were put up for a stall. Try as Heather might, little Willy would jump the boards every night and live outside in his paddock.

Heather, Vern and Jenn tried to be his herd, playing chase with him.  Jenn galloping at him totally freaked him out.  Hahaha, the one legged gallop was used as a training method for a while.  Vern would give chase until Willy would turn and  Vern would run for all he was worth but Willy had extra gears.  Vern was always just lucky to get out of the way.  Willy had way more stamina than  any of his human herd!

 Champion ribbon at the Royal Winter Fair
Willy's face is blurry because he was
trying to bite Heather's gloves.

One of Willy endearing habits is biting!  Not quite sure why he does it, might be Vern playing games with him.  As a deterrent very time he'd bite, he'd get a slap on the nose.  This didn't deter him in the slightest, just made him faster.  He'll sneak a bite, toss his head back and roll his eyes at you.  He always looks like he is laughing at you.  This habit has waned some since he is no longer a stallion and he is out with other horses now.

He was quite a handful as a little stallion.  He had to be kept in a field by himself since he would attack any gelding in the same field.  Willy was still very young when Lincoln came and they were good friends. When mares came and Willy got a little older, Lincoln and Willy had such a hate for one another.  Willy won every scuffle no matter how big the adversary.

One day when Vern and I showed up to the barn we found Willy in the next field over quietly munching hay with another horse. Hmm we thought maybe he can be with somebody now.  Nope, when we turned around, he was chasing the other horse around and around.  We had to run interference and slight of hand to separate them.  Apparrently he had ducked under the fence in the creek.  Another wire installed.

He faked me out just the other day.  It was hot and a little buggy.  Old Jon and Jacey wanted in the barn. Willy stood at the gate and whinned so I opened the gate to let him in too.  Well, the little faker went right to the grass and I had to chase him around and around to get him in the barn.  He is still a little crazy, you can see it in his eyes, but he is a better pony now that he is out with the other geldings.  He still chases his new friends  but he is just an annoyance now. He is learning to be a cart pony and that should wear him out and give him something to think  about.