pony time, all the time

So Charlie lives on this historic old sprawling farm in Maryland, with three generations of the family still living on site. It's primarily been an eventing farm, hosting recognized and unrecognized events. Each generation of the family has competed (or currently is) at the upper levels and trained with top pros, dating to the Jack Le Goff heydays.

possibly the best view in the world lol

But the farm's biggest claim to fame, imho?? The SHETLANDS OMG. The farm has been breeding them for ages, and is literally crawling with the shaggy little beasties. I'm legit convinced that nobody could tell you exactly how many there even are haha. Every little nook and cranny has some Shetlands tucked away in it.

he is my favorite bc he makes little noises when you walk up to him <3

From what I can tell, a lot of them are broke to drive, and many are used in the lesson program. Plus a select few do the Shetland Pony Races at major venues (like at Devon, below!).

fun if you have a spare 12min haha

skip to 5:30 for the race itself

But ya know. Most of them are just shaggy little beasties living their best lives out in the fields. As you might imagine, Charlie is intensely jealous of them and desperately wishes he could be a shetland too!!

honestly it's amazing i still have ten fingers where there are so many cute noses to pet!!

It's not uncommon to see some of them loose, wandering the farm, too. Like the wonderful little farm matriarch, Whoopie. That ancient sweet mare basically has the run of the place, and can often be found on the back pathways minding her own business grazing on the lawn.

they have the most intense hair!!!

The other day tho, I got to live out that girlhood fantasy that I'm sure we've all had at one point or another: That total "black stallion" moment. You know the one, where there's a wild horse running free and you're the only one who can catch him and tame him, and form this magical unbreakable bond forever and ever. Right?!?

finders keepers?? pretty please?!?

Lol...... Or, more realistically, just one of the naughty little ponies (Upperco, to be precise) escaped from his new pasture and was raising hell getting into everything in the barn lol. Luckily a handful of grain later and I was walking him over to the big house to be identified and returned to his proper place.

playing so hard in the muddy maryland jungle

From which .... naturally.... he escaped again moments later when the evening feeder turned her back on him for one second lol. Rotten ponies!

it's not hard to pretend we're out in some mystical wilderness. can't you just imagine the unicorn horn?!

You better believe tho that I gave the whole "Finders Keepers" thing my best shot tho lol. Like, c'mon, "you become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed," right????  Unfortunately the farm owner didn't see things my way and I did not get to keep my newfound pony.... Oh well!

omg this guy too tho... omg

That's ok tho. I can still get my fix lol! Like there's a little pasture on the walk down to Charlie's ancient bank barn that has always housed the two little Shetland stallions on the farm. This past winter tho, they renovated the nearby outbuildings and the studs had to be relocated.

he has a lot of personality lol

FINALLY tho, they're back!!!

muddy little beasty!!

These two little hell raisers are maybe my favorite residents on the farm. I mean. First off, they have epic hair.

his hair tho. omg his hair. look at that mane!!! and he's soooooooo dirty in the rain!! yes they have run in sheds, but no they most certainly don't care when there's so much mud to play and roll around in!

Secondly, they're always getting up to something. Usually teasing the small children who are always wandering up and down the driveway haha.

see earlier comment about it being a miracle that i still have ten fingers lol

I think the brown one is my favorite bc he makes these amazing little whuffle-y noises when you walk up to him. He's the beta of this dynamic duo, so he's always trying to get your attention but quietly enough so that the alpha black stallion doesn't hear him too haha.

meanwhile, in quieter waters....

They're both just so seriously cute tho, lol. And like.... After working all day, then driving 45min through rush hour highway traffic, it's the absolute perfect antidote to step out of my car and be immediately greeted by these two amazing little Shetlands haha.

just charlie, chillin in the cross ties with his little birdie friend

Just another reason why the farm is such a special place to be haha. Bc who doesn't love being surrounded by little ponies?!?