Giddy Up Pony Camp

"My Equine Friends"

By: Amanda Currie-Poirier

Troubadour

Troubadour is my Appaloosa Sport Horse and children's best friend. He has been with me for 11 years and he is my pride and joy.

Let me start at the beginning. Troubadour is a Snowflake Appaloosa, and he belonged to a wonderful woman in Murray Harbour, PEI. When she became unwell and couldn't care for him she made the very brave and heartbreaking  decision to give him away and she chose me as his new owner. We shared many tears those first few days. I was honoured. Shannon had raised Troubadour from a foal and he was 14 when he came to live at Giddy Up Acres.

Troubadour and I have gone on to win trophy after trophy for his barrel racing and pole bending. I retired him from the gaming circuit last year but he is much sought after as a ride at pony camp. He is amazing - he can go from zero to sixty in a flash yet when I put a child on him he settles down as if he knows he has precious cargo that cannot handle speed. The young riders all love his gentle spirit and his willing ways.

Troubadour will be 25 this year. He is so old now that his spots are almost no longer visible. He's a real gentleman.

Casper

Casper is my western show horse. He is a registered quarterhorse gelding.

In the summer of 2008 we took the Novice Senior Rider Championship at Old Home Week in Charlottetown and we also took Novice Senior Rider of the year for 2008.

Like Troubadour, he is completely safe for children and seems to know that children require extra care and patience. He is totally bombproof.

I often use Casper as my vaulting horse. He is willing to keep a constant speed and is not phased by blundering attempts to get on his back from a running start or to have people perform acrobatics on his back.

Simba

Simba is a shy, pudgy, sweet-natured little pony who loves to please. He is a favourite with pony campers of all ages. I call him my little ice-breaker because he is usually the first pony the younger pony campers want to see. He is very popular because he is so small compared to most of the other ponies and horses and of course he laps up all the attention he can get.

Keeray

Keeray means beautiful in Japanese and was named by, Yuki, one of our ESL riders from Japan. This pony is what I call one of my up-and-comers as she is very eye-catching and pretty with her dapples and flaxen mane and tail. She absolutely loves to jump crossrails with the young riders. She also adores being hugged, kissed and brushed. Keeray, however, is a little escape artist and you can often find me chasing her around the yard. I'm sure her little pony brain is thinking "Ha! Ha! You can't catch me! " Hmmm, maybe "Keeray" in Japanese actually means "Catch me if you can".

Roy

Roy makes show horse riding look easy. He is a dead-quiet QH/Belgian cross who genuinely likes people and tries to please. Roy belongs to my best friend Ambyr who has graciously loaned him to me for pony camp. At the end of pony camp Roy returns to Ambyr and her two llamas, three dogs, six other horses and 200 sheep.

Hero

Also know as The Biscuit, is a 3/4 Arabian/QH cross. He was given to me by my friend Ambyr. Actually, we traded horses. I gave her my registered Standardbred, Darius. Hero was Ambyr's mother's horse and unfortunately Ambyr's mum died of cancer when Hero was three months old and she never got to see what a wonderful, willing little horse he turned out to be. I know she would be so proud of him. Since I retired Troubadour, I use Hero mainly for barrel racing and pole bending. Like Troubadour, Hero is exceptionally quiet around children.

Dixie (photo coming soon)

This little black beauty is a registered breeding stock paint mare. She is owned by a student of mine who lives in Montreal and summers on the island. Dixie, like Black Beauty, is a lovely quiet horse with a very willing attitude. Nothing makes her day like being fussed over.

West River Joe

Joe is my personal registered paint. He is so quiet and will be a new addition to the pony camp this year. I absolutely adore this horse and I have very high hopes for him. I put him right up there in my heart alongside Troubadour.

Lotto (photo coming soon)

This beautiful gelding is a new addition to my herd. He is a western pleasure show horse registered as HEZ Radically Zipped but we call him Lotto. Lotto is very quiet and always willing to please and do what he is told. I have high hopes for this horse as a lesson horse and as a show horse. I know that everyone will love him and really enjoy riding him.

Jake

Jake is my mum's pony. Don't let his chubby looks fool you because he loves to jump.  He is well mannered and loves attention. Sometimes he is too curious for his own good and has to have his little nose in everyone else's business. He and Casper are the best of friends.