SOLEBURY  HOUSE PUBLISHING, LLC
Presents
Just A Peanut
By
Helen Gibbs Pohlot

“Just a Peanut” was a spunky little Shetland pony with an attitude. He was as cute as a button and he knew it.

His owner Sue, an award-winning trainer, told everyone that Peanut was an adorable “brat”. He was often difficult around adults but great with children, especially a three-and-a-half-year-old named BR, short for Bruce who was very generous bringing him carrots.

Once a week BR arrived for a riding lesson accompanied by his mom Jenny who wanted her son to experience the joy of learning to ride.  In the back of her mind, she hoped BR would someday be good enough to compete.

Despite his young age, BR showed remarkable ability in just a few lessons.  BR and Peanut were a perfect match. Sue and Jenny were very pleased with their progress.

Jenny talked it over with Sue, who didn’t much like the idea of trailering Peanut three to four hours away.  Jenny understood. Peanut was Sue’s pony. She knew best.

“Let me think about this for a few days,” Sue told Jenny after BR’s lesson.

Jenny was slightly hopeful.

During the week Sue called, giving the unexpected go-ahead for Devon. Jenny agreed to cover the expenses and register for the event.

With the show just three months away, Jenny stepped up BR’s lessons to twice a week in preparation. They visited several tack shops to find the perfect outfit in keeping with the traditions at Devon.

One month before the show, BR was ready. Only a few lessons remained to practice for the show.

It was in the early afternoon when BR and Jenny arrived at Sue’s farm. BR as usual had a handful of carrots for Peanut. When they arrived, Jenny pulled her car next to Sue’s large barn.  BR and Jenny got out of the car, walked to the barn door, and froze in complete disbelief.

“Mommy,” BR screamed, “Peanut doesn’t have any hair.”

“Oh my God, a bald pony,” Jenny cried out loud. “Sue, what happened?”

Not only was Peanut shaved, his beautiful blond mane was cut close to his head, roached.  Peanut looked awful, skinny, and bald, nothing like the adorable little Shetland pony they saw just two days before.

“I shave Peanut every year at this time. It keeps him cool in the summer, and his coat grows back beautifully,” Sue said.

“But what about the Devon Horse Show,” Jenny asked.  “We can’t take Peanut down there looking like this.”

“We can braid some hair into the mane if you want,” Sue explained.

“A hairpiece… a wig for a pony, are you kidding me? No way,” said Jenny, who was beyond consolation.

Jenny could not believe it. A bald pony would look ridiculous at Devon, she knew it. At that point Jenny had two choices: either get another pony or give up on the show.

Sue felt badly.  She didn’t realize the magnitude of the trip to Devon. Shaving Peanut was just something she did every year.

Jenny and BR went in desperate search for another pony.  Jenny scanned local papers and ads.

Finally, she located a pony about an hour away.

As soon as they walked into the barn, Jenny quickly turned around to leave. The eyes of the pony were wild. This was not the quiet, calm family pet advertised. Given the chance, this crazy pony would have broken free and galloped out of the barn, trampling Jenny and BR.

The search for a pony ended abruptly. Jenny recognized defeat.  Finding another pony was not the solution.

“This horse show idea is not meant to be.  It is time to give it up,” Jenny said, utterly disappointed.  BR was disappointed as well. He told everyone that he and Peanut were going to win.

A few days later, Sue called with news of a local Four H horse show.  It was a competitive leadline class for young riders. Jenny jumped at the opportunity. BR got excited.

“You already have a complete riding suit that you might as well wear because by the time Peanut’s hair grows back, the suit will be too small,” Jenny told BR who laughed every time he thought of Peanut with no hair.

It was a beautiful Saturday morning on the day of the show. Young riders on different-size horses walked into the ring along with their handler. Peanut looked pathetically small and skinny next to the other horses, but the little bald pony and BR had everyone’s attention.

The horse is not rated in the leadline class. During a walk and trot, the riding child is judged on their equitation, to see proper seat, poise, hand, head, and leg position.

BR looked incredible atop Peanut. He leaned down and whispered in Peanut’s ear, “I want us to win.”

With Sue as the handler, Peanut and BR trotted and walked around the ring before the judges.

Jenny and her husband Bruce stood by the fence, filled with pride while snapping pictures.

After the riders completed their presentation, the judges told them to assemble in mid ring. You could barely see Peanut and BR, who looked so small in comparison to the other riders.

The judges began announcing the winners. Fourth, third, and second place walked out to the winner’s area.  By this time, Jenny and Mike were standing on the fence.

“Our first place and the blue ribbon goes to BR Pohlot riding Just a Peanut,” the judge’s voice echoed through the air.  Cheers erupted from the sizable crowd as the four-year-old little boy and bald pony took their rightful place in the winner’s circle.

After they placed the blue ribbon on Peanuts bridle, BR whispered, “Thanks Peanut, I knew we could do it.”