Brookside Merit

I'm not quite ready to talk about selling our most beloved pony.

We'd love to keep Brookside Merit forever n ever n ever

But

We may be open to leasing her, given our surplus of ponies and her desire to keep in the spotlight with her own little person...

Merit is supremely bred and has herself produced champions before she came to us.

We were not looking for a pony for 4 yo Jack.

We were looking for Sarah!

But the wonderful owners at Loafers Lodge brought her out as an option

(along with darling Piglet)!

They encouraged us to take both home (no deposit, no contract) and try them to pick which suited Sarah best.

To this day I tease they knew exactly what would happen...

We had to have both perfect ponies!

(& yo Sarah w 4 yo Jack, plus friend Morgan on black pony)

Soon after we got her,Jack insisted on joining the Carrollton Hounds LARGE trail ride.

It was his 5th birthday.

He was NOT on a leadline.

Merit carried him safely, even slowly n steadily cantering to keep up.

We were all SMITTEN!

After that came horse shows and hunter paces

and foxhunting.

(out alone with only kids and so safe)

 She took to jumping like a star and won her very first (large) classes!

She made Jack brave across country!

And learning combinations/triples in the ring

I've especially loved the sense of independence Merit has allowed Jack.

He can ride her out galloping through our hayfields or meandering with a little friend through the woods, and I KNOW he'll return safe and thrilled!

 And most importantly, we've had a ton of FUN with Merit!

If we could keep her in the house with us forever, we would!

Jack's very first time asking for canter in the ring (he'd cantered out with us as she kept up but he was unaware)! ;-)

Lucky (& cold) little boy hunting on St Paddy's Day!

Merit has been in 2 Christmas parades, starting when Jack was only 6 (above) and 2 yrs later when it was HUGE and there were hundreds of horses and carriages!

She's also been in several costume parties!

Brookside Merit was 6th at the Jr North American Field Hunters Championships with 8 yo Jack in the Hilltopper division against much older kids!

Jack and Merit's first ever hunt!

"ho hum", says Jack!

We even share Merit when students needed a confidence builder.

First classes/show and first blues for this 7 yo student

Brookside Merit has been the bestest pony we could have ever imagined and created so many amazing family memories for us all!