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!

Loafers Lodge Piglet

Very regretfully outgrown and offered for sale

 Loafers Lodge Piglet ~ perfect first pony!

12.2 hh reg Welsh gelding, foaled May 22,2006

Fabulous show pony, fox hunter, pony club or eventer with much potential to show at a higher level.

We bought Piglet when he was not yet 5 years old for our just turned 7 yo daughter.

We were on a tight budget so contacted breeders for green prospects.

Loafer's Lodge Piglet is by Fox Cry Whinny The Pooh.

photo by Cappy Jackson

Loafer's Lodge is widely known for producing ponies of the highest quality and we fell in love with them and their ponies, buying two at once.

It worked out better than we could have dreamed!

I'm an event rider/trainer so my kids have always done a lot of cross country riding and fewer horse shows. I have never worried about Sarah on Piggy, even in his younger days when he'd throw in an occasional buck. He's always been kind and honest for her.  

Below is a picture taken 4 months after we bought the ponies. We rode on a large hunt club trail ride ~ Piggy was perfect. He w/t/c and forded creeks quietly!

(My son was 4, turning 5 here and neither pony needed a lead line!)

Piggy has done numerous x-country schools and is always calm and brave!

This was 5 yo Piggy and 7 yo Sarah's first time out x-country, going with grown students.

He is a talented jumper and never refuses. We're hoping to try a few events or jumper shows soon before he sells.

 My kids are hoping to try hunt teams and pony racing next, thanks to the courage the Loafer's Lodge ponies have given them.

Piglet is a lovely mover with a big stride and would be a great dressage prospect too.

Piglet has grown to be a very settled and sweet pony who we trust and use for occasional lessons with 4 & 5 y.o.s
He is accustomed to farm equipment, goats, chickens, bikes and all manner or chaos - he even allows the cats to ride him!

Piglet is an amazing fox hunter 

Piglet was third in the Jr North American Field Hunters Championship hilltoppers 2014

(he qualified at his very first hunt out alone in VA)

Bull Run Hunt

Green Spring

EHHC

Piglet and Sarah went out alone with the bigger ponies in first flight, jumping big coops at Blue Ridge Hunt!

Afterwards they were interviewed by Covertside :-)

Junior day with Goshen 

Piggy has been invited to help whip-in and, of course, always behaves.

Carrollton Hounds

Piglet has done many hunter paces and loves them.

Most recently he has led my two kids alone, galloping, jumping and slowing in a rubber mullenmouth.

Sarah n Jack were CHAMPIONS of the SERIES in their division!

Piglet is a kids best friend and FUN PONY and has been in several Christmas parades and Halloween costume parties!

2014 Lisbon Parade 

2012 parade

He keeps adding to his resume (and fun quotient) and just ran his first pony race!

photo generously provided by the talented Robert Keller

But he's always sane n often ridden round our farm bareback, boldly tackling whatever he's asked or just puttering around. 

We have very little video but lots of happy memories of our family time with Piglet.

Piglet has been a very easy pony to keep. Always healthy and sound, easy for kids to handle, load, shoe, clip etc. 

Loafer's Lodge Piglet is much loved and will be dearly missed.

He will only be sold to a home approved by his bff!

Thanks for your interest

Please contact Leslie Deering via info@GlendevonStables.com

or call or text 301-706-4642

for further information

(we live on a farm with poor cell service so if we didn't reply promptly, we probably didn't get the message. 

Sorry! Please try again)