The Pony Express Equine Assisted Skills for Youth is excited to launch their very first online newsletter. Once a month we will send out noteworthy and newsworthy news to keep you up-to-date on all the horse and pony happenings that are happening both in and out of our equine's field of dreams. This month's newsletter will focus on the relationship that we have with our horses. We will also introduce you to two of our amazing herd members, one of which has two legs (Mariah), and her slightly furry four legged equine partner (Midnight). We also wish to share our (most recent), exciting equine current events (radio show!), and happenings (new barn pad!) that are currently happening with The Pony Express. So read on and through our Pony Express Newsletter and feel free to feed us your (hopefully positive), feedback. Thank you!

With a little (a lot of) help from our friends The Pony Epress will have a brand new pad for our brand new barn. Our new barn pad is being made possible by:

Northern California Enginneering Contracters Association

 President Rodney Sichel/owner of Empire Asphalt and Engineering Company

Past President Gail Cochran owner of RCX general engineering

Dean and Bo Soiland owners of Bodean Company

Tim and Sharon of R&S Trucking

 Thank You!

Tune in to the Rockin' Pony Girls Talk Show on KSRO 1350 this Thursday at 5:20 PM

As the Director of The Pony Express Equine Assisted Skills for Youth, an equine rescue that provides a life skill/leadership program for teens utilizing (rescued) horses as guide and teacher, I have had the opportunity to rehab many a lost equine soul. Our horses (and ponies), come from a variety of homes that may not necessarily be a bad home, just not the right home for that particular animal. What they all have in common is that somewhere along in their equine life line they lost their trust in their human partner. 

 So what does that look like when one talks about losing trust? In a prey animal with a strong flight instinct many times that manifests itself as an animal that has reverted back to basic survival instincts in order to survive what they feel are life threatening circumstances. Perhaps the horse is bucking, bolting, biting, kicking, rearing, striking, all signs and symptoms that all is definitely not well in this horse's world. Step one is to step into rebuilding the relationship between horse and human. First I need to preface this by saying that it takes somewhere between a long time and a lifetime of equine experience to make one experienced enough to tackle this type of equine experience. In other words, novice level riders please don't try this at home. That being said the first task at hand is rebuilding trust in and with an animal that has lost their trust, though not necessarily in you, but for sure in all those who look like you (two legs versus four). 

Webster's Dictionary defines trust as "a firm belief in the honesty and reliability of another." So how does that relate and translate to the relationship that we are attempting to rebuild with our horse? Trust comes from taking risks that result in positive, versus negative results. Your horse has already experience the negative experience so make the goal to make it, and keep it all positive, from beginning to middle to end. Keep it, and them safe, and in doing so you will keep it positive.  Little steps in the right direction that over time will get you where you want to go with your equine partner. Remember it is not the speed but the direction that matters most so make the most of even the least amount of effort made by your equine partner. The difference between training and retraining is one is measured in days, ie quantity (training 30 days, 60 days), the other quality (good time is never wasted time). Best to focus on the quality of the work, not the quantity and you will both get where you want to go in one piece, and as one. 

 Hi, my name is Mariah and I participate in The Pony Express Equine Assisted Skills for Youth Program. I am 14 years old and I am a graduating 8th grader at Rincon Valley Charter School. This is my fourth year and counting of participating in the program and I don't know what I would do without it. Being around horses, friends, and being able to interact with other families and animals is what I love to do-it's what I was born to do. I have a mind set of becoming a veterinarian when I grow up and I am willing to do everything in my power to help me achieve that goal and get into UCDavis. This includes maintaining my 4.0 GPA, continuing to play and practice another of my favortie sports (soccer), and to allow my knowledge with horses, people, and other animals to expand.

In 2011 Midnight was inducted into the Equus Awards Hall of Fame for his commitment to making the days, and the dreams of young aspiring equestrians everywhere come true. Though small in stature, Midnight is mighty big in his ability to bring a smile to any and all of the children that know him by name at the Howarth Park pony corral.

To this day, over a decade later, Midnight can be found each and every day that Howarth Park is open (February through October), alongside the fence line waiting patiently for his next passionate little person to call him out by name. Never one to turn down a carrot or an apple, Midnight is treated to treats that he has earned through a (second) lifetime of a life devoted to making his small charges happily charge in his direction. From taking kids around and around the Howarth Park corral on a pony ride, to teaching them the highlights of horsemanship, Midnight's dedication to serving his youthful masses is nothing short of devotion. A little black, and a lot of pony has finally come home, to his home. And as they say in story books, he lived happily ever after.