It was an abrupt entrance, but “Zen” is now a graceful presence in our lives.

Welcome to the world, little girl! (Note the white circles around her eyes. That's how we knew she would eventually be gray.)

Sleeping in a room full of people, I had my cell phone set on silent. When I roused at 6 a.m. and saw about a dozen missed calls, well, let’s just say that I very quickly became fully awake.

It was April 2006, and I was attending a young-horse handling class led by AQHA Professional Horseman Brent Graef, staying in the bunkhouse with other students. And now, all of a sudden, I had a very young – as in hours-old – horse of my own to tend to.

My husband was the one on baby-watch, but we had bought our mare already bred, and it was a pasture breeding, so no one knew exactly when the baby was due. Not that you ever do, but this one was more nebulous than usual. Before leaving for a week, I left Hubby with very specific instructions: Watch for the bag to fill, watch for wax or milk beading on the teats, watch to see if her hind-end muscles start to relax – all the usual warning signs. He swore he saw nothing – until the dog started nonstop yapping about 4 a.m.

Then, bleary-eyed, Hubby looked out the window and saw that the neighbor’s pony had gotten out (again), and this time, it had gotten into our mare’s run and was standing by her side. That made sense at 4 a.m. At some point, maybe after he rubbed his eyes a few more times, he realized: that wasn’t a pony; it was a baby. And the phone calls began.

Thankfully, mom and foal were perfectly healthy. This was ”Sooner’s” third foal, and she was a pro. I called my vet out to check the placenta, administer a few shots and just generally check things out. He pulled in just moments before I did – so the vet actually got to see the baby before I did. Hubby came out in his pajamas and was relieved to see that everything was going according to Mother Nature’s plan.

Back at class later, the other students helped me come up with a barn name for the little filly. I wanted something with a positive connotation – something that captured the joy we felt when she popped into our lives and a name that gave her something to live up to. Things like “Buck” and “Rascal” were definitely out. We mulled over “Faith,” “Hope” and similar offerings. I think it was C.J., a student who had come all the way from England, who suggested “Zen.” Bingo! We had a winner!

Zen quickly grew into the world’s goofiest baby, and I wondered if I had inadvertantly cursed her. (You’ve heard of big guys named Tiny? This was the hyperactive maniac named Zen.) Thankfully, she grew out of that phase, and when I halter-started her (with the lessons I’d learned in Brent’s young-horse class), she was a dream to work with – easygoing and sweet-natured.

Zen last summer, showing off her slick rose-gray coat. Right now, she's still cute - but much fuzzier.

She’s now 3 (although her birthday isn’t until April 6, AQHA considers all horses to gain a year on January 1), and it’s time to start her under saddle. She takes life in stride, and she likes to watch me ride Junior. I bet that with slow and gentle lessons, she’ll follow right in his footsteps.

Her sire is a to-die-for gray son of Larks Smokey Berry named Lark A Rock. When we were considering buying the mare bred to him, we went to see him, and I actually got to ride him for a bit. He was calm, sensible and had cannon bones like concrete pillars. Even better, he was a grandson of Rugged Lark, a two-time AQHA Superhorse who had personality plus. I consider myself his No. 1 fan … and I know he passes on his disposition and ability. So far, so good with Zen.

Her mother is Smokin Lady Peppy, who goes back to Mr Gunsmoke, Peppy San and world champion cutting horse Senor George. I have since sold the mare to a friend of a friend, who fell in love with her good looks and saucy personality. She lives just a few miles from me, and I see her in the pasture from time to time, enjoying her new job as ruler of the roost.

So what’s in store for Zen? Time will tell, but plans right now are for her to be a champion trail horse (that would be trail riding, not the trail class!) who dabbles in ranch sorting or team penning. She’s for having fun on, and I’m positive we’ll accomplish that goal.

If you can’t tell, I’m pretty proud of my little girl already – before she has ever accomplished a thing. I’m betting many of you feel the same way about your ponies. So here’s your chance! Use the comment function below to introduce your own superstars … we’d love to meet them!

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

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