Daisy Gerl

Poor ole Daisy Gerl. The fall of 2001 we found her at a local stable, where I inquired about her after seeing an ad on Equine.com. She was practially unhandle-able, uncatchable and a nervous wreck. I actually had to reset my appointment and come back another day because they simply could not catch her. She flapped her lips, trembled in her stall, and bolted off as soon as a rider climbed aboard. "No thanks, not for my 8 year old son". And that was the end of that... until the following spring when I ran across her ad again.

Purchased her for $300.00.

She loaded fine despite STILL being terrified. Got her home, she went through my desensitizing course; tires, bridge, tarp etc. No problem. Let her loose in the barn yard, and I did not catch her again for about 6 weeks.

But we've come a long long way. Though not a 'pleasure' ride (she has a lot of self defense evasions that blocked her from ever trusting the leg or hand completely), Zak took her to a few Pony Club events and a few local shows, hunter paces and even camping.

She has turned in to a trail pony extraordinaire! At the age of 13 and nearly out growing her, my son STILL rides her bareback in a halter on the trails. Nothing but people seemed to ever bother her. But she has warmed up.

She has produced 2 full sisters for us. She is a WONDERFUL mother - so much so she stole one mum's foal (who didn't seem to mind) and then took him on when he was orphaned at 2 months old - nursing him and her own 3 month old. She is really attentive, nurturing and careful with her foals - more so than any other mare I've had foal out here. And her fillies are not 'that bad' looking, considering we have no idea WHAT Daisy really is.

Daisy is 22 this year, and we have opted to breed her to a local 12H homozygeous Pinto Shetland Stallion, WF Action Jackson, of LP Painted Ponys in Lillington. AJ has produced MANY ponies from several different types of mares.

Considering how both her full sibling fillies have well out grown her, and that the oldest has nearly reached her sires height at 2 years of age - I hope this next Daisy foal will be about her own height, 13 or so hands. This foal will be double registerable, 1/2 Shetland registry (National Riding Pony) and in the pony division of the Pinto registry.

Zak with Daisy and first foal Rose - May 2004

Zak with Daisy and Anna - September of 2005