RIP Miss Pearly Whirl

Quite possibly one of my most favorite horses to have touched my life has died. Below is a dedication letter sent to the Horse's Maine, by Sandy Welsh of Puckerbrush Farm, where Pearl lived as a vaulting and a riding horse! Although she was as drafty as they come she did very well in Dressage, during her very short time as a Dressage Queen :) "Pink was her favorite color" and she looked absolutely fabulous in it. I'll miss my "Miss Pearly Whirl" very much, and I'll always remember her large, but very cute face.
Kim~

It is with great sadness that we pass along the news that on July 12 we lost our girl, Pearl. As many of you know, Pearl was the best vaulting horse we had ever had the pleasure of knowing. She taught many children and adults balance, horsemanship, patience and compassion.

She was fondly known as "Pearly whirl" or "Pearl the girl" and could be seen decked out in her bright pink ribbons and polos. She adored the children fussing around her but would let us all know when someone exceeded her weight limit by tossing in some bucks. She thought she was our princess and work was below her station in life. But then she would perform her slow, steady, smooth trot and allow even the smallest of children to practice their vaulting moves on her and she would glow with pride.

During the winter of 2005-06, the University of Maine Dressage Club decided that Pearl should learn to be ridden as well as vaulting. Kim Townsend brought her along to be shown in some of our schooling shows earning a score of 68% in an Intro B test with Laura Walters riding! Her canter work was coming along as well and she was ridden by several of the young lesson students at Puckerbrush.

Going back to January of 2005, we give many thanks to Curt and Lisa Bonney of Turner for allowing Pearl to come and live at Puckerbrush. She had lived with them throughout her life, allowing their children to climb under, over and on top of her. She had one foal out of a Morgan stallion and was a great mom. They heard that Puckerbrush was looking for a new vaulting partner and contacted us to come visit them. Pearl had been a 'pasture pony' for many years but we thought she had the temperament to work with us.

Pearl was only with us for a year and a half but she was a part of so many lives. When someone loses their horse, its a sad event for the individual. Unfortunately, the whole horse world in Maine is suffering a great loss as she had taught hundreds of people vaulting and riding.