H  Kelsey Dorka, 12, of Chardon, a more experienced rider, demonstrates her confidence with a pretty smile.

Jess Nicholl, 11, of Willoughby manages a little smile.

At age 2 ½ Maria DiCello of Kirtland was one of the most fearless riders.

Olivia Campbell of Huntsburg wants to get this thing right.

Searra Hough joins her older sister Savannah for an obviously wonderful time.

Savannah Hough is all confidence.

Allie Sipos of Mayfield studies the situation carefully.

Brian Depner, 6, of Munson takes several loops around the parking lot.

Brittany Friedel of Hamden is all smiles as she learns how to hold the reins properly.

Tom Somrack of Newbury explained that he is a student at Notre Dame School.

Heather Sethman helps her brother Noah enjoy the ride at TSC Shopping Mall.

An unidentified man with his young daughter admires WIW Perfect Alen, aka Big Al, a flashy pinto Tennessee Walking Horse colt.

TAKING HORSES TO THE PEOPLE OF CHARDON, OHIO
By Diane Jones
Windt im Wald Farm
Auburn Township, Ohio 44023
http://www.wiwfarm.com

On Saturday, September 25, 2004, my husband Tom and I trailered two very clean horses from Windt im Wald Farm in Auburn Township to the Tractor Supply shopping plaza in downtown Chardon. Tractor Supply Company’s Frank Seiden and Kelly Rischar had invited us to give free “pony” rides and a possible horse demonstration. In our trailer were Supreme Tsamaz, our bay ¾ Arabian mare, and WIW Perfect Alen, a 4-½ month-old stunning black and white pinto Tennessee Walking Horse colt. Arriving at the shopping center at 10:45 AM, we were delighted to find a 12’ x 12’ round pen in the middle of the parking lot. There were people already engaged in some lawn mower races, lots of car and motorcycle traffic, and even a few backfires. In short, there was plenty of activity to upset a horse that has never been trailered from its quiet pasture.

The distractions did not bother us, however, because we value the opportunities to make our horses spook-proof and rider-safe under any circumstances. We unloaded the two horses quietly and put WIW Perfect Alen, aka Big Al, in the square pen with some sawdust and hay and immediately swung up on Tsammie, who is used to all kinds of distractions, including loud motorcycles that have come within a foot of her without upsetting her. Tom and I took turns riding her through the parking lot, amidst the lawn equipment, the parked cars, the motorcycles, and the activity. She was as perfectly unruffled as we had expected when we accepted the offer to come. Onlookers, customers, and occupants of cars immediately spotted us. Cameras suddenly appeared from car windows as the occupants gawked, their expressions asking,” Hey, what are these horses doing HERE?”

It was not very long before hordes of curious parents and children began gathering in front of our square pen. If Tsammie had not wooed them, then the dazzling Big Al, ever the Public Relations representative for visitors to Windt im Wald Farm, certainly had. As they petted him, he munched unconcernedly at Tsammie’s hay. Finally, in the pen once more, Tsammie could tolerate Big Al’s audacity no longer and quickly put her ears back at him. Big Al got her message and withdrew to his own pile of hay while several children wondered aloud if they might be allowed to ride him.

Once they learned that Big Al would not be QUITE big enough to give rides for about another year and one-half, they quickly decided that Tsammie, who was wearing a saddle, would be a very acceptable alternative. Although at least one little one changed her mind about the opportunity to ride Tsammie, the others were all smiles and anticipation as they were either lifted into the saddle or managed to climb aboard with little or no help. They ranged in age from a bold 2-½ year old with a beautiful grin to an obviously delighted college student, who confessed how much she had always wanted to ride a horse. A few siblings argued about which one should go first, so we let them ride together, and they were perfectly pleased with each other’s close proximity; the ride was simply too much fun to argue about!

So many people offered to pay for the rides and were astounded to learn that they were free—almost. The condition for getting the ride was that we be allowed to take the child’s picture on Tsammie and to have the child’s name published at our website. Not one parent objected to the “price” and in fact all seemed pleased to know that they would be on the Internet. Our Tsammie had little time to eat the hay that she had forbidden Big Al. She gave ride after ride from 11:00AM - 2:30 PM without even a bridle or bit in her mouth because that is the way we have trained her. She wore only a special noseband called a bosal with two reins clipped to it. She responded beautifully to her young riders’ polite directions to turn left and right, whoa, and go.

Most of the parents we encountered were young Chardon residents who were thrilled to be able to provide their children a close-up experience with a real-live horse. They were equally pleased to know that we breed, raise, and train our own horses and never sell a horse into an unwholesome situation. They seemed excited to learn that we offer summer camps for young children aged 6-16 and pony parties to families within a 50-mile radius from our farm. Most importantly, they were perfectly enchanted with Tsammie, little bigger than a Welsh pony at 14.2 hands. If they had marveled over Big Al’s stunning beauty, they were won over by Tsammie’s big soft, liquid eye, her quiet
 demeanor and respect for her young riders, and her lustrous coat. Nevertheless, when we mentioned that she was an Arabian, we could see their eyebrows raise in astonishment. Even in the heart of Chardon, people perceive that an Arabian horse is fiery and user-unfriendly. Giving out free coloring pictures of horses for the kids, we were pleased to demonstrate that Tsammie, like many of today’s Arabian horses, is used for everything from contesting to summer camp to pony parties to trail rides. She even helps us break in the very young horses that we take on trail rides to give them confidence in crossing water and not panicking at new, unusual sights, like wild deer or loose dogs. Tsammie does everything we and anyone else have ever asked of her. She is always a perfect ambassadress for her breed and for Windt im Wald Farm.

This is not the first time we have taken horses to people who might not otherwise get to visit with them up-close. We had a wonderful time, as we always do. When TSC’s Frank told us we have a standing invitation to bring horses to the people who come to the shopping mall, we were undoubtedly honored. There is no doubt that we will bring Tsammie and at least one of her pinto or Arabian stallmates from Windt im Wald Farm again to the appreciative folks of Chardon, Ohio.

Thanks for your overwhelming support, and look for us in the near future!

Alexandra Zver of Chardon is very intent.

College student, Anna Bileci of Hamden, needs no words to express her delight.

Michael Depner, 11, of Munson sits well in the saddle.

Isaiah Cad of Munson gets a long ride.

Heather Sethman of Chardon enjoys her ride aboard Tsammie.