06/01/2020
"Bullseye"
I'll always remember the day I came home to find an unfamiliar pony in the arena, he was absolutely stunning, white with large patches of silver dapples with a gorgeous long white mane & tail.....you still had an auction tag attached to you, a local farmer had bought you from an auction for his kids but you had other ideas, you thought it fun to chase his sheep.
Our granddaughter Shawnee, instantly fell for your good looks & to this day you remain her favourite pony.
It didn't take long before we had you trained well enough to do pony rides. I don't know if it was your unusual markings or your name "Bullseye" but you soon became a favourite with the kids & as the years passed they would ask for you by name at annual events. You soon became a favourite with the girls that worked for us because of your willingness & love of the job, but as we've always told the girls we've employed over the years," There's no such thing as a perfect pony & no such thing as a perfect child & you're working with both", you proved that to be true at the annual football tournament at Ridley College.....when a young boy who was about to mount you boasted to me that he knew how to ride a pony, " Just kick them & they go" hmmmmm, even though I warned him not to, that's exactly what he did.....you took off like a rocket, as you approached a small building you veered to the right leaving the boy on the ground, with a pounding heart I Ickes up the boy & watched horrified as you ran around the football fields, stirrups & lead flapping, it seemed like forever before you actually came to a halt & casually started to munch on the grass. As expected the boy reported " the incident" which was followed by phone calls & discussions, surprisingly we did get called back the following year with one request, " please don't bring Bullseye".
Then came that fateful day in 2016 that you somehow tore the ligament in your right front leg, we tried so many casts, splints & wraps but nothing stopped the leg from bowing outward, we had to lift you by hoist so that our very patient farrier Doug Peacock ( senior) could trim your feet, your courage & tenacity amazed us all.
It was you that consoled Pebbles after the death of her beloved donkeys, mutual grooming with her each day, even though at the end of each session she would turn around & boot you with both back hooves....we could never understand why..... maybe that was her way of saying "Thank you."
We thank you Bullseye, for all the wonderful memories you left with us & the hundreds of smiles that you bought to all the kids faces that had the honour of riding you, you truly were a very special pony, we will never ever forget you.
I know Dusty & Charlie were at those " Pearly Gates" waiting with the biggest pony angel wings, after all, the pony with the biggest heart deserves the biggest pair of wings....Bullseye..... We love you.
R.I.P. You will be missed by all of us at "Pony Dome"
Sue & Leon.....
Thanks again to our very special vet Matt Nugent for always going the extra mile to save an animal, & to Doug Peacock ( senior) for his amazing patience & extra time spent with Bullseye.
