Senior Horse Tales
Western Region Winner

Pegasu
Owned by Marianne Rose
Los Gatos, California

Age: 32
Breed: Draft Cross

25 years ago Pegasus, a 14.3 hh Quarter Horse/Draft gelding, came to Garrod Farms (a big boarding and rental stable in Saratoga, California). He was quickly pressed into service as a vaulting horse because of his stocky build. He has been ridden down the aisle for a wedding and ridden in a local movie shoot by the star – because he is so reliable. One day as I was setting up for practice, I glanced over to see how the hoof picking was going. One child was picking his right fore hoof and another was happily picking his left rear hoof. Pegasus looked a little chagrined but he stood firm (on two legs)! Our team performed at a local pet expo at which there seemed to be an unusual amount of small, very yappy dogs but Pegasus ignored them - as expected. Then we discovered that we would be demonstrating about 15 feet away from a live, ear-flapping elephant! Peg was relaxed and paid the elephant no more mind than the little dogs. In the 20 years of his vaulting service Peg has carried 3,000 to 5,000 different vaulters from recreational programs, handicapped programs and approximately 30 vaulting clubs in hundreds of shows and thousands of practices. Megan Benjamin newest World Vaulting Champion at the World Games in Germany started on Pegasus. At 30 years plus, Pegasus lives in well-deserved retirement with a host of chickens, cats, sheep and horses. He was my coaching partner. He was the one who gave the kids confidence. He was really the teacher.