MY THRILLER | 19-YEAR-OLD PAINT PONY GELDING | GEORGETOWN,KY

My Thriller, known as “Thriller” around the barn, is a 19-year-old pony. Thriller was a stock yard pony-turned-show horse, and his past and family tree are something of a mystery to his people.

Thriller is now semi-retired and lives at Herbener Farm, where he is the perfect family pony for Heather’s family. “I think it is safe to say he is enjoying the pampered retired life after having a very successful life as a hunter pony,” Heather said.

Thriller has earned his retirement. He was purchased in July of 2000 as a 2-year-old from the Richmond Stockyards in Richmond, Kentucky. Cindy of nearby Fox Run Farm found young Thriller at the auction. He was underweight, suffering from strangles, and had a maggot-infested cut across his chest. Cindy remembers the name on his Coggins form was “Little Dummy” and remembers, “Time would make a mockery of that name…nothing could have been further from the truth.”

Cindy is a longtime horsewoman who has lots of experience rescuing and rehabilitating horses. She brought Thriller home and enlisted her son and daughter to help nurse him back to health and give him basic skills.

“We knew that he was a once in a lifetime pony,” Cindy remembered. “Literally thousands of ponies have come through our farm over the years, but this pony gave me goosebumps. I knew I was witnessing a pony that would someday be considered as remarkable by many.”

Thriller went to his first show with Cindy’s daughter when he was three, and Cindy made the decision to sell him so he could continue his career.  “We found it so hard to part with this one. He is just so special,” she said.

Thriller continued his show career with wins at Pony Finals, Devon, HITS, and more. He was named zone champion multiple times and was ranked high in year-end standings for Nationals.

When Thriller grew older and he needed to retire, his owner contacted Cindy and suggested he might return to her farm. Unfortunately, he was in rough shape when he arrived.

“Thriller needed to be on medication daily and needed a major surgery due to a large mass growing in his head. He could not even breathe out of his left nostril,” she said. “I contacted each previous owner, but no one stepped up to help. One did send a small token on a gift card and a roll of mints. I loved this pony, so he received his needed surgery. He recovered well and loved being my trail riding partner once again, even jumping a few small fences!”

For now, Thriller is a riding partner for Heather and her children but Cindy says he can always come back to her if he needs to.

“He has won the lottery and lives on a wonderful farm surrounded by knowledgeable, loving horse people,” she said. “Thriller couldn’t be in a better place and has a job for life. But if circumstances ever change, he always has a second home almost next door. I know how happy this pony is because when I visit, he knows me and appreciates me, but it is his new family that he watches with loving eyes.”