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72 SIDELINES JULY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE S E C O N D C H A N C E S

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

By Lauren R. Giannini

Strawberry Kid has earned the affection and respect of many people in the show world. She isn’t a fancy mover and she won’t win any beauty contests, but this small pony is all heart and the quintessential schoolmaster for young riders. She’s still winning classes and earning tri-colors on the Florida circuit, to boot. Like any good pony, she puts new meaning into hand-me-downs.

“We’d been looking for a pony for Hardin, and every pony we got did not suit,” recalls Lisa Towell. “Jack and I had seen her out hunting with Camden – that’s how we knew her. The people who owned her were going through a divorce and the pony was living in a feld with other horses. She had to fend for herself and wasn’t doing very well. I got her for $1500.” Back then all of the Towells’ ponies had a “Kid” name – Kid Brother, Kid Sister, For Kid’s Sake. This one became Strawberry Kid. They took her home, put some groceries in her – she could get quite territorial at feeding time – and gave her to their youngest son, who was six. “Hardin just started riding Strawberry,” recalls Lisa. “We must have gotten 100 ponies for him and they would throw him off or run out. Then we got her and from day one I put Hardin on her and he just jumped the course. She has such a big stride and such a good jump. Hardin’s 23 now and he’s a really good rider, a wonderful hunter rider, champion at all the indoor shows, world champion hunter rider in the juniors. He does jumpers now, has won seven or eight

grand prix. I totally contribute so much of his success today to that pony.”

Strawberry didn’t do lead changes when she arrived at the Towells. She usually landed on the lead they wanted, but if she didn’t, they didn’t get the change. Hardin learned how to get changes by teaching the pony to swap her leads. “Strawberry was grand pony champion at the Charleston Classic, which is a really big deal,” says Lisa. “She would jump anything. She was always quiet. When Hardin was eight, we went to the Capitol Challenge and one day he got two 89s and he was champion in small ponies. She’s not fancy, although she’s a great jumper. She has a horse’s head and little short legs. We got her out of nowhere and went on with her. We leased her and ended up selling her. We wish we had kept her.”

Chris and Angie Paradysz have been leasing the pony for their nine-year-old son Nico from the Montross family who live in Connecticut. They live in New York and Florida, and they simply love Strawberry Kid. “Nico started winning right away,” says Angie. “He won his frst classic on Berry in Vermont in 2009. In 2010 at Lake Placid they were champion one weekend and reserve champion the next. He won the 2011 WEF championship – overall small children’s division – for the year. Berry is a very special pony. It will be hard to give her up. You just fall in love with her.” Chris considers the pony a legend. “We have others

in our barn that qualify for this status – Believe in Magic, Elite Storm Front – but Berry is a one-of-a-kind creature that defnes what makes horses and ponies extraordinary.  She has an innate sense of who she is and allows kids the freedom to express themselves through her.  In fact, she demands it.  While never a diva, she makes it clear that she expects the kids to ride her like the exceptional animal she is.”

Trainer Jennifer Bliss had Strawberry Kid about six years ago for her sister Sophie to do small pony hunters. “I knew Berry when Hardin had her – she was such a wonderful pony,” says Jenn. “I told my mother to wire the money – we got her sight unseen. She’s such a confdence builder. The Montrosses bought her for Nina, as her frst pony, and they did short stirrup and children’s. She’s just an amazing pony, so trustworthy, such a trier. Pretty is as pretty does. She’s not a beauty queen, but once you get to know her she’s the most beautiful pony in the world. I wish we had more Berrys around. They’re hard to fnd.”

Harking back to the Towells, they tell stories about Strawberry Kid in the hunt feld. One particular anecdote underlines the pony’s incredible temperament. They were out with Camden Hunt, and Strawberry’s bit got caught in the tail of the horse that Jack was riding. The pony just kept going sweetly even though the horse was dragging her along. “It’s kind of ftting that a little boy started her and a little boy has her now,” says Lisa. “I’m sorry we ever sold her. We should have kept her. I’d love to have her back for my grandchild.”

Nico Paradysz, the latest in Strawberry Kid’s “stable” of young riders, shows her in small hunters and trail rides her around the family farm. The pony is worth her weight several times over in gold for being trustworthy and honest. She’s about 23 now, like her frst show rider, Hardin Towell: May she continue for many more years as the quintessential schoolmaster hunter pony.

Photo Courtesy of the Paradysz Family