Olney Shetlands make Grand Showing at Maryland Jr. Hunt Cup

Olney Farm jocks, hit the board in first and second place!
   Olney Smarty Pants, with Emmy McGuirk up, just nosed out Olney Mardi Gras, with Ellee Perri in the irons, in the Shetland Flat Race of the Maryland Jr. Hunt Cup, Sunday May 1st, 2011.
Olney Phunny Bones under jockey Hillary Robertson finished fourth.
   Under the watchful eye of trainer Lia McGuirk and accomplished grooms Kelsea Blazek, Becca Westermeyer, Antoinette Eikenberg and Madison Norman, the Olney team of jockeys, McGuirk, Perri, and Robertson, clad in the Olney Farm silks of Blue, White, Gray with white star, completed the field of six, in the 9th race of the day.
    With the drop of the starter's flag, Puck, ridden by Daisy Fenwick took to the front, but was quickly joined by Smarty Pants and Mardi Gras. The three battled neck and neck for most of the quarter-mile race, until Emmy McGuirk urged Smarty Pants across the finish line first, just a neck in front of Mardi Gras & her cousin, Ellee Perri. Daisy Fenwick and Puck finished 3rd.
   At the start, Olney Phunny Bones was content to enjoy the crowd and atmosphere, until he was snapped to attention by jockey Hillary Robertson's "Grrrrrrrr's" and finished 4th, just behind Puck, with a nice late kick.
   Knick-Knack, ridden by Tommy Fenwick and Cricket with Olivia Reynolds, rounded out the field.
   Following the race, the Olney team enjoyed a huge"celebratory cookie" provided by Mr. Raymond Russell...

Top Photos: (right) Ellee on Mardi Gras and groom, Antoinette. (left) Olney silks. Photos by Kate Perri.

Fair Hill Shetland Pony Races

Olney Smartypants and Olney Q.P. (owned by Rumsey and Ryan Keefe) ridden by the Canadian team and Olney Mardigras ridden by Karen O'Connor  to start and Phillip Dutton to finish (both on U.S. WEG Team) and Taffy (owned by Olney boarder, Jessica Napoli), ridden by Buck Davidson and Boyd Martin (also U.S. Team). Click on photo to see the YouTube video.


Boyd Martin on Taffy at the "pro" riders relay race, Fair Hill International.
Photo by Jeff Beshear of Old Dominion Equine and Brickland Farm

About Olney Shetland Ponies

In 1920, Olney Farm started a pony breeding business. Over the years, our Shetland Ponies have been selectively bred for for their hardiness and unflappable temperament....resulting in a wonderful child's first pony.

The Shetland Pony Society of North America has just become organized in order to encourage and promote the breeding and registering of the original Shetland pony type from the British Isles -- Olney ponies are a great example of that!

Rapunzel -- She’s for sale!	Olney Oh My!	Olney Mardi Gras

Headshot photos by Kristin Acampora

Xwinds, aka The Buck, born June 4, 2010. He was born on the day of the strong winds that blew down the big trees (and it is the X year) hence the name Xwinds (Crosswinds), but how do you call him with that name (crossy? Windy?), so he is nicknamed Buck for his versatility in jumping all over the place.

Olney UpziDazi (above) learning to drive.



It's not unusual for a Shetland Pony to live more than thirty years. Olney Butterfly, Olney Gepeto X Medical Hall Collette, (above) is doing very well at 20 years old, and certainly doesn't look her age. She lives on a ranch in Genola, Utah with J.T.'s Touch of Silver, T.J.'s High Steppin X Olney Pansy, who is 18.

Young ponies are still available. We offer breaking and schooling to ride as well as drive for Shetlands - and up!   

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