Desi

Mi Picture Me — 1987–2013

Brynarian Eiddwen Comet × HyperStar (TB)
Dam of Mi Take My Picture (“Pixie”)
Granddam of Mi Leica

💫 The Beginning of the Fairy Tail

Once upon a time, a young girl dreamed of riding the most amazing horse in the world. She didn’t believe in traditional “fairy tails,” but she did believe that dreams can come true — and that the right horse would someday appear.

One day on her family farm, a beautiful black filly arrived as if written into that dream. From the first moment, she was different — bold, hot, athletic, and incredibly opinionated. She wasn’t difficult to work with (if she liked you), but she had no tolerance for unfairness or foolish behaviour — from horse or human alike.

🐎 The Spirit of a Rebel

Desi learned fast. She was clever, quick, and deeply motivated to please when respected. She enjoyed real work — trail rides, moving cows, exploring open fields — but had no patience for the artifice of the show ring. She never got the memo that her destiny was to be a top show horse; instead, she chose authenticity over performance.

With an inexperienced rider one day, she realized her athleticism gave her options — and she began to use that power wisely. A few seasoned trainers found themselves momentarily airborne, while Desi trotted home laughing to her chosen girl. Fiercely loyal to those she trusted, she remained unshakeably herself with everyone else.

🌸 The Matriarch Emerges

When it became clear that her true magic wasn’t in competition but in connection, Desi was welcomed into the breeding herd. There, her calling unfolded — she became both herd boss and nurturing mother.

Her foals carried her brilliance forward: trainable, athletic, loyal, and full of spirit. Among them was Mi Take My Picture (“Pixie”), a mare of wisdom and quiet intuition. Through Pixie came Mi Leica, Desi’s granddaughter — delicate, fawn-like, and brave — living proof that Desi’s line continues to shine through generations.

Desi’s legacy runs deep: her daughters and granddaughters embody the balance of strength and sensitivity, wildness and grace.

🌾 The Elder Years

A pasture injury slowed Desi’s stride but never dimmed her leadership. For a decade she guided her herd with confidence and humor, her energy steady and unmistakable. In her later years, she became the “wise aunty,” watching over yearlings, correcting manners, and reminding everyone of the old ways.

Her final summer was filled with sunlit pastures and peace. One starry night, she lay down under the open sky and quietly crossed into freedom — on her own terms, as always.

🕊️ The Wisdom She Left Behind

Desi taught her humans as much as she taught her herd:

Be yourself — not everyone is made for a “regular job.”
Never stop being a little wild — it keeps life honest.
Respect yourself and your herd, but never conform to please others.
Hold onto your sense of humor; it’s sacred medicine.
And above all, trust that dreams do come true — sometimes, they arrive with four hooves and a fiery heart.

🌙 Line of Light

Mi Picture Me (“Desi”) → Mi Take My Picture (“Pixie”) → Mi Leica
A matrilineal thread of wisdom, courage, and connection.

Foxy

Horse Profiles, Past Horses, Team

Kelly Acres Gazelle – 1994 Section A Welsh chestnut mare

To telly Foxy’s story, first I will share the story of her mom, Norella Mona. Mona came to the farm with my cousin who acquired her while doing farrier work. This fancy little mare had been meant to be a kids pony but had a nasty bolting issue. So Kelly brought her home and I was forbidden from working with her by myself as she was deemed dangerous. So I would go to the barn when everyone was busy and spend time with her, eventually taking her out and “training” her to lunge. At age 8 I had already been starting youngsters for a few years, but always with supervision. I wanted to prove that Mona wasn’t dangerous, I could get through to her by being gentle instead of forceful, and that I could do it by myself.

So having never had an official lesson, I learned by watching other horsepeople at shows, at other ranches, barns and asked alot of questions (likely being a bit of a pain in the butt). Lungeline on, we ventured out into the old garden behind the shop, and I started her on a small circle walking, increasing it outward and moving to a trot like I had seen the “big trainers” do. Mona was responsive, and seemed to get it really easily. We switched directions a few times, Man she was beautiful. And all was well, until something startled her, and from what I remember, she spooked toward me making the line slack, which caught under my elbow, and then she bolted. I had been taught to not ever let a horse go if I could help it as it would teach them to be hard to catch, so I think with the rope under my elbow and my hand locked, she pulled me off my 8 year old feet, and I hit my head. She ran around the yard several times missing all of the machinery, buildings and other obstacles.

Dad found Mona grazing and me near a tree root that he had been in the process of removing. Apparently I was more than a little damaged, he was sure I was gone. He scooped me up and got me to the house, called Mom who was at grandmas and told her to get home, but didn’t tell her why. I was in a coma for 6 weeks, required many stitches, had a broken jaw and no memory prior to the accident. Fortunately, Mona was still alive, though traumatized. I wanted to continue to learn with her. So now with supervision, we continued to learn. I did show her, and she was driving both single and as a team, but she was always reactive! We later found out that at her prior home, kids had tied a sleigh behind her and when they pulled back on the reins to stop it pulled the sled up to Monas heels causing a runaway, the kids screaming and pulling the sleigh just made it scarier.

In all the time I knew her, she never offered to kick, but her flight reaction was easily activated! She managed to teach me many skills, was an extremely good mom, even helping raise an orphan foal. She passed her beauty, athletic ability, and traumas on to her babies. I learned how to be aware of anything that a horse might deem a threat, how to listen to overwhelm, and how to bandage various injuries and wounds. She was the first horse I remember speaking to me, which she did often, the last time she shared stories (someday I may share them), apologized for injuring me told me we were connected and that she was ready to go, and where to find her. She was close to 30, and walked out to find exactly what she had told me the night before and she was finally at peace.

So back to Foxy, she was Mona’s last baby, and we retained her against Mom’s wishes, I desperately wanted to protect the bloodline. She won under international judges in many breeding classes, was hot and haughty, and liked to pretend she had never seen people before, but once haltered was very sweet. She is a herd matriarch and will live out her days as she chooses.

Comet

Past Horses, Team

Brynarian Eiddwen Comet 1984-July 29 2007

On July 29, 2007, the great Welsh Cob Stallion Brynarian Eiddwen Comet (Llanarth Maldwyn AP Braint x Llanarth Malen) was laid to rest in his paddock under his trees overlooking the riding arena. It marks the end of a great era at Kelly Acres/Cherry Hill Equestrian Centre.

Comet came into our lives in the fall of 1985. We had visited with Tom Davis while on a week long wagon trek, discovered Welsh Cobs after breeding Welsh Ponies since 1966. As it was time for me to move off my Sec A gelding – Kelly Acres Twinkle, we were looking for a special large pony. We found that in Brynarian Nia. Mom and Dad travelled out to BC again in Sept, and while there decided that the gangly, unhandled yearling Comet should make the trip as a future herdsire. The first few months Comet was with us was a real challenge. He was truly afraid of people, and not ready to be civilized yet. However he finally decided that he could tolerate our presence and we soon started to ready him for training. Mom started driving Comet as a 2-year-old, and he loved working! His first career was as a combined driving star. He cleaned up all over Saskatchewan for years as a single driving horse (he was 14.3 ½ HH, so always had to compete as a horse). Mom took him to Ontario for a month in 1991, and the highlight of that trip was highest placing Canadian Single Advanced Horse at the Can Am Driving trials. After that Mom basically only drove occasionally for pleasure. Comet was also broke to ride as a 3-year-old, and was amazing – his extended trot was a work of art! He was however very picky about his riders, and an extremely sensitive horse – hated it when a new rider pushed the wrong buttons! He found dressage very easy, and since we were always up to a challenge, we tried jumping as well – at this he was a rock star! He got me out of some really bad spots that only a young rider can get a horse into. With his amazing work ethic he would always work very well on the flat but he truly came to life when there were jumps in the ring. I remember in 1992 at Spruce Meadows we were invited to do demos for the Welsh, and since we had been working on the flat I hadn’t planned on jumping during the hunter demo. The whole group of breeds was in the ring doing a hunter hack demo, and after doing the rail work, we had the option to take the single 3 foot jump in the middle. As expected, the Warmblood stallion took it with ease. I waited for others to go, but the ground was a bit slick from rain and no one else was going. Finally I thought “well, 3 feet isn’t very big, so what if we haven’t been jumping lately, lets go for it!” I kind of forgot that I had put spurs on (just for correct attire) and when he slowed down a bit on approach, I was worried about a possible refusal and sunk my heels in. Comet, always sensitive and never needing more that very subtle aids, took that as a bit of an insult and basically cleared the standards. There was no mistaking how big he really could jump. Unfortunately Mom stopped the video camera as she thought I was about to get turfed in front of the huge crowd at Spruce Meadows!

As there were very few places that we could actually show at (juniors can’t show stallions at many shows) we did a lot of demos at various venues. Comet was super polite at all public appearances, most people thinking he was a gelding. There wasn’t a better ambassador to the Welsh breed! He loved the attention. I will never forget one occasion at Agribition when a whole bunch of school kids on a tour stopped by our stall. All the kids wanted to pet the beautiful black stallion. One young man held back a bit and waited for the crowd to clear and very politely asked if he too could touch the horse. I said of course and then he told me he was blind and asked if I could guide him. I took him into the stall, and he proceeded to feel Comet all over. Now Comet was always fine with people petting him (haughtily expecting it actually!), but he was always a little careful with people he didn’t know. This time however, he stood like a statue and allowed this young man to discover what a horse looked like through his fingers. Both the boy and I had tears running down our cheeks at the end, him because he got to realize a dream, me because I had witnessed something truly special! This all went on while heavy horse hitches, crowds of people, balloons etc. where going by not 2 feet away. Time seemed to stand still.

Comet was an extremely prepotent stallion, truly stamping his 85 registered offspring with his good looks, and amazing athletic ability. In 1998, Comet, his get or grand-get placed first, second or third in EVERY class entered (sometimes all three!) At the WPCSS All Breed Pony Show. Most of the performance classes had 15-25 entries! In 2003, we were invited to join the Welsh Team for Battle of the Breeds at Spruce Meadows. About a week prior to leaving, my husband Bill and my Mom were both in the hospital with West Nile Virus, and I had a 6 month old son to attend to. Comet stepped up to the plate and helped win a third place ribbon in precision driving (cones) with a tie for the fastest time. That was the first time I had ever driven a cones course! Comet always managed to add that extra bit when it truly counted.

His last public appearance was at Agribition in Nov 2006. Unfortunately his last Cob foal, a beautiful colt (born in 2006) was killed by a cougar at 10 days old. I have retained Mi Bare Essentials (1995 buckskin Sec C stallion) to continue Comet’s stallion duties. Comet got to live the last year of his life with my old pony – Kelly Acres Twinkle, they were best friends. Comet’s offspring are scattered all over North America, continuing to excel in their owners lives. Our family was very lucky to have such a wonderful partner and friend for 22 years! Rest in Peace old man, till we meet again. You will live forever in our hearts and memories.

Cherry Hill Equestrian Centre raising top quality Welsh and Sport Ponies since 1966