Matthew & his friend, "Mine 'Orse"
(as told by Marianne Alexander, 1996)
 Matthew and his
family came to visit
Greystone Farm in 1993. He was only five years old, but he wanted very
much to have a pony of his very own. He referred to the ponies he saw
in the paddocks at Greystone as "Mine 'Orse" and he could not
understand why one of them could not get in the car and go home with
him.
Matthew has Down's Syndrome. PERSONAL PONIES did
not have a pony for him. He would have to wait for another year until a
foal might be born who could become Matthew's "Mine 'Orse."
In the summer of 1995 a tiny, yellow colt was bonr
on a nearby Volunteer Breeder's farm. The call went out to the Ritchie
family—"Mine 'Orse" was waiting! Again, when Matthew came to visit the
new foal, he could not understand why he could not take his "Mine,
Mine, MINE!! 'ORSE" home in the car. But Matthew had to wait until the
new baby could be weaned and could finally become his very own pony.
 It was a long
summer for Matthew. He visited
his little "Mine 'Orse" nearly every weekend. He learned how to brush
him and how to put on his halter (most of the time). His little "'Orse"
was named BLUE STAR, but Matthew insisted his real name was MINE 'ORSE.
No one argued with him.
One day in the fall of 1995, when Matthew came
home from school there was his dearly beloved "Mine 'Orse" standing on
the lawn. Matthew just stood and stared and stared and stared. And
"Mine 'Orse" stared right back at him! It had been a very long time for
a small boy to wait for his very own pony—Matthew was now seven—a
delighted seven year old boy who has his "Mine 'Orse" at last!
Matthew has a chair in the corner of his pony's
stall and when he sits down in the chair his pony trots over and puts
his head against Matthew's chest. Matthew scratches Star's ears and
they are a VERY happy pair.
Matthew's physical skills have improved. He can
clean his pony's stall with his little shovel—and though he still
sometimes needs help, he is learning. He has also learned how to carry
hay and water for his pony and not spill them. He enjoys his tasks and
has grown more responsible.
We are all very proud of Matthew's
accomplishments. Matthew and his mom, Carol, read bedtime stories in
"Mine 'Orse's" stall and she tells us that the entire family has become
closer and more involved with one another since a Shetland Pony came to
live at their house.
Most of all, and best of all however, there is a
love affair between a little boy with Down's Syndrome and a small
yellow pony.
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