Going In To Competition Blind

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Elizabeth Bailey

July 16, 2009

Elizabeth Bailey The Greensburg Daily News Thu Jul 16, 2009, 02:39 PM EDT

As young competitors prepare for the fair, bonds are formed between 4-Hers and their animals. For Bryna Ferrara and a pony named Peaches, the bond led each to new heights.

Peaches is approximately 10 years old. As a blind pony, she was on her way to be sold at auction just over 5 years ago when a local farm took her in instead. In the time since she arrived in Decatur County, she has not been ridden.

In the meantime, Bryna Ferrara was taking riding lessons, and as the 11-year-old considered her first time participating in 4-H Horse and Pony, Peaches was the steed she chose to ride.

At first, Ferrara said, working with Peaches was hard. The young lady worked daily to teach the pony how to participate in the showmanship class.

“Getting her set up was lots of work,” Ferrara noted.

The relationship between the girl and the pony is something special, it seems.

“She follows without me even holding on,” Ferrara smiled.

Although Peaches cannot see at all in her right eye and sees very poorly in her left, she and Ferrara worked together to earn third place in showmanship, second place in hunt seat equitation as well as a variety of other awards.

Ferrara was pleased with their shared success, noting she has only been riding for a short time and only learned the English style in the two weeks leading up to the fair.

Peaches’ visual impairment did not hold her or Ferrara back during competition. The only downside of the strong bond between the two is Peaches’ size. Since Ferrara continues to grow and Peaches is a small pony, this will be the only year the pair can show together. For now, though, they are basking in their shared success, allowing the bittersweet time when Ferrara outgrows Peaches to wait until after the fair.

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