Town tries to take pony away from disabled 3 year-old

This is just an unbelievable story. How much benefit is this pony giving this young child? Surely, this outweighs the opinions of the small minded minority.

Just awful - it's too often laws are used as an excuse for the petty...

This is a very sad story and I thank you for letting us know. May this beautiful miniature pony brighten up the lives of many people who are touched by it. Thanks for selecting my photo. Julia H. Sumangil

I know what stinks and it isn't the pony: it's discrimination.

ewjz31 has contributed a photo to this story.

FWIW, I have communicated with the town of Caledon, expressing my disgust at this travesty.

I consider the administrators of this mindless burg swine, and so informed them.

This is simply so wrong, so disgusting.

We raise and sell German Shepherds out of European Imports. This is one of my families in Washington State that also raise Miniature Ponies & bought a male and female German Shepherd, this was the male. This was a new pony named Sara with Euro who was only about 7 months old in this picture. Our families that own our dogs are great at keeping in touch with updates, and this one was so cute. Miniature ponies are used even in convalescent homes and very good therapy, as are the German Shepherds in many cases that our families have used them with old & young people alike. If everyone owned an animal and learned how to care for one, this world would be a nicer place. That is what animals do, bring out the best in humans.

skyoudes has contributed a photo to this story.

I might add in the area of smell....a cow farm is much worse than one miniature pony. There are much worse smells that do not come from animals, cities have some very bad pollution and nasty smells. I would take the country smell over those city smells any day. I am sure they aren't near as unhealthy either! This is horrible that anyone would take a pet from a child that needs this for some happiness in his life. These people pushing this must not have any heart, or they would not be pushing something so rediculas!

I cant believe that they would do that! That horse might be the only joy that kid has and no one should be allowed to take that away....

That is horrible that they would want to take a pony away from any child who is special needs! This photo was of my neighbors sweet miniature pony they had bought for their two little girls. I never smelled any foul oder from this pony and it was well taken care of. Obviously the neighbor who is pursuing this has no compassion whatsoever. We need less of these type of people in the world.

I have seen the amazing results that can be produced from disabled children having access to animals, especially horses, for therapy. The RDA (riding for the disabled) here does fantastic work and it saddens me to read this article. Many disabled children have a special connection with animals and for the authorities in this case, to even consider the removal of someones animal, due to its 'smell' is ridiculous! To me, this sounds like a problem between neighbours, not a problem for any other reason. Unless there are serious issue over the upkeep of the pony, ie. dung not being removed from the paddock etc, then the chances of this animal 'smelling' are pretty slim. I know this as i am a horse owner myself. I own a miniature shetland and know that as they are so small...they cant produce enough dung to cause a stink! I hope that the town of Caledon, see sense.

How much smell  can you get from a miniature pony? That is such a heartless story. The people of that town should be organising a rota to help care for the pony and offer practical help for the family.

The dung should be a bonus for feeding rosebeds and highly sought after!

Animals in general (often dogs and horses, esp. miniature horses) are very therapeutic.  The bond and connection from these animals to someone who is emotionally and/or physically disabled is an amazing thing.  It's something near miraculous to those who can see and feel the connection they make with one another.  It's as if the animal knows instinctively they are needed to help out; to give a sense of love, comfort, strength, confidence and as I mentioned, bonding.  These gifts given by the animal, dog, or horse, are what keep the disabled or impaired persons' spirit alive; it gives them a purpose, something to look forward to, something that is not 'difficult' to do, adding to their daily trials.  It keeps hope and will alive inside. 

Caledon should be ashamed, and the neighbor who has filed the complaint should be even more ashamed.  How tragic our world has come when we cannot live peacefully amongst our own neighbors, find ways to solve issues and help one another.  It is this very concept that is shredding the fabric of "America" right out from under us.  I am sorry to hear about this and I pray for the 3 year old who needs this comfort in his life.

Thanks for bringing this to light and I hope legally the family can find a way to keep the horse.  Here's a web site I found relating to miniature horses being recognized for 'healing' and therapeutice benefits that also includes some law cases.  http://www.guidehorse.org/law_n_news.htm

Good Luck

This is just so wrong. This child is certainly benefiting from this miniature horse much more then the neighbors are hurting from the smell. How cruel they must be to try and take away something that probably makes that kid's day! Feel free to use any of my photos as well as request more, I have plenty of mini's to take pictures of. Thank you for selecting those of mine.

This is wrong, just wrong.  Hopefully an indignant uproar will make the people in charge realize that a cow farm is far smellier than one miniature pony which is performing a vital service, and  most likely an irreplaceable one as well.

pepper, my wee miniature horse cross. very sweet!

emma_pollitt has contributed a photo to this story.

This is a sad thing to happen to the boy. This is really awful! poor boy must be really sad!!

This miniature pony is at a farm called Avila Valley Barn. Children can feed it food that is given for free at the Barn store.

AllenandBea has contributed a photo to this story.

Looks like he'll get to keep his pony!!!!  Thank you for small favours!