We got a call yesterday morning around 7:30 from the sheriff's office, the kind of call you never want to get. Fast-forward an hour, and we tearfully said good-bye to our once-in-a-lifetime pony.
Scooby came to us from a small hunter/jumper schooling barn in Indiana. It was January of 2011, and the kids were just starting to foster an interest in horses. Over the next 6 years, Scooby would become one of the most beloved members of the LCEC family. He was the go-to lesson horse for new or timid riders. He served in Goodwill's Pony Express program, LCEC summer camps, and High 5's on Horseback . He enjoyed being loved on at the Hartford Fair as a 4-H horse two years in a row. He took the owners' granddaughter, Anika, from a new rider to a competitor at the Kentucky Horse Park for the Dressage Pony Cup. At 18 years old, Scooby was preparing to change careers, from dressage to barrels, for the youngest of the Francis kids.

We watched our kids grow up with Scooby. We also know that countless other children were touched by this amazing Welsh cross. He will certainly be missed, but we know that Scooby had a wonderful home with us over the last several years, and he will always be at home in our hearts.

Our first public show in 20 years turned out to be a success. We very much appreciated everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to join us on such a gorgeous Fall day. Even though our speaker system took a dive, the rest of the day went quite smoothly. Judge Amanda Berges gave individualized feedback in each class, and competitors cheered each other on. We will add additional photos from the show as they are sent to us.