Our Purpose

  • To provide opportunities for children and adults to learn basic unmounted horsemanship;
  • To help children and adults discover their uniqueness, improve self-esteem and build confidence while enjoying the unconditional acceptance of their horse friend(s).
  • To provide children and adults opportunities to participate in activities designed to enhance and build on each person’s natural curiosity and creativity and to develop strengths to thrive in life.

Our Story

There is something about equines, horses or ponies that speaks to us, many of us, from early childhood, whether or not horses were a part of your family. Generations of people have yearned to spend time with horses, some get to start out young, others find a way to get involved as adults. For most the discipline of riding horses becomes the central objective of spending time with horses and often the voice of the horse and the intuitive relationship that could take place gets lost in the objectives of tasks, much like most other areas of modern life.
 
Pony Partners is focused on introducing people to horses and discovering the dynamic and rich relationships possible. Ours are mini, so riding is not an objective, though other tasks are gently introduced once a relationship has been established. For children who participate as partners, it is an opportunity not only to spend time with horses, for those who long to and have limited opportunity, but it is a rewarding and enjoyable way to develop positive traits such as responsibility, accountability, patience, level-headedness, empathy, kindness, and self-discipline. Partnering with our “ponies” can help children and adults realize how their choices, attitudes, and behaviors affect themselves and others.

 

Meet the Team

Ms. Patti Fountain, CEAC

 

Ms. Patti Fountain is the human behind Pony Partners.  A self-described “horse crazy” girl, her first word was horse. During her childhood she saved all of her allowance to pay for trail rides at a local stable, cleaned stalls at friends homes to get a chance to spend time with horses and delighted in visiting her aunt at her shetland pony farm. But she had to wait until she was an adult to realize the dream of owning her own horses.

Before starting her miniature horse ranch in Louisa, VA, Ms. Patti was involved in teaching, coaching and mentoring children and adults and individuals of all ages with special needs.  While living in Florida she was able to work with children with special needs and miniature horses on a limited basis.  Seeing what a positive effect these interactions had on the children, she dreamed of starting her own program to offer the opportunity to children and families to benefit from interactions with horses.

In 2018 Ms. Patti completed her course in Equine Assisted Life Coaching with the Equine Assisted Coaching Association. Ms. Patti is also a former Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher (NY) and former Owner/Director of Advance Coaching & Training, Inc. a Medicaid Services Provider (NY) serving people on the TBI and NHTD Medicaid Waivers.

The Rest of the Team

Cici

Shereen

Rosie

 

Jazz

Dapper

Ra’Feigh our Caspian

 

We Love Having Visitors…

Please call to schedule a tour or check out our upcoming events!