Sebastian

Sebastian is the heart and soul of my pony business. I would challenge anyone to match his experience and versatility no matter where in this universe. He was foaled in Modesto CA and bought from an old cowboy named Hoot Eager. Hoot came up to me in spring of 1987 said he had a pony I'd really like and did I want to see it. I was parked on the roadside in South Modesto doing good business as I always did in one of my favorite San Joaquin Valley towns.

He took me to his ranch not too far in the country and I knew from the start I was hooked. This bay Shetland Quarter Horse cross was sized right, looked right and best yet had perfect black feet and as icing was partially ground broke to drive. Hoot was around for the foaling since the pony came from the ranch across the road and the child had gone onto a horse. The "magic" price of a Century Note and Half a Bill was passed ($150) and the MIP ( most important pony) became my best friend.

While he put up with my shoeing he returned that favor months later in Hanford, CA when he crossed paths with a gin truck at a RR overpass. Not liking the clinking of that 18 wheeler's tin sides he veered clockwise 90 degrees down the embankment leaving me on the ground with line burns on both hands watching three ponies and cart stampede back the way we came. The trucker stopped, I hopped on the running board and awaaaay we went. A pickup truck driver saw what was going on and pulled his F-250 in front of the runaway rig shunting Sebastian onto a quieter side road where a block later he turned into a grassy field and just plain stopped.I fixed a leather strap and went back on the road to the birthday party I was headed for. I let neighborhood boys do a lot of the driving though since my fingers were not bending any too good. Going back we had an adventure with a milk truck which I will write about another time.

Sebastian was renamed by me and I enjoy testing the literacy of the newer generations. Usually the guess is he's named after the crab in the Disney cartoon or the rotund actor in a TV sitcom few guessing the real answer and that is of Don Cervantes quixotic knight traveling around 15th Century Spain tilting at windmills on his trusty donkey "Sebastian".

I've loaded Sebastian into the back of a pickup sans ramp, into a converted bread van, onto a 21/2 ton GMC flatbed and into various horse trailers over the 17years we've been together. He's pulled a cart, aone horse wagon in shafts (his main role today) and as wheel, swing and lead on my road teams. Plus, this versatile gelding has given many trail rides to children of all ages.