PeeCheeYou'reSoCute

     Usually we called her PeeChee, but often she heard, "PeeChee, you're so cute, said very fast, as if the expression was one word.  So when it came time to get her registration papers, her official name became PeeCheeYou'reSoCute.

    Some horses and ponies in my care are dearer to my heart than others.  It can't be helped.  People are emotional.  I love all my animals, but PeeChee has to be listed with those who became especially dear.

    I had purchased her on a whim, intending her for a child sometime in the future.  (See the whole story in my book The Hoofbeats of My Heart.)  I discovered I was the child in the pony's future.  At the time, I weighed no more than many preteens, and PeeChee was young and full of vim and vigor.  She was what we describe as a "forward thinking" horse because she was constantly trying to move into a faster gait.  A rider didn't ask her to go faster; they let her. She was not, by most standards, the perfect children's pony.  However she suited me well, and I discovered a love of the smaller breeds.  A pony who was only slightly over 11 hands could be more of a challenge than a 15.2 Quarter Horse.

    White horses are usually described as grey.  So, even though PeeChee was mostly white, her papers call her grey: "Grey with sprinkles of Appy mottling and whispers of golden spots on her rump."

    Thirty years ago, when PeeChee and I were forging our partnership, I was engaged in breeding horses, especially Miniature Horses, but almost all of our animals had registration papers.  For some reason, I seemed to think papers were important, and in many respects, that was true.  When it came to breeding, having registered animals kept us viable in a competitive market.  In fact, some of our horses, like my darling Splash, were double registered.

    Now, many years later, I haven't bothered to transfer papers on any of my horses who are registered.   Bills of sale are all that matter to me.  I have no intentions of breeding or selling, I only want proof that the animals are part of my family.

    However, in PeeChee's day those papers wee important.  PeeChee was of uncertain ancestry.  She was an example that papers don't make the horse.  I was taking dressage lessons, riding her, and showing her.  To me she was perfection.

    I wanted her to have papers.

    I don't remember where I saw the advertisement for the Universal Perkehner Society.  Apparently, I wasn't the only person chasing equine registration papers.  This organization had decided that they would register horses with mixed bloodlines for fun.  I believe they based their business on a personality-plus horse called Perky owned by one of the founding owners. For a small fee, they were willing to create a certificate for horses or ponies with extra personality quirks.  My PeeChee certainly qualified.

     The registration came, and PeeChee was now officially a part-Perkehner.  I was pleased.  In fact, very pleased.  All of the other registration papers and bills of sale for my equines are jumbled together in a bureau drawer.  PeeChee's certificate is framed, and hangs proudly displayed on my computer room wall, along with my scholastic degrees. I smile through tears as I look at it.  PeeChee was so incredibly special.

    She gave me joy.

    She definitely qualified as a part Perkehner.  I had no trouble listing three personality qualities that set her apart from most horses.  First of all was her insistence that her riders sat with a balanced seat.  Perhaps, because she was small, she did not want to carry a lop-sided load on her back.  She only protested about my weight alignment once, but she sure would take advantage of any of my students who were not centered or focused.  Incorrect posture, or indulging a wandering mind were enough for her to deposit a rider on the ground.  Secondly, PeeChee did not like human males.  She avoided them, and she was nimble enough to stay out of their way.  Females, though, were okay with her, but she did expect them to carry treats.  Her last peculiarity had to do with male equines, either geldings or stallions.  She attracted them, more so than other mares.  I had to keep stallions away from her, but the geldings were devoted followers.  PeeChee appeared to encourage them, too.  She was a constant flirt.  Perhaps I should have let her have a foal, but that is hindsight.

    PeeChee's certification came in 1995.  I can hardly believe 30 years have passed.  I did wonder if the Universal Perkehner Society still exists.  Apparently, it is gone.  Too bad.  It served a purpose for people like me with delightful mixed breed equines who deserve recognition.

    PeeChee passed away from cancer at least 20 years ago.  I still mourn her, and she haunts my barn.

    PeeChee started me on a love affair with ponies - any pony.  Before PeeChee I was not aware that huge personalities come in the smaller sizes.

    I love you, PeeCheeYou'reSoCute.