Snowy and Charlotte - "he'll be with us forever"

Nearly a year ago Charlotte Walker reckons she found her forever horse.

It was at Addington on July 14,2024.  

The Bruce Negus-trained Bets On ran eighth that night and as coincidence would have it he was looking to rehome the horse about the same time Charlotte, who was just 12 at the time, was looking for "a pony".

"I saw him there and thought he was cute," says Charlotte, "the next day he was retired from racing and ended up in our paddock."

With Charlotte's brother Jayden, who has a stablehand's licence, working for the Negus stable at the time, the deal was done.

"I emailed Bruce and said what are you doing with Bets On and he said he's yours if you want him," says Charlotte's mum Kirstyn.

"He was also the first horse that Jayden drove!".

Within days the Betting Line gelding, who had had two third placings in 16 career starts, was at their property at Pleasant Point in South Canterbury.

Snowy, as he's now known, was an instant hit.

"He's tiny," says Kirstyn, "he'd only be 14 or 14-1 (hands) and he's very cute and jet black."  

"He's my first pony," says Charlotte, "I see him every day and he's my best friend. I'm the only one who's able to catch him and give him cuddles."

"He'll be with us forever."

Charlotte is 13 now and in her first year at Geraldine High School. She is also a talented athlete and having Snowy has helped her physically. She has cerebral palsy and says the regular riding of Snowy has seen quite tangible change.

"As a kid I rode at the RDA (Riding for the Disabled) for about 20 minutes a week," says Charlotte, "but now having my own pony and having access to go down to the paddock and hop on I have a more stable and more straight core."

"Before I got Snowy I used to fall over and trip on my own toes and feet. Now doing exercises, on the horse, like "around the world" and others that make my legs work has really stabilised me a lot."

Snowy is now six.

"He knows who his person is," says Kirstyn, "they love each other."

"We've been taking it very slowly with him. He's a pet really but one day he will be a beautiful show horse."

"I think he's going to be an In Hand Show horse and a beginners' Pony Club pony," says Charlotte.

They have been to one show, a Have a Go day at Palmerston in Otago. They came away with a few ribbons and were Reserve Champion.

"Over the winter we'll do some hacking with him up and down the roads and then look at doing some more shows in the spring," says Charlotte, "every show we can get to we'll be there."