How It All Started

When looking for a pony for her daughter several years ago, Marion Rodrique of Ironwood Ponies found the task a difficult one. Not only was it time consuming, it also involved many hours of traveling to see the ponies she saw advertised. Unfortunately, she found people were seldom truthful in their representation of the pony they were attempting to sell. After the purchase of three "wonderful" ponies, she found they were in fact not so wonderful. One was unsafe for her daughter to be in the paddock with, let alone ride, another had a canter-only gait, without brakes, and another was a pony who excelled at bucking off even the most experienced child.

"It didn’t seem like I was asking for too much," said Marion, "I was not looking for the perfect, push-button packer, with a show record a mile long. I simply wanted a pony who knew the basics, and most importantly was safe to ride and to handle. I went as far as pleading with the people who were advertising these ponies, "Please don’t lie, this pony is for my seven-year-old who is just beginning to ride, and I would like her to have a positive experience." I realized that many other parents must have similar problems when trying to find a pony for their little ones, and decided to start Ironwood Ponies, a business that would honestly represent its ponies, and offer quality, safe ponies for sale and lease."

About Our Business

Ironwood Ponies has sold many ponies throughout the U.S. Most ponies have gone on to successful show careers, while others are loving family companions. Busy professional parents and trainers, who often do not have the time required to search for that perfect pony are Ironwood Ponies’ clients. Having a pony that is safe and reliable delivered to the stable, with a week to try the pony, is a God-send for busy parents and trainers. Marion stays in touch with many of her clients who send her photographs and letters.

What can you expect when you buy or lease a "kid-tested and Mom-approved" pony from Ironwood Ponies for your child? Marion stresses that at the very least, the pony will be very well-started. The pony will be well-made on the flat, will be an honest jumper, and it will do its changes. All ponies will be well-mannered in the barn and will be safe to go out on a hack. Most of these ponies have the potential to excel at horse shows in the best of company. Ironwood Ponies will help parents with the difficult task of finding the right pony, and will deliver to the child that special friend and wonderful companion, who will also bring home the ribbons.

Marion now purchases most of her ponies from reputable breeders in the United States and Canada.  However, often ponies are eliminated if they do not fit into her  demanding program. She has, on occasion, had ponies in training for several months, and then had to give them away as pasture pets because they were unsafe, unsound, or in some other manner, not suitable for children, even though this meant loss of time and money.  At Ironwood, all ponies are treated with dignity, love and respect.  They live an idealistic life with daily turn-out in lush, green pastures.  The ponies that Ironwood markets and represents, are happy and trusting and therefore, willing to please.  "We can only hope that our ponies will go on to homes comparable to ours.  By this we don't mean that the ponies need to be in huge pastures and fancy stalls, but we do hope that their new families will treat them lovingly and kindly so the ponies will continue to be happy and advance with their training.  I truly believe that an unhappy pony will not perform well."

Marion Rodrique emphasizes that Ironwood Ponies does not use ponies in lesson programs or in summer camps, but are in a rigorous training program with qualified trainers.  The ponies schedule consists of flat-work three to four times per week and jumping two to three times per week. The ponies are then "kid-tested" by young riders under adult supervision.  During show season, the ponies in training take turns traveling to horse shows nearly every weekend to get that all important show mileage.