Michelle writes, “ I can remember when we purchased Hope in 1990 for my sister, Nicole. Hope was 13 years old and still a spitfire. You had to tranquilize her to body clip her, you couldn't hose past halfway up her neck or she would go up in the air and she hated anything that sprayed…I can also remember one instance when her long time vet, Dr. Walsh, came into the ring while Nicole was riding her and Hope saw him and took off… There was another time when Hope had her teeth floated; Dr Walsh and I were doing a vet exam on another pony and I kept hearing this abnormal breathing noise. I said something to Dr. Walsh about the noise coming from Hope but he said she's fine...(thinking I was being silly). About two seconds later he said, ‘what is that noise?’ I said, ‘Hope’...he went running over there...she had swallowed her tongue. He tied her head up in the air and she was better. She probably did it on purpose just to mess with us!

As for my sister and I, Hope took us so many places. Nicole tried her in 1989 and our family decided to purchase her for Nicole's riding pony in March of 1990. Nicole and Hope started out in Limit Hunters, moving on to the Medium Pony Hunters and also competing in the Connemara Divisions that were still around at that time at some Hunter shows in the Midwest. Nicole and Hope brought home champions and reserves too many to list and also won many state championships. They also won some Zone awards as well. The most memorable is probably the Clifden Trophy they won several years. Hope had already won this with her previous rider/owner Kati Lents, and continued in style with Nicole.

My memories of riding Hope go back to when she first arrived for my sister. I didn't have a pony at that time, so we shared Hope. Hope did double duty at shows...showing in the Medium pony division with my sister and the Short Stirrup division and 11 and Under divisions with me. We did find a pony for me half way through the year, but as Hope had done so well for me, we still ended up with State year end awards in both divisions. I took over the reins from my sister in 1994 after we sold my small pony and my sister moved on to a large pony. By now Hope was well seasoned and knew her job perfectly. She was like sitting back in a Cadillac letting her take you for the ride of your life. She was pretty push button and I had it good. Hope taught me how to be a tactful, correct, and elegant rider. She could like any pony still have her silly moments, but she was an easy ride. Looking back now, I know how good I really had it then. Hope took me to numerous AHSA (now USEF) awards, including pony Medals too numerous to recall. She took me to many state awards in 11 and under and medium pony hunter as well. We went to Connemara shows and did well and even went to a local fair and competed in the costume class against some really good and quite fancy costumes, and won. We attended the Pony Finals in Virginia in 1995-my last year on Hope. Hope had qualified us for the regular medium ponies and the pony Medal again. That year we had a near perfect first round in the Pony Medal Finals. We were called back, one of 20 pony/rider combos from around the country, and had a near perfect round. Our final fence was a little snug and to this day I wonder how it would have ended up if it were different! However, to make to the Pony Finals is one feat, to be called back for a second round is another. There is no doubt it was all because of Hope…

Probably one of the nicest awards Hope has received was in 2005 when she was awarded the Camiln Trophy by the ACPS for a purebred Connemara pony that has had a lifetime of exceptional achievements in competition. Hope has won so many things, this one award wraps everything up. I only wish everyone could have experienced the wonderful gal she was. Everyone should be lucky enough to have a "Hope" at least once in their life… Hope you were marvelous; you will be sadly and sorely missed and you are the end of an era.”