05/20/2026
Last Friday, our beloved Cricket told us it was time. Saying goodbye to him was probably the hardest thing that any of us have had to do. For over 30 years, Cricket was one of the family and I’m not sure any of us can really get used to him not being here.
He began his life with us when he arrived with Ernie from Ohio, and they were jumping over the turnout fence at not even a year old. He was already making his presence known! As they grew older, Ernie became a driving pony and Cricket was broke to ride. He was a show pony right from the start. Fondly known as Almond Joy at all the shows, he identified more as a fancy show horse than a pony. He held his own at all the big shows from the Deerfield Fair to Syracuse, winning countless blue ribbons, with Kara, JoJo & Amy showing him saddle seat. He shined at the local shows as he matured, showing younger riders the ropes, such as Katrina and Emily B. Perhaps his greatest achievements were the quieter moments when he was a kind and gentle mount for riders in our therapeutic riding program. He took such joy in simply “being” for anyone that needed a trusted friend.
For 32 years, Cricket was the happiest pony that any of us have ever had the pleasure of being around. I don’t say that lightly- he was just happy. All the time. It was impossible not to love him. And it’s going to be impossible not to miss him for a very long time. The barn is a little too quiet now without his friendly greetings whenever you walk in.
Thank you to Dr. Pantano & Jane for helping us let him go with kindness and dignity on his final day and being his vet in his later years. To Dr. Hopkins and Dr. Oakham for caring for him for all of his early years. To Mary for being strong for us all when we were struggling with the day. To Rylee for supplying endless love and applesauce to help keep him going. Cricket had an army of people that loved him over the years- and I can’t think of anything better than all of the happy memories he has given everyone.
Thank you for reading our long and a little sappy post- but if any horse or pony deserved one, this the one.
❤️Almond Joy “Cricket”