05/22/2026
We would like to share that our sweet Petie was laid to rest this beautiful afternoon surrounded by love.
Many in the Long Island horse community know Petie. His bald face, painted body and perky ears- an easily recognizable man. A long-time lesson pony at Thomas School of Horsemanship, he retired and became a steadfast mount for our pint-sized Adaptive Riding participants in the Summer of 2022. He gained his nickname of “Speedy Petie” for his eagerness to work and his enthusiastic strut in all of his lessons. Over Petie’s lifetime he has probably taught thousands of lessons, not just about riding but about life. He was steady, strong willed, passionate about his job, loved his herd mates fiercely, was protective of all around him, and was a friend to all. He was one of the first faces people met and won over everyone with his sassy personality and kind spirit.
In his recent months of retirement from mounted lessons, he continued to teach and bring people together. He enjoyed his ‘Petie Powerwalks’ with volunteers and clients while they learned leading, taught grooming lessons, and most importantly…taught people how to graze a horse on the best grass the property had to offer…searching high and low for the best nibbles.
We are eternally grateful for all he did for us. Please join us in celebrating the life that Petie had. His impact was far reaching and profound for the entire horse community. Our barn will simply not be the same without him. Thank you Petie ❤
For anyone that wants to share stories and photos, we’d love to hear and see them. You can send them to [email protected] or drop them in the comments.