GC Ponies was started in 1987 as Grand Central Show Stables in North Salem, NY. The farm was named for my great Amateur Hunter, Grand Central, who died from colic in 1974 just a month after being A/O Champion at Devon. When I started my own business in 1987, I felt it was an appropriate way to begin.
Over the years, I have had the honor of training many great ponies and kids. Jessica Newman and her Asia Minor brought our first tricolor at Pony Finals. Jennifer Miller and Special Effects followed with a Championship at Harrisburg. Georgina and Emma Bloomberg won endless awards with Jetsetter and Georgina rounding out their career as Champion at Harrisburg and Reserve Champion at The National Horse Show at the Meadowlands. Great wins followed with Crystal Vision, Casey Jones and Kid You Not. Victoria Grauer rode Espresso to Reserve Champion at Harrisburg and followed with Grand Champion Pony Hunter at Devon and Best Child Rider on a Pony. Ashley Baker showed Hillcrest Night Light, Llandefalle Lady Slipper and Glenmore Trix to many Championships including a win in the USEF Pony Medal Finals on Trix. Ashley Baker also showed our own One More Rainbeau and was Champion Small Pony Hunter the last year that ponies were held at the National Horse Show at The Meadowlands. Susie Fried also showed One More Rainbeau and was Small Pony Champion at Pony Finals.
I retired in 1997 after my first daughter, Karen was born. Daughter Laura followed and I turned my interest to breeding and raising young ponies. GC Ponies has bred or raised Center Field, 2010 USEF HOTY Grand Champion Pony Hunter, USEF Pony Medal Finals and Washington Medal Finals winner as well as Tricolors at Harrisburg and Washington with different kids who leased him. RosMel's Millennium, Pony Finals Champion, RosMel's Sun Fairy, RosMel's Stellar, Yes I Am and our home bred superstar, Yes It's True. Keepsake is currently showing in the Green Ponies at WEf and we have youngsters coming along. Almost monthly, I see a pony we have bred and raised showing at a horse show.
In 2010, the Passarelli Family arrived and we made a move to Southern Pines, NC. It is here we became GC POnies. Caroline was a short stirrup rider and has since been involved in the training and showing of all of our ponies as well as her own, Little Black Pearl. In 2013, we added Elegance to our roster and Caroline and Ellie have been a magical combination. Thank you Caroline for all you have done.
Special thanks also to Siobhan Latchford who manages and oversees everything at GC Ponies and starts all the babies. After 26 years, there is no question I could not do this without her. The whole team at Kelianda Farm has done amazing things for us. Ken, Linda, and Mckayla Langmeier as well as Kyla Makhloghi have brought many GC Ponies to the top of their game.
I love ponies. I love kids who love ponies. I maintain only a few select clients who want to show and do the right thing for their animals. I am grateful for the career path I chose and where it has brought me to today.
Robin Greenwood