Caramia Kansas ~ (SPARKIE)
This is a story I'd hoped I wouldn't be writing for a very long time. Loch Leven Park was established many years ago but if there was a pony and rider combination that put us on the maps this one takes the cake. If you wish to continue reading, maybe grab the tissue box first, if he touches your heart like he touched ours there won't be a dry eye. His story has an interesting start and a heart wrenching end.
Caramia Kansas or Sparkie as he was so affectionately known at home came into our lives in November 2012 as a yearling. Completely unhandled he was run up a cattle race and shut in the float, cornered and a halter put on ready for the 4-hour trek home. Whilst I did fall in love with him immediately, if I am to be totally honest, he was one of the ugliest ponies I had ever seen. With his mats of hair hanging, big pot belly, almost entirely white, he looked more like a mountain goat than a Shetland. However, the 2 weeks following his arrival I spent endless hours gaining his trust and teaching him all the basics of becoming a well-mannered, respectable pony. On the 14th day of having him I was playing around and within 5 minutes I had accidentally taught him to lay down on command. Since then our bond grew rapidly from strength to strength (and of course he never forgot his party trick). Before he was “officially” started under saddle as a 3yo I was able to lay all over him, jump on him over his rump, crack whips off him, hitch the cart onto him and lead him absolutely anywhere. He was certainly shaping up to be that true one in a million pony. Sparkie was broken by me as a 3yo and went on to have huge success in all equine disciplines, included but not limited to; showing, dressage, jumping, barrel racing and other games. He became the ultimate allrounder and in my opinion the definition of what a Shetland should be. This past season saw us through many 'firsts', competing at the Shetland Pony Performance day where he won; working hunter, dressage, barrel racing, pony twist and cross country, taking out Champion Performance Gelding and Best Performed Newcomer. We then went on to have a cracker show season and from his minimal outings brought home many champions and our first ever Supreme Ridden Exhibit. I was very lucky that Sparkie had the attitude of a saint, not a nasty bone in his body and a never say no work ethic, making him the most complete package.
At only 5 years old Sparkie had an incredibly bright future ahead of him, however this was all cut much too short. Sometimes you wonder if some things are too good to be true, you get a one in a million horse, just to have it taken away a short time later. Sparkie was fighting fit, out of work yet still spoilt rotten every day, rugged, stabled and with everyone totally wrapped around his hoof, feeding him a carrot every time he spoke (he didn't shut up). So, to say it took us by surprise would be an understatement when one morning we found him disinterested in carrots and walking out of the stable quietly (totally out of character). We were lucky to know this pony so well and to see that something wasn't right and immediately contact the vet. From here the next 48 hours were nothing short of nerve wracking, Sparkie was kept under constant surveillance. He was initially treated for colic, however with no improvement he underwent blood tests and was treated that night with antibiotics for infection. He was monitored through the night and into the next day with no significant improvements but no drastic declines in health either. Throughout the day we noticed he would have highs and lows where he was perky one minute and very sad and dreary the next. By that afternoon we were still very unhappy with his lack of improvement and gave the vet another ring where they performed more blood tests, a peritoneal tap and more scans. The blood results returned with “no” white blood cells and quite a lot of fat stores. The vet diagnosed 'hyperlipeamia' and he was immediately referred to the Bendigo Equine Hospital for consultation and management. No time was wasted, loading him straight up and taking him to the hospital where he was welcomed with open arms and treated with what only can be described as the very best care and respect. Sparkie spent the next 24hours in intensive care in a critically “unstable” condition. I visited him once and while it was upsetting I'm glad I did; for in the very early hours of the next morning the vets had made the call that it was his “time”. We had told them to do everything they could to save him but he was “not” to suffer, he had been too good to us to be put through prolonged pain and suffering. Upon seeing the vets after his passing Sparkie was found to be a carrier of a disease (similar to that of a malaria carrier in humans) which completely depleted his immune system leaving him unable to fight any illness or injury; sadly, it was never going to matter what we done to save him, the first illness or injury he ever got would be the end. His passing had an incredibly devastating impact on us all and the many fans he had acquired throughout his journey. We thank both Seymour and Bendigo clinics for their incredible service to us in this difficult time and the beautiful cards we received from them after his passing. I am incredibly grateful for the short yet action packed journey this very special boy gave me, he was the light of my life and the bond we shared is one I will be able to cherish forever in my heart.
Again, a big thank you to the Victorian Pinto committee, Shetland Pony Enthusiasts and the Australian Pony Studbook committee for the awards Sparkie received this season, they have all allowed our special, exciting and heartbreaking journey to end on the highest of notes. Sparkie came away with High Point Saddle Pinto under 10.2hh, High Point Saddle Shetland Gelding and Overall Achievement Award from the APSB for being a superb ambassador for the society and his breed all over Australia. We are so humbled to have had this journey with such an incredible pony, as much as I’d like to hand all the fame back to have him here with us we are grateful for it all and he now rests easy next to his best mate overlooking our property.
Thanks for reading our story and thanks to all those who were a big part of it all.
Briahna Larkins and one very special 'Sparkie'.
Caramia Kansas or Sparkie as he was so affectionately known at home came into our lives in November 2012 as a yearling. Completely unhandled he was run up a cattle race and shut in the float, cornered and a halter put on ready for the 4-hour trek home. Whilst I did fall in love with him immediately, if I am to be totally honest, he was one of the ugliest ponies I had ever seen. With his mats of hair hanging, big pot belly, almost entirely white, he looked more like a mountain goat than a Shetland. However, the 2 weeks following his arrival I spent endless hours gaining his trust and teaching him all the basics of becoming a well-mannered, respectable pony. On the 14th day of having him I was playing around and within 5 minutes I had accidentally taught him to lay down on command. Since then our bond grew rapidly from strength to strength (and of course he never forgot his party trick). Before he was “officially” started under saddle as a 3yo I was able to lay all over him, jump on him over his rump, crack whips off him, hitch the cart onto him and lead him absolutely anywhere. He was certainly shaping up to be that true one in a million pony. Sparkie was broken by me as a 3yo and went on to have huge success in all equine disciplines, included but not limited to; showing, dressage, jumping, barrel racing and other games. He became the ultimate allrounder and in my opinion the definition of what a Shetland should be. This past season saw us through many 'firsts', competing at the Shetland Pony Performance day where he won; working hunter, dressage, barrel racing, pony twist and cross country, taking out Champion Performance Gelding and Best Performed Newcomer. We then went on to have a cracker show season and from his minimal outings brought home many champions and our first ever Supreme Ridden Exhibit. I was very lucky that Sparkie had the attitude of a saint, not a nasty bone in his body and a never say no work ethic, making him the most complete package.
At only 5 years old Sparkie had an incredibly bright future ahead of him, however this was all cut much too short. Sometimes you wonder if some things are too good to be true, you get a one in a million horse, just to have it taken away a short time later. Sparkie was fighting fit, out of work yet still spoilt rotten every day, rugged, stabled and with everyone totally wrapped around his hoof, feeding him a carrot every time he spoke (he didn't shut up). So, to say it took us by surprise would be an understatement when one morning we found him disinterested in carrots and walking out of the stable quietly (totally out of character). We were lucky to know this pony so well and to see that something wasn't right and immediately contact the vet. From here the next 48 hours were nothing short of nerve wracking, Sparkie was kept under constant surveillance. He was initially treated for colic, however with no improvement he underwent blood tests and was treated that night with antibiotics for infection. He was monitored through the night and into the next day with no significant improvements but no drastic declines in health either. Throughout the day we noticed he would have highs and lows where he was perky one minute and very sad and dreary the next. By that afternoon we were still very unhappy with his lack of improvement and gave the vet another ring where they performed more blood tests, a peritoneal tap and more scans. The blood results returned with “no” white blood cells and quite a lot of fat stores. The vet diagnosed 'hyperlipeamia' and he was immediately referred to the Bendigo Equine Hospital for consultation and management. No time was wasted, loading him straight up and taking him to the hospital where he was welcomed with open arms and treated with what only can be described as the very best care and respect. Sparkie spent the next 24hours in intensive care in a critically “unstable” condition. I visited him once and while it was upsetting I'm glad I did; for in the very early hours of the next morning the vets had made the call that it was his “time”. We had told them to do everything they could to save him but he was “not” to suffer, he had been too good to us to be put through prolonged pain and suffering. Upon seeing the vets after his passing Sparkie was found to be a carrier of a disease (similar to that of a malaria carrier in humans) which completely depleted his immune system leaving him unable to fight any illness or injury; sadly, it was never going to matter what we done to save him, the first illness or injury he ever got would be the end. His passing had an incredibly devastating impact on us all and the many fans he had acquired throughout his journey. We thank both Seymour and Bendigo clinics for their incredible service to us in this difficult time and the beautiful cards we received from them after his passing. I am incredibly grateful for the short yet action packed journey this very special boy gave me, he was the light of my life and the bond we shared is one I will be able to cherish forever in my heart.
Again, a big thank you to the Victorian Pinto committee, Shetland Pony Enthusiasts and the Australian Pony Studbook committee for the awards Sparkie received this season, they have all allowed our special, exciting and heartbreaking journey to end on the highest of notes. Sparkie came away with High Point Saddle Pinto under 10.2hh, High Point Saddle Shetland Gelding and Overall Achievement Award from the APSB for being a superb ambassador for the society and his breed all over Australia. We are so humbled to have had this journey with such an incredible pony, as much as I’d like to hand all the fame back to have him here with us we are grateful for it all and he now rests easy next to his best mate overlooking our property.
Thanks for reading our story and thanks to all those who were a big part of it all.
Briahna Larkins and one very special 'Sparkie'.