HOMMAGE TO DEBONAIR, or NONI THE PONY
Noni at age 26 after a clip job
Sweet and robust DEBONAIR is a German pony, born on March 31, 2000. DEBONAIR means “confident, stylish, and charming.” Webster Dictionary adds: “suave, nonchalant, gentle, courteous. ,,, “Calling someone debonair is another way of saying they've got a certain Je ne sais quoi, or to be more specific (and to complete the rhyme,) savoir faire.” There certainly is something French to this German Pony. We can pick from the additional online list of adjectives that define “debonair” that perfectly describes Noni, as everyone calls him at the barn: gracious, well-mannered, courteous, gallant, genteel, well-bred, smart, dashing, dapper, ….etc. This 26 year-old horse is one valued and hard-working lesson horse!
Noni came into my life when I first moved to Florida in 2009 as a working student to pursue my dressage career. He was in training with my trainer, Erin Brinkman, and therefore I got to know him very well and even rode him in lessons with her. I remember he had a LOT of energy back then! Erin would say he has the gas pedal pushed down all the way all the time, lol!
A few months later, my friend Shannon bought him and used him for her Grandson to ride. I like to say he was very well preserved during that time, and also a bit under-utilized. She had a lesson program and used him to teach kids also. A few years later, I moved closer to Shannon and started riding him for her again - it was just like old times, and he still had a lot of energy! Shannon did eventually sell him, as her grandson was no longer riding him, and he went to a sweet older lady. However, Noni had too much energy for her, and when I heard that it was not going well with them, I reached out to her to see if I could help with him, since I always felt a strong connection with him.
When she said yes, she wanted to sell him, I knew he would be mine, and I acquired him to start using in my lesson program, and he arrived in February of 2021. I was working in Georgia at the time (during Covid, it was the best place to be!) and working with a lot of kids, so having a well-schooled lesson pony was invaluable. Given his energy, sensitivity and lofty gaits (don’t let his size fool you!) he did a lot of lunge lessons, but he soon learned his job and with the help of a tom thumb bit, he was able to be ridden by kids off the lunge line and do some local schooling shows.
Although Noni is ridden – sometimes twice per day – by many lesson riders with a variety of abilities, he is sensitive and communicates when he understands the aid and when he doesn't understand. He is a competent teacher, a veritable school master. He teaches his riders how to use their seat, and correct timing and application of the aids. His lateral work is a breeze, and he is steady in the contact. He is trained to 3rd/4th level, and could still help a rider earn their bronze with good scores!
In addition to being used in the lesson program, he has also had several riders part-lease him to invest in their riding education and also take him to shows.
Natalie riding Noni at a SDCTA show
His most recent leaser was Maggy, who came to my barn late afternoon on October 11, 2025 when Noni was showered in the wash-stall, and I was helping a student to tack up Rio for a lesson. The petite elderly woman introduced herself, and said that she was looking for dressage lessons and a horse for lease to train for the Century Club ride. “I have the perfect pony for you, Noni the Pony, 25 years young!” Noni picked his ears and looked invitingly at Maggy who fell in love with him right at this very moment. We agreed to a few lessons and our half-lease contract was signed two weeks later. Maggy who had leased a horse before at a stable that was sold, had a clear goal, and I could help her reaching it with Deboanir how she called him lovingly and full of adoration. Read more about it here: The Dressage Foundation's Century Club
Maggy after her Century Club ride.
Noni gets a lot of love and care from all his riders. He cherishes being groomed and showered and massaged. As all of my horses, he gets individualized supplements and medication for the specific conditions. Thus, Noni's Cushing's Disease is controlled without major symptoms other than sensitive skin and needing to be clipped regularly, which he loves anyway! He will continue to be a valued member of my lesson herd until he tells me he is ready to retire, but he is not slowing down just yet!