Horsesdaily and DressageDaily’s “Boss Mare” Mary Phelps has a new “Boy Toy”. Phelps purchased “Buddy,” an American Shetland pony, carriage, and harness this winter in Florida from Johnny Robb, a media magnate who was active in marketing the American Shetland Pony Club and the American Miniature Horse Registry. The 12-year-old 10.1-hand pony, who reminds Phelps of Ashley Holzer’s Dressage Olympic mount, Pop Art, in miniature, has had an illustrious career in both pleasure and CDI competition. “Buddy is a super star pony,” said Johnny Robb. “He was in our back pasture waiting to find his person. He and Mary were destined to be together. Now she knows why I collect these little guys. They are awesome.”

“I have driven off and on my whole life,” said Mary, who has worked with multiple National Pairs Champion, Larry Poulin. “I began my career in media and photography 30 years ago at Pompano Park, where I groomed and trained standardbred race horses.” It was at Pompano Park where she met and apprenticed with photographer Cliff Latour, who launched her career in photography and reporting. Phelps was a member of the Florida Harness Writers, serving as president for a year in the 1990s, and has also been a long-time member of the FEI’s International Alliance of Equestrian Journalists.

“Buddy” knows it all, and I am taking lessons every week, refreshing and learning new skills. Driving is very much like riding dressage. You use “half halts” and position for collecting. Reinsmanship and technique are essential. With Buddy, I know I am safe and can focus on technique and having fun.

Fun is an important part of Phelps’s plans for the summer of 2008, who has expanded operations three years ago, purchasing property in Columbia, Kentucky, where HorsesDaily Inc is currently building a second structure on their 127 acres in south central Kentucky to accommodate their growing business. “This area of Kentucky, while very rural, has some of the finest high-speed fiber optic technology, developed by the state to help rural areas transition from tobacco farming. We manage most of the websites and photo business from this location.” Mary’s home office in DeLeon Springs, Florida, is managed by long-time associate and CSR Tracey Scharf, who is a constant presence in her Markel Equine Insurance business. At the same time, Mary travels and is on the scene with friends and clients at over 25 competitions a year. “Having Buddy has helped me to relate to the needs, worries, and details of our clients.” Said Phelps, who has her pony insured with her company, Markel.

“Buddy recently broke out in hives and just as I advise my clients, I called in to report his condition to our claims department, even though the problem was a minor one and you do not anticipate filing for a claim.” One of the most important requirements in an equine insurance policy is to report any issue with your horse if you are calling a vet for anything other than routine care. No matter how much we emphasize this in bold red writing, it is often an issue when an actual claim is reported. It has happened time and again where a minor issue develops into something more, and when a vet files a report, we often learn that something may not have been reported at the onset.”

Phelps has also leveraged her industry connections to negotiate for services such as shipping. “When we bought Buddy, Jimmy Welsh, of Elite Horse Transport LLC, had contacted us regarding a promotion for his company. If it had not been for Buddy, we would not have been made aware of his new company, which operates out of Richmond, Kentucky, where Jimmy and his wife also have a farm and rehab operation. We traded shipping from Florida to Kentucky for advertising, and Jimmy gladly took care of Buddy on his farm for a couple of days while we arranged for him to be picked up.” Now, when Jimmy calls to check in, he refers to himself as the shipper of the famous pony “Buddy,” even though he has shipped some of the biggest and best dressage and jumper horses across the USA.

Plans to compete this year include the Nashoba Carriage Classic in Germantown, Tennessee, September 19-21. “We owe it to Buddy to continue his illustrious career because he is so talented. But mainly this is about having a good time. I deal with high-level competition in our business all the time,” said Phelps, who just returned from San Juan Capistrano covering the Dressage Olympic Selection Trials. “I sent Debbie McDonald photos of Buddy yesterday, and she emailed back immediately saying she wants to do this someday too. I may have started a movement!”

Back home in Kentucky, Mary and he corgi Tasha travel by 4-wheeler through the woods and creeks to the barn where Buddy is boarded at Cameron Hill Farm owned by Kathy Blank. “It’s faster through the woods than by the road, and saves on gas!” Blank’s daughter, Christy Warrington, also works for Phelps as the manager of photo operations.

“To be able to transition from the two worlds of life with horses is an amazing blessing to have. My whole life I have wished for a pony when blowing out my birthday candles.” said the 57-year-old Phelps.

“I recently lost my best friend, my Mom, and it has been an enlightening experience. On the day she died unexpectedly of a heart attack, she found this hat in the church thrift store where she volunteered each Thursday. I saw the hat in her house, and wondered where it came from, when her friend told me she had snagged it for ‘Mary and her pony’. After all, one of the most enjoyable aspects of driving is getting to dress up and wear a nice hat. Thanks, Mom!”