03/17/08 Tribute to Teddy O'Connor

Everyone loves the David and Goliath stories, you know the ones where the 5'7 point guard goes pro or Rudy gets in the game in the last seconds. Well stay tuned, after the break and I will tell you about how a pony with an Irish name is making history prevailing against giants in the sport of eventing. If you have ever watched any of the Olympic horse events you've seen massive warmbloods and tall thoroughbreds, yet one 14.1 hand chestnut pony named Teddy is leaving the international competition in his dust and gaining quite the fan base in the process. Here's Susan Allen with a St. Paddys day tribute to a pony named Teddy O'Connor Jeff twelve year old Teddy ridden by Karen O'Connor proves size doesn't matter. This Arab, Thoroughbred, Shetland cross won both individual and team eventing gold medals in last years Pan Am Games and hopefully will make a repeat performance at the Olympics in Hong Kong. In the grueling sport of cross country jumping Teddy's confirmation, short thick cannon bones and stout body keeps him sound and being typical pony he is an easy keeper, no grain thank you. But it is the little fellow's fear of having anything touch his legs that makes him fly over huge jumps and become the first pony ever to enter prestigious show jumping events. Well here's a toast on St. Patrick's Day to Teddy O'Conner, one little Irish named pony that proves it not the size of the dog it's the size of the fight in the dog. I'm Jeff Keane.