Pony Profiles: Balius Kerry Blue

Balius Kerry Blue moved from Novice Level eventing to Intermediate in less than three seasons and according to the USEA records, she was the first pony-sized individual, standing only 14.1 hands, to ever compete successfully at Intermediate Level, both in horse trials and full-phase events.

Kerry began her performance career at age 12 after serving time as a broodmare. Her superior athletic ability and her love of the galloping and jumping phases of Eventing, often put her at the top of AHSA/USCTA recognized division in which, throughout her career, she competed only with horses.

Kerry won bronze, silver and gold medallions in Combined Training in the American Connemara Pony Society and at the 1992 Area VI Young Rider Championships, Balius Kerry Blue, the only pony in a top-notch field of horses, won the overall Equine Fitness Award. In 1992 she was recognized as “Horse of the Year” by the American Connemara Pony Society and was featured in 1993 issues of The Chronicle of the Horse and Equues.

In April 1993, at the age of 16, Kerry returned to the broodmare pasture to add to her brood of three talented offspring. At term, Kerry colicked and despite the efforst of a U.C. Davis surgical team, she could not be saved. A beautiful bay filly is her legacy.

Bright memories live on of the courageous, 14.1 hand mare dubbed “The Magic Pony” by an enthusiastic fan and in 1995 she received posthumously the most prestigious career performance ward offered by the American Connemara Pony Society, the Camlin Trophy.