On August 15, 1998, Mike and Louise Derrick, co-owners of the Water-Hole Custom Leather in East Hartford, Connecticut, (a unique BD/SM/DS leather shop that provides quality handmade leather and fetish gear) sponsored the largest Erotic Thoroughbred Event in the Eastern United States. There were over 135 attendees, including 25 human ponies and stallions of various breeds, a few precious dogs, cats, and lions, and the real or adoptive Trainers, Handlers, and Groomers of these fine animals. Spectators and participants came from all over the country, including Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Phoenix, and Wisconsin. There also were a few international travelers, including German Trainer Michael and his cart-pulling pony girl, Ingrid, who came from Dusseldorf.

The day was full of fun, frolic, judged events, and play for human pets and their Trainers, as well as others in the lifestyle who were respectfully curious about this small but growing niche in the BD/SM/DS world. The human pets and their Trainers found the day full of enjoyment, fun, comradeship, and light-hearted, but spirited competition. Spectators were genuinely surprised and delighted by the mischief the human pets could get themselves into, the respectful dance between human pets and their Trainers, and the excitement they felt in the company of these fine animals and their Trainers.
Mike Derrick (a.k.a. Buck) has been a ponyboy for over seven years now, and has recognized the need for gathering places or events that "Cater to those of us in the BD/SM/DS lifestyle who are serious about this niche. As this niche is small but growing, it seems only right to ensure that there are places for pets and their Trainers to gather, socialize, frolic, train, have fun, and show off," Mike said. "When my pony persona, Buck, emerged and took a look around, I saw that there were many of us, but that we tended to be spread out. I knew, once I had the means, I would open a coral for all of us to meet - especially the growing numbers of younger ponies and pets not yet certain how to trot around safely in this terrain."
Mike and Louise knew that the time had come to make this actually occur. Louise said that she noted, over recent years, the growing acceptance of this niche in the lifestyle, and the increasing popularity of ponies, pets, and their Trainers. "This is so evident when you look at the increasing number of web sites, chat rooms, bulletin boards, publications, and lifestyle demonstrations devoted to this topic. As a family-owned business that caters to all aspects of the lifestyle, we also have noticed the increasing number of leather and fetish stores, such as ours, that now offer tack and toys for this type of play." Mike added "requests for fetish gear specific to this lifestyle have been steadily increasing. And these requests are not only direct from our customers, but from many fetish stores who wish to offer a line of items representative of this niche." Many fetish stores now offer a range of animal gear or tack. In fact, the Water Hole Custom Leather is a leader in this aspect of the lifestyle, carrying a wide range of gear and toys for this purpose, all designed and handcrafted by master craftsperson, Mike Derrick - that is, when his hands are not bonded in his ponyboy hooves.

Anyway, knowing it was time to host such an event, this is exactly what Mike and Louise did - they put on the First Annual Erotic Thoroughbred Event, and the event was a grand success!

The event was held at Project 100 in Hartford, Connecticut. There was a large hall that served as the barn, with stalls for each human pet. It was decorated with pictures of Buck and Cinnamon, two well-known ponies from the Hartford area. To add to the décor, a pony cart and pony saddles were draped on the fence at the back of the stage, and bales of hale were scattered about. Clearly, when you entered the Project, it was unmistakable that you were entering the exquisite world of human pets and their Trainers. There also were two lounge or dressing areas, and a kitchen where rangers supplied good food throughout the day's events.

Once those participating in the event entered the exhibition hall, they were met with the following rules:

1. Human pets must stay in role once collared and leashed by their real or adoptive Trainers. Judges will observe and evaluate pets and their Trainers at all times.
2. Human pets found roaming around or solo, or without their leash will be placed in the pound until their Trainers wish to claim them.
3. Human pets can only speak human when permitted by their Trainers.

Clearly, as soon as participants entered the hall, they were in role and ready. There were also explicit rules for spectators, to assist the human pets to feel safe and respected:
1. Each human pet deserves to be treated with care and respect.
2. Spectators cannot touch any human pet without specific permission from the Trainer.
All participants registered. Some came with Trainers and others were adopted by Trainers-for-a Day, a unique component of the event, devised by Mike who knew that humans new to the lifestyle might show up more easily if they knew that adoption, protection, care, feeding, and fun were guaranteed. "It is so hard, within this niche, to find Trainers, and I wanted to be sure that all those desiring to live out their fantasies, but without Trainers, were welcomed by adoptive handlers for the day", Mike said.

One, two-year old yearling new to the public scene was adopted by a Trainer-for-a-Day, Kyra, one of the founding members of T.N.G., a BD/SM/DS group in Hartford, Connecticut. Kyra and others named this new ponyboy Hurdles, to symbolize all the hurdles he had to jump to bring himself to this public place and to join in all the festivities. While unable to talk (as we all know ponies cannot talk) one could easily see his delight at his new name. In fact, in his male persona, he wrote to this interviewer to explain the amazement he felt as he entered the public scene on this very important day.

Once each pet was settled in his or her stall, and tacked up, there was a Parade of Pets, where each animal and his or her Trainer were exhibited in front of the spectators and the judges. This was a spectacular sight! "Even someone who is not turned on by this kind of play could not fail to be affected by the sheer joy that filled the rooms.," said John Warren, one of the judges. "In fact", he continued, "as for myself, there was one kitten I'd have loved to take home."

After Buck's introduction, with his Trainer, Mistress L on his back, the events began. As the animals were a little shy, Mistress L had each human pet and Trainer walk by the judges for a brief introduction. This broke the ice, and the show was on the road!

Mike lined up six well-known lifestyle members as judges for daylong observation and evaluation of human pets and Trainers and for scoring the main events. John Warren was one of these judges, a 20-year Dominant, author of several books including The Loving Dominant and Safe, Sane, Consensual, and Fun and manager of Diversified Services, a mail-order BD/SM/DS and fetish catalog. Libby, a talented switch and a co-founder, with her partner John Warren, of the Boston Dungeon Society served as a second judge. Paul Reed, the Editor and Publisher of Equus Eroticus, and Lolita, a Board Member and long-time member of The Eulenspiegal Society (TES) also served as judges. Goddess Sia, a life-style and professional Dominatrix exquisitely experienced in a broad range of BD/SM/DS and fetish play, and Maitresse Lisanne, a professional dominatrix with pony training experience that does pony training on her farm served as judges as well. An impressive line up!

After the Parade and introductions, most pets were groomed again, fed and watered, and made ready for the day's competition. Trainers and their pets could then choose which of the competitive events they would participate in. Ponies, horses, stallions, cats, and lions alike all competed in a variety of both fun and difficult contests. These included:

Apple-Stealing:
Here the animal had to locate an apple, which was hidden on his or her Trainer's body, and successfully take ownership of it, using only their mouths. The event was judged by determining which pet used the most inventive play to get the apple. Cinnamon, a pony owned by Master J. came in first, closely followed by Twill, a strapping male Shire owned by Velvet.

Fetch-It:
Here human pets had to be on all fours and take a cup filled with water and empty it into their water dish, continuing until the water dish was filled. The winner was the first to get their dish filled. Trainers filled the cups and coached and encouraged their pets to finish. First place went to Jade, a very feline-like cat, while second was taken by Fuzz, a mongrel dog (who often ended up in the pound for knocking down garbage cans!).

Pop the Balloons:
Here, human pets had to pop balloons that were dropped and scattered on the floor while blindfolded. The winner, Cinnamon, used all four powerful hooves to pop thirty balloons. Michael closely followed her. Hurdles, said "I almost got my feet smashed several times by Cinnamon's hooves, but she made up for it when she nuzzled up next to me after the event."

Find Your Trainer:
Here, the human pets were led away from their Trainers and then had to locate them, blindfolded, solely depending on smell and sound. The event was quite confusing for the little guys, so awards were symbolically given to all.

As can be seen by the types of events noted, many were designed to engender a sense of fun, good humor, and a sense of play.

Human pets and their Trainers also were evaluated throughout the day for a variety of other awards, representing Best Performance, Best Costume, Staying in Role, Trainer Awareness, and Best of Show. For these awards, judges evaluated the intricate and intimate dance between human pet and Trainer; how closely human pets could approximate the characteristics of the animal and breed they took on as their persona; how respectfully and carefully Trainers cared for, encouraged, commanded, and disciplined their pets; and which team stood out as most representative of this niche in the life style. "I also gave points for humor", said one of the judges, Lolita, " because, to my mind, this also was a time for good fun and frolic."

It took the judges, Buck, and Mistress L over 45 minutes to compile the scores and come up with the list of animals who placed. "Judging this event was one of the hardest things I've had to do recently.," said John Warren. "Not only were the presentations of high quality, but the variation in styles was mind boggling. Even within this relatively small subgroup of BDSM players, there is such a multitude of styles and approaches."

Awards were given out in the form of leather roses in the right color for the event. These were handed out by Mistress L, seated in the cart with Buck hitched to it, and assisted by Louise, co-owner of the Water Hole.

At day's end, Stone Pony captured rose for Best Costume and Best Performance. "Master R captured the wild pony with his long whip and then she was ridden on all fours and then upright by Slave Vic - her movements were extremely graceful," said Lolita. Amy B. and Moonlight walked away with the Trainer Awareness award. Piper, a young female pony, and Mackenzie, an adult male who cross-dresses for the day as a twelve-year-old girl, won Staying in Role and Best of Show roses. "It was their first time out as show pony and trainer, and they had only been working together for six months, so they were elated and surprised", said Lolita. She continued by saying "I could see a major improvement in her handling as she incorporated some real dressage moves. Everyone could also see a real loving relationship between them. . I could really see the kind of love and attention that a 12 year old girl gives to her horse."

For staying in role, second place went to Jade, and third to Trigger. Second and third place for Best Costume went to Cinnamon and Jerry, respectively. Trigger took second place and Piper took third for Trainer Awareness. In reverse order, Piper took second and Trigger took third for on-stage performance. "While they did not place, I was also impressed by Lady R, a trainer with two lions who had trained them to perform a circus act," said Lolita.

In addition to all the judged events and evaluated roles, some very special performances, by the likes of Cinnamon and Buck (who performed a demo of a pony put out for Stud Service) added to the fun and free spirit of the day.

After the events and the awards were given out, there was a play party, where many of the pets, Trainers and spectators took part.
"The event was a major success" said Goddess Sia, "and this success speaks to the growing popularity of this niche in the lifestyle, and of the ever-present need to offer gathering places so that current and prospective human pets and their Trainers can meet with others who are interested in and/or serious about this form of fetish play."

So how did the pets take to this day? Well, for Hurdles, "While racing the next day, I kept wondering if I was running by Mistress Lalique's farm where Trigger had just been for five days. I chuckled as I knew that all the people running next to me did not know I had just spent the previous day as a pony competing in a show. My mind kept drifting over all the sights and sounds of the day before, leaving me quite excited (even sexually) making me wonder what it would be like to be put through my paces at the next pony show. It has been a week now and I still converse with my pony friends daily as I try to find another event in which Hurdles can play. I still blush today as I remember Cinnamon, Stone Pony, and Piper nuzzling up against me and my whinnies at being so excited and wanting to frolic with them in the pasture."
Mike and Louise were delighted by the success and the responses, and by all the requests to continue this as a tradition. Being edged on by his pony persona, Buck, Mike is certain that the Water Hole will make this an annual event. Soon after the festivities closed, Buck announced that another show would be held in August of 1999. This time "I would like to find a way to hold the event outdoors and for a longer period of time" Buck said. "Holding the event outside will allow for competitions such as cart-pulling and barrel-racing, and will just allow all the animals more room to roam."
Goddess Sia, echoing the thoughts and appreciation of everyone there, also said "Mike and Louise should be commended for recognizing the need for such gatherings and for finding a way to provide this to such a wide audience."