Work It Out With Personal Ponies

There's got to be a middle ground between Personal Ponies - and its five Shetland ponies who have entertained so many kids - and New Castle County's concern over liability issues involving the housing of the ponies at Carousel Park. The good news is that both sides will talk Monday.

News Journal reporter Angie Basiouny reported last week that Patty Draper, executive director of the state chapter of the nonprofit group, said she had received notice from the manager of Carousel Park that she must remove the ponies by April 30. County officials said volunteers had tended to the ponies three times in recent months after park hours, creating a potential liability for the county when no employee was on hand to supervise them and watch out for their safety.

"This all was such a shock and a surprise," says Draper, who despite being caught off guard by the move by county officials, wants to keep the ponies at Carousel if a deal can be reached.

Draper is scheduled to meet with Michael Svaby, acting general manager for the county's Special Services Department, on Monday. And she'll likely have Rich Abbott, a former County Councilman and attorney, along with her to make her case. Abbott offered to represent Personal Ponies pro bono.

Personal Ponies is a national group with chapters in nearly every state and abroad. At Carousel Park and at public and private events, the ponies are there for kids - sick, disabled and abled - to pet, groom, feed, lead and even nuzzle - or be nuzzled, as Glory did to Henry Kuratle V in the 2006 photo (above) by Fred Comegys.

Since November 2006 - when the county took in the program free of charge - the ponies at Carousel have touched the lives of hundreds of kids. Here's hoping the two sides can find a way for something good for kids and families to continue.