About Us

My POA Pony.com TC Belle of the HouseTrainers: Bob and Marta Yeakey
 
 We are natural horsemanship trainers of POA Ponies and follow the teachings of Ray Hunt and Tom Dorrance.  Between the two of us we have 65 years experience raising and training horses and ponies.  We live on 13 acres in Newaygo County, Michigan with our 5 POA ponies, an American Mustang Pony and 3 Toy Australian Shepherds.  We enjoy spending time training our ponies and work together as a team.  Bob and I look forward to spending the warmer months on the road camping and trail riding, showing halter at local shows and training on Extreme Mountain Trail courses here in Michigan.  

In 2013, Bob had a left side hemorrhagic stroke and lost a good portion of the left side of his brain.  He was unable to move his right side and had lost the ability to speak, read and write.  He had anger management issues, depression and was suicidal. 

The year prior to Bob's stroke, Marta sold off all their Pinto ponies and Paint horses and replaced them with POA ponies. She grew up training and showing Pinto ponies in the 80s; but, after training a POA named Billy, for Tiny Densmore of Marshall, Michigan, she fell in love with the breed and had to make the switch to POAs after that.  (Little did she know,  that God would use the POA breed to bring restoration to Bob.  Stealing their hearts in the process. Yes, this breed is THAT special!) 

During Bob's stay in the hospital, Marta got to work reading about how to rehab someone with Bobs impairments.  She read a book about neuroplasticity, by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor called My Stroke of Insight. She learned that the brain could totally rewire itself and that most of Bob's impairments would improve over time with the right types of stimulation. She also learned that great strides were being made by using horses in this process. The movement of the riding a horse helps reprogram the brain because of neuroplasticity.  That fall when Bob was released from Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Marta asked a neighbor to help get Bob on a pony.  From that day on he was on a pony just about every day.  It was pretty rough at first.  Bob had a lot of frustration, but out of that frustration a lot of words started to emerge. Bad words at first, but pretty soon...good boy, good girl...etc.  It was a long, slow, patient process, but it worked!  Bob is now able to walk and can talk somewhat.  He still can't read or write much, but that doesn't stop him from living.  Marta has continued to work with Bob and has been teaching him how to start ponies. This gave him a purpose.  Currently(2024), they have 3  that they are training to sell to forever families.  Bob can't do much ground work, because his knees are not good, so Marta has to assist him.  When a pony is ready for it's first ride, she helps Bob get on.  They spend about two weeks in a round pen walking, stoping, turning and backing around cones, poles and obstacles. Once Bob feels like he has good control, he hits the trail.  He will trail ride a pony at a walk and trot  for two years and then pass it on to Marta.

They believe in positive non-abusive training practices....stearing away from using pain and intimidation to train.  Bob only uses his hands, seat and feet....he does not start them using spurs, bits, whips or chains.  Bob uses a side pull and his body to communicate, through rythmic movments of asking and giving till the pony understands what the request is.  It is a very low stress system, starting out just a few minutes a day...slowly adding more time under the saddle as each day goes by.  Bob lets the pony dictate the pace...and does a good job of listening to their needs.  Most of the time, the ponies just ride right off, with very little resistance. Marta feels Bob does a pretty good job on the basics.  When Marta takes the pony back, she's pretty pleased with what Bob has taught them. Makes her job of adding buttons and finishing easier.  Together they make a great team!