No one knows exactly how old Smokey was when he died.  It's believed he was in his mid 30's.  We just know that he helped many children learn to ride.  When they outgrew him and he'd given them the confidence to move on to a bigger pony, he would be snapped up by a new family with a small child needing a sensible pony to learn to ride on.  He was a sweet kind pony and was being ridden nearly to the end.  He was a precious little man and holds a special place in many people's memories.

This is a tribute to Smokey and to all the other ponies that have helped children learn to ride.  They are moved from home to home - away from friends they've made to make new friends over again.  They go from homes knowledgeable about horse care to first time horse owners.  They teach parents about horse husbandry and children about patience.  Small in size but big of heart - they deserve all the love and care we can give them.