2007
The stagnating US economy, and Michigan's especially frightening downturn, has made it very difficult to place our ponies in good homes. As we were adamantly opposed to producing wonderful ponies only to worry about their futures the dream has changed for the time being: we have decided to stop breeding and concentrate on training the youngsters we have and finding wonderful homes for them.

Sparrow is now an incredible gelding experiencing new things we couldn't do with him as a stallion: living with his sons and sometimes best buddy/sometimes nemesis Killian the QH, being a member of the High School Equestrian Team, and going to Pony Club clinics and rallies. He is also now in driving training as previously we could not find anyone in Michigan who we were comfortable with taking him as a stallion, after looking for 3 years!

2006
Elk Creek Farm is owned by Katie and Robert Petersen. Katie and daughter Maggie (age 16) do most of the horse chores about the farm, while Robert and son Derek (age 14) help with much of the heavy work such as getting hay in, fencing, etc. It is a "hobby farm" in that both work full-time at "regular" jobs: Robert owns and runs a packaging/shipping business (the kids work there part-time during the summers), and Katie is a nurse, working night shift at the local low-level prison.

Katie is a graduate A Pony Clubber from way back, and Maggie is a current C2 Pony Clubber. Katie is the DC of their local Pony Club, Bay Winds, and active in the region. Through their involvement with kids and riding, they came to realize that many young riders in their area often started on small, not terribly athletic ponies. When the kids outgrew them, they were then thrown up on off the track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) as D2-D3 level pre-teens andteens, often with unpleasant if not downright scary results. This age and ability level of rider should not be trying to retrain an OTTB - it is too frustrating and even unsafe for horse and rider. It was often was the straw that broke the camel's back, and many of those kids just gave up riding.

Katie had grown up in Missouri riding "good ol' QH's", a great mount for young and inexperienced riders - but watched Pony Clubbers from the nearby St. Louis clubs riding beautiful Connemaras from Mrs. Moore's Three Creek Farm in St. Charles - and vowed to one day have one for herself!

So, when the opportunity presented itself, the Petersens bought Elphin Song Sparrow, a very kind and typey Connemara stallion, from Heather Sherratt in Ontario, Canada, with the plan to breed sane, safe, sound Connemara crosses and purebreds for their area Pony Clubbers - and adults - who wanted the ultimate family horse.

Their plan is now coming to fruition: they have a 2 yr old halfbred gelding about to be sold to a longtime Connemara lover in NY; his yearling brother is "downstate" with a young woman looking for the perfect all-around sport horse, and they have a weanling and yearling Welsh/Connemaras and a purebred weanling colt now. All are going to realize their dream of breeding safe, sound, fun, and personable mounts for the whole family!