It had been presented to Deborah as an invitation but was something more because the announcement that Sheldon was holding an event, "The Festival", was an annual event in the equine community. Many of the influential members of the community sponsored themed events on a regular basis inviting other like minded pony owners for a day of fellowship and exhibitionism at their ranches. This was Deborah's fifth month of pony ownership, and as she had demonstrated a high degree of interest and satisfaction in human ponies, it was quietly discussed among the upper members that yes she would be introduced to their society officially. The intention was that this would be Mrs. Whittingham's "coming out" event and she would be their newest pony owner debutante in the equine community. The motives behind all this were not explained to Deborah as Sheldon merely invited her to attend what he called "a gathering of like minded pony owners" and a chance to understand their world. Intrigued, of course, Deborah was reluctant but over the course of two weeks agreed and consented that she would demonstrate Stoney pulling her buggy.

The day arrived and she was amazed at the sight with at least 50 people in attendance, a canopy pavilion, and yes lots of top notch ponies she had never seen on display. She was dressed in expensive riding attire without being too ostentations that complimented her trim figure but was also functional as she would have to handle her pony from a buggy. The event was catered by an exclusive and discreet company, the rich and powerful mingled in an intimate and comfortable fashion sipping refreshments and greeting others with customary politeness, and a clear posture of their position. Deborah tried very hard to feel at ease but could not shake herself free from the thought that these people were like her and owned ponies as these thoughts were simply overwhelming. Sheldon officially took a microphone and introduced her but her mind was racing and she was obviously very tight and nervous especially when she received a polite clapping for having taken ownership of some promising ponies and joining their society. Sheldon announced the events of the day and said that there would be non-competitive show pony displays, examples of pony training, pony demonstrations by owners, and that there would be a small wild pony auction for those who were interested later. Deborah tried to mingle but was unnerved by the scene when her arm was taken from behind by an elderly matron who asked, "why don't you join me for a while in conversation".

The older woman was one of Sheldon's first teachers, Mrs. Doyson, who had help counsel him on the proper development of brood mares. She led Deborah to a quiet corner of chairs, introduced herself, and seated confidently inquired about Deborah and her status (but of course already knew everything having been forewarned). It took a long hour of slow non-committal conversation for Deborah to loosen up and finally Mrs. Doyson stated, "we owners share ourselves with each other as like minded folks so that we can learn to trust one another and divulge personal information as a sign of entry so what is your story?" Gathering herself Deborah spewed out rapid fire why she was here, cheating husband and mistress plotting her murder, pony revenge, wrong pony taken, satisfaction in learning pony ownership, strong intense interest in pony training, etc..... She went on for about 30 minutes as Mrs. Doyson let her ramble excitably and when Deborah caught her breath she was congratulated for finding a "very deep and true calling". Then Mrs. Doyson asked, "and will you being showing any of your ponies?" Deborah's response indicated that she was at last beginning to relax somewhat and she proudly said, "yes I intend to show my pony boy behind a buggy and I think he is very good being only five months into his pony training". The ice broken the two women talked for an hour more and began cementing their personal relationship as Deborah related her story and listened raptly as Mrs. Doyson discussed her experience running a profitable brood mare ranch for the past 40 years.

After almost two hours of conversation between the women Jo approached and standing quietly for a moment interjected that Sheldon recommended that now might be a good time to demonstrate Stoney at The Festival. Mrs. Doyson smiled and knowingly nodded her head to Deborah who gathered her courage and acknowledged the suggestion, Jo pointed to the pony boy ready with buggy outside the pavilion tied to a railing, and all eyes followed her as she walked outside to him and untied his leash. Seating herself in the buggy she tried to exude confidence and pulled the reins to turn him and the buggy away from the railing and give a crisp "giddee up boy" and with a light tap from her whip got him moving. He started instantaneously and began pulling in the direction that the reins dictated, digging in his conditioned legs to pull positively as commanded, and seemingly effortlessly began trotting and pulling the ultra-light weight buggy under her command. Deborah had been coached on how to conduct this demonstration and took Stoney on several wide circles near the pavilion, then began a series of turns and loops, which was followed by tighter twist turns through some pre-positioned plastic cones that clearly exhibited Stoney's training, coordination, and responsiveness but also Deborah's skill in controlling him. After 20 minutes Stoney, having strongly trotted with a straight back and high leg stride, was brought to a walk and directed back to the tie off railing. Stoney was breathing heavily, sweating, but had not lost any of his pony concentration while responding to his owner's guidance. Deborah was feeling euphoric as she hoped out of the buggy seat but then was stunned by the genuine and strong applause from the other pony owners which took her a few moments to acknowledge before she took a stage bow rewarding everyone with a bright smile --- she was one of them.

Deborah did not forget the other star of the show Stoney and was effusive in praise as she tied him off and gratefully took the offered sugar cube from Jo and pushed it into his mouth. He responded positively, of course, but also humanly understood the turning point significance too, "I just put on a good pony boy display of obedience, training, and conditioning ...... because that is what I am now .... the sugar cube is nice is there a water nozzle nearby?"

The Festival continued with several demonstrations of show ponies and training with Deborah being intrigued by one gentleman owner who had two statuesque pony girls who were very tall and not just because of their booted hooves. These pony girls were drop dead gorgeous, buxom, firm and toned bodies, obviously professionally broken and well trained. Harnessed to a buggy as a team they effortlessly pulled the man around as he demonstrated their skills and conditioning which drew Deborah's curiosity so she determined to know more about them and him. Martin Caiden was tall and attractive as a man, apparently a man of substance judging by his dress and demeanor, and very skilled in handling his show ponies. As Deborah approached him he smiled and extended his hand with a polite society handshake between a man and woman and voiced the usual introductory curtseys. He congratulated her on her performance in managing her pony boy, and the way he said it caused her to flush with pride and a bit of conceit. After several minutes of polite conversation she steered the talk to his pony girls and their superb conditioning and stunning beauty. Martin took the cue and explained that he only owned and worked show girl ponies as it was his passion that balanced his professional life in owning several large but personally demanding companies. He stated, "I take the only the best women after much research, break them, and train them into award winning show ponies". He said this so proudly, matter of factly, that it stroked Deborah's imagination and made a point that this pony owner made no bones about what he did to beautiful women that came into his view. Further, he explained while standing next to his pony girls and softly caressing their skin with his finger tips and the back of his hand, "I spotted these two beauties as show girls in Las Vegas, arranged their abduction a year ago, had them taken to my ranch and transitioned them into the best quality show girl ponies. Of course, they did not volunteer for this but as you can see my methods work". He talked well within ear shot of both pony girls as if they could not understand but as Deborah took in his words she glanced at the pony girls and it was obvious from their very faint but distinct posture that they understood and a passing cloud of discomfort sadness could be seen. Once they had pride fully marveled in their beauty and feminine grace with the attention it had brought them from men. Now they understood how their beauty had resulted in their life changing status as ponies, with no recourse but obedience and submission to pony life, and with no chance of rescue.

Lunch was announced and the owners outside entered the pavilion as a bevy of grooms tended to the ponies tied off at the railings. Stoney got some water from Jo and indicated through his posture that he was grateful which earned him a rump pat and words of further encouragement over his performance. During lunch there were several announcements about other events for the day as the crowd of owners animatedly talked and exchanged news while discussing their community and ponies. Seated at a table of several other owners Deborah was quiet but took in every conversation she could hear and from time to time offered up an input. As dessert was winding down Mrs. Doyson was suddenly whispering in her ear, "Deborah could I introduce you to someone --- in need of a favor?" Deborah rose and made the normal polite departure words and then walked with the older woman to spot outside a corner of the pavilion to another woman about Deborah's age but a little on the stout side. Introductions were made with Patsy Harper who owned a brood mare ranch but had recently lost her stallion to old age and had arranged for one of her mares to be serviced at the Festival but that stallion owner was a no show. "So I understand your pony boy has recently successfully serviced your mare --- could I inquire if you are standing him to stud and your fee?"

Deborah thought for a moment and stated she had not really thought about it and did not have enough experience to answer the request. Plus she added that Sheldon had a stallion available causing both other women to laugh and verbally convey that he charged too much for his stallion who despite his physical condition seemed a little odd pony wise. Deborah turned to Mrs. Doyson for guidance who suggested a contingency agreement be arrived at of 10% of the sale of a successful foal to the adoption business or a flat fee of $1000 for a successful breeding on a promising but not yet proven stud. Agreement was reached on the flat fee and then logistics were discussed and a plan to meet in an hour at the breeding railing that Deborah pointed out 100 yards away.

Deborah went in search of Sheldon to discuss things and her need to have a groom assist and he said he would see to it. Naturally he wanted to know the business details, but withheld asking, as he wondered how he could have made a profit out of this event. The hour went by slowly back in the pavilion and then Jo appeared at one of the entrances, caught Deborah eye and nodded for her to come out to Stoney. Once outside Jo smiled at Deborah and said, "are you ready to assist today Mrs. Whittingham?" getting a positive reply from Deborah as they both unhooked Stoney from the buggy poles and disconnected the reins from his bit. Deborah took the lead and grasping the leash closely to his collar with one hand had the rest of the leash gathered in her hand commanded, "come along Stoney time to earn your keep". They crossed the yard and observed Patsy and Rhonda getting the mare to the railing and in position for being covered and mounted.

The mare was older than Stoney and had already successfully dropped eight foals in her time as brood mare and knew what was coming as her rump moved with anticipation under the rail strap. At one time she had been a graduate student intent on life in academia but became a little too interested in pony life and ultimately her risk taking fantasies landed her permanently as a pony. Encouraged to be part of a film as a pony girl actor she spent several hours in front of the camera going through training routines with other ponies. At the end of the day expecting to be released from her tack and paid for her acting she was unceremoniously pulled into a pony trailer and taken away. There would be no more pony girl acting from then on - only the real thing as a pony girl.

She was in great shape having spent the past five months recovering from her last pregnancy while being a milker until it was determined to stop her milk production and put her back into service as a ready mare. Stoney noticed the situation quickly and without any human thought his cock became swollen in its locked status which Deborah noticed and any worry about him performing vanished. Tying his leash off at the low stump Deborah kneeled in front of Stoney and fumbled to take off the locking ring because of her inexperience, nervousness, and due to how swollen he was. Jo offered to help, but Deborah declined, and in a moment the cock swung free and as she had seen done before she grasp it and pulled it out to its full length. Stoney stared intently at the mare, mostly at her rump and legs, but also noted the extra large udders and the distended teats from her recent milking routine. Deborah tapped the underside of his cock glands and he went from mostly erect to fully erect with his cock sticking straight out - he was ready right now. Taking his arms in theirs Jo and Deborah gained further control of him, Deborah untied his leash and closely holding it near his collar they started him on a circle of the mare. For her part the mare did not make eye contact with him but took in his physical features for a moment and then zero'd in on his pony cock that was stiff and ready knowing it was her time for another breeding. They only circled twice before Rhonda checked that the mare was ready and nodded it was time for the main event. Deborah struggled a bit as they approached the mare because Stoney was in prime physical condition, large at six foot four inches and 210 pounds of pony stallion, and his testosterone level was at maximum. Once they were about six inches from the mare's vagina he surged into her in one powerful stroke that drew a hoarse stallion grunt from him and high pitched scream from the mare. Nature took over full control here and he pumped thrusts into the mare for almost four minutes before ejaculating globs of semen deep inside of her. It took this long because after eight foals her tightness was stretched and gone but her fertility was still there and that is why Patsy wanted her bred as she was still a money producer.

Jo cautioned Deborah to stay focus on control as Stoney's wet dripping cock slipped from the mare explaining that he was "in stallion lala land and would be very unpredictable". Up close and personal, like this, Deborah had an intense emotional experience herself having never in her wildest thoughts that she would be doing something like this and then a conviction that "Stoney was now a stallion, a stud, whose semen was for sale in breeding". Finding more control the two women turned around Stoney so that he was no longer able to see the mare and passing the leash to Jo who started leading him away for a cock wash then a return to the buggy for more afternoon runs. Patsy was praising her mare and rubbing her rump telling her "what a good job sweetheart, you took him very well, and got ready very quick". Then Patsy turned to Deborah and gave her an unconscious hug and said," thank you, I did not want to let her pass in season without getting bred and wasting a month". For her part Deborah said, "oh your welcome I'm glad how we got it done", then turning to return to the pavilion noticed that many in Festival attendance had witnessed the breeding and concluded that she was now one of them in the equine community.

The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly as ponies were put on display and several experienced pony owners gave seminar talks on responsibilities of ownership, training, grooming, and successful breeding to small groups. Deborah enjoyed putting on another demonstration of Stoney's buggy skills and was quite pleased with herself and shocked when Sheldon took the microphone and announced that for those that were interested three wild ponies were in the nearby temporary steel railing pen being offered for sale by Bandy Ranch. Half of the group surged to go see and Deborah felt unconsciously compelled to go see too. In the pen were two young pony girls and one pony boy in their late teens or early twenties and all three in obvious emotional distress and fear. Seven days earlier they had been on an extended hike and camping trip and had wondered into some very remote country on the south side of Big Bear Mountain. A professional pony collector had noticed their solitary car parked at the trail head and through his connections had run the plates to discern some information about who they might be learning one of the girls owned the car and with that information found her age and a few particulars. Calling for his partner they placed the area under surveillance and two days later as the trio came up the trail head confronted them pretending to be park rangers and accusing them of illegal trespass. Verbally controlling them with intimidation they proceed to explain they were going to be interrogated behind their truck and horse trailer. While one collector watched the others they were led one by one to the back of the trailer out of sight of each other, in the remote parking area, got a dose of incapacitating drug spray and then pushed into the trailer. Then they were quickly shackled, chained, and drugged and taken down the mountain where the two collectors spent a few hours offering them for sale telephonically until the Bandy Ranch owner agreed to take them on consignment. The collectors would get 50% of the ultimate sale price and the ranch owner would pocket the rest or add them to his collection.

The wild ponies were naked except for their harness and boots which they were still unsure of, they had been caned punished just enough to be made obedient to basic handling, were unbranded, and still very wild and not yet ponies. The nature of their capture was explained as this was important to the community wishing to maintain its discreetness. The pony boy was essentially worthless as he was short and underweight having never seen any athletic exercise so there was not much that could be done with him until he was bulked up, castrated and put out as a draft pony. Nonetheless one farmer offered $3000 and it was accepted on the spot without any haggling. The two pony girls were attractive enough in their youthfulness but were not show pony girl quality nor big enough to ever be draft ponies so their probable use was as brood mares. In this regard they had some qualities with positive hip structure, medium udders that would grow over time, and they exhibited a wide eyed submissive look. They had been crying, of course, for days after their capture and rough treatment but only vaguely realized they were being sold.

Deborah studied the pony girls and moved to look at them from the side and rear noting their physical characteristics and listening to the auctioneer explain how they were captured and possible uses. In addition she overheard the comments from the owner crowd understanding what the more experienced were seeing (or not seeing) in these wild pony girls. Bidding started and it started very slowly so the auctioneer worked overtime to generate interest on the natural blond who stood in one spot but shaking in fear which aroused some interest eventually and serious bidding started. She went for $23,000 and then it was time for her friend who had long dark brown hair that she was very proud of and more womanly curves. This pony girl was understandably frightened, but she stood stock still with her head up and looking straight ahead. Bidding started and impulsively Deborah joined in, a strategy mistake she later admitted as she should have set a limit and bid on a strategy of use for the pony girl. The bidding went up and then slowed until Deborah was announced as the winning bid at $29,000.

Sheldon was pleased at what he witnessed knowing he now had another pony to board for Deborah and perhaps leading to more profits. Financially of course nobody carried that amount of cash with them so the ponies would be boarded with a third party until actual funds were transferred then released for transport to their new owners. Sheldon quickly arranged this for Deborah at another ranch and within three days her new brood mare was at the SS ranch and under the breaking and training of Jo and Rhonda. As agreed Deborah would wait a few weeks before checking the status of her new pony and literally did not give the new pony girl much thought as Stoney occupied most of her thoughts.