Topaz, the Epitome of a Mackinac Family Pony
“Old Paint’s a Good Pony...,”
‘Good-bye Old Paint’

At some point during our annual horse show this August, I found myself standing near the John Fisher family. In the middle of the Fisher clan was their pony, Topaz. This fellow has been much a part of their lives on Mackinac Island. Family members took turns holding Topaz or readying him for his class entries. Topaz looked great, his multi-colored coat was gleaming, his tail and mane shiny, his ears alert, and his eyes were bright. The Fishers had gone one step ahead for him too, as Topaz had his hay neatly served to him. It was fresh and dampened with water in his tub, just how he likes it. Topaz may be just a backyard pony to some, but to me, I regard him as the epitome of what a family pony does – he brings families together and becomes part of their lives.

At left: Colton (left) and Paul Fisher stand with family pet pony, Topaz.

Topaz has lived more than 15 years with Barb and John Fisher in the backyard of their home in Harrisonville. He has a small turnout, and there is a lean-to and small barn that still stands from when the primary home was built. The pony originally came from Dale Gough, and he returns to the Gough's farm in the Upper Peninsula when the summer season is over.

According to Barb, Dale found this comely fellow downstate; however, back then, Topaz didn’t look like what he looks like now. He was tethered on a long rope to a cement block in a scrappy field. The pony was in poor condition, thin enough with ribs showing, and an unkempt mane and tail. The story goes that Dale felt sorry for the horse, made an offer to the owner, and the rest, they say, had a "Mackinac Ending." Happily ever after? Close enough.

Dale arranged for John and Barb Fisher to use the horse the first year because they had a young family and they were keen on having him and working with him. At that time the Fisher's eldest daughter, Heather, took a real liking to the pony and gave him his name. Heather's birth month is November and she named him after November's birthstone, which is topaz. Everyone liked that more than Elmer, which is the name he came with.

Topaz has been a mount at one time or another for all of the Fisher kids; Heather, Adam, Paul, and now Colton. He has been a part of the annual Mackinac Island Horse Show since he came to the Island. Topaz today is somewhere in his 20s in age. "He can be a bugger about some things, but he is really not bad," says Barb. Like the pony himself, his feed is not fussy. Aside from watering his hay down, Topaz is content enough and eats a grain-pellet combination, Purina 100 Horse Chow, which is good and basic.

In my opinion, he is a very pretty pony. Many people would call him a Paint, but in this case, Paint is a general term for a horse made of solid colors, not spots (often those get generically called Appaloosas). Often owners of registered Paints or Appys get disgruntled over the widespread application of the term “paint” that colored saddle horses get, but, sure enough, most people would call Topaz a Paint. Topaz doesn't care. I don’t think Topaz would object if he was referred to as a "horse," because in his mind he is as tough and tall as any 16-hand horse or taller. Little ponies are like that. Actually, the nice thing about a small horse or a large pony for families is that the small size at least makes them approachable, more appealing to get on and ride. If one does fall off, the distance to the ground is a lot shorter.

Barb Fisher enjoys this horse as well and likes to ride him very early in the mornings. Not only a wife, mother, and manager of a busy household, Barb is the secretary for the Mackinac Island Public School. She can often be seen untacking Topaz by 8 a.m., before she heads down the hill to work on her bike. Colton and Paul ride him the rest of the time.

This year Colton scored a second place with Topaz in Trail Class (5-8 years), was “Jesse James” in the Costume Class, and they won the Western Championship in that age group. Congratulations, and nice work for a good little team.

Candice Dunnigan is an active member of the American Equestrian Association, the Waterloo Hunt, and the Mackinac Island Horsemen’s Association. Seasonally she resides at Donnybrook and Easterly Cottage.