Miss May Is Perfect Horse for Island Student Amelia Roe
by Candice C. Dunnigan
"Boot, saddle, to horse and away!"

- Robert Browning

It has been many a child's dream to get his or her own horse. For quite a few children who live on Mackinac Island, this is no easy task. Like sailors on a boat, engulfed by water but unable to drink, our youth grow up surrounded by the presence of horses, but often find themselves unable to have a horse of their own. To achieve that state here, you need money not only for a purchase price, but for the upkeep. You need the time, the space, and the commitment. No wonder parents always seem to roll their eyes and sigh when they hear those fateful words: "Why can't we get a horse? Can't we, please?" That's a worldwide plea. On Mackinac, though, it's worse, because for a horse-loving kid, seeing hundreds of horses each day and not being able to have one can be misery.

Eleven-year-old Amelia Roe is one lucky little lady, and despite her tender years, I think she is aware of how fortunate she is. Amelia is a very nice person, with a genuine grin and huge blue eyes. Academically, she's a very good student at the Mackinac Island Public School, but she's also horse smart, and I have a hunch she knows how to present her wishes well, and with perseverance. No wonder her parents, Jim and Sandy Roe, found themselves one day in May outside of Charlevoix, looking at a little bay mare. Yes, they gave in.

Out for a walk is Miss May, with Amelia Roe and Justin Romano.

It seems that by last fall, the Roes had decided that they would all do it, and commit to getting a horse. They began the horse-hunting process this year, once the boats started to run. The family already had groundwork laid in securing a stall slot in Andrew Doud's small new barn in Harrisonsville. Before they really had a horse list to run down, horseman Buck Sharrow came to them with a "find." Timing and fate were on Amelia's side. Miss May turned out to be the pick.

May is a 13-year-old Quarter, and possibly Arabian mix, mare. She's a true bay, meaning she's dark reddish brown with black points on her legs, as well as mane and tail. Her mane and tail are thick and lush. The horse came from Torch Valley Farms, and was owned by the Marvin Harris family. Their daughter used her in 4-H, and May has been ridden in Western classes. The mare is compact and stands approximately 14 hands, which is a perfect size for Amelia, and actually for many children.

The horse arrived on Mackinac in May, and she has been adjusting to Island life, and to Amelia. The pair have started with summer riding lessons at Turtle Park, given by Leanne Brodeur. Amelia has been riding with local girlfriends, all close to her age. The Roes have been happy that Amelia and May have had some help from Justin Romano from Sault Ste. Marie, who has been around horses his whole life and works for Mackinac Island Carriage Tours in the summer.

Amelia's grandfather, Dale Gallagher of Mackinac, is also no stranger to horses. Besides growing up with them, he loved to ride, and used to have a horse here on Mackinac for many years, named Peanuts. He was happy that she was able to find a horse like May. For many years in Harrisonville, there were a lot of people who did own a "family" horse, in addition to a work horse, that usually was part of a dray line. In the last 25 years, the number of private horses owned by yeararound residents has plummeted dramatically. Part of the reason for the drop was the fact that work and working hours on Mackinac were on the increase. The free time devoted to riding was cut down, even after work, and dray lines consolidated or went out of business. Those horse lots, or areas of land often used for small turn-outs and grazing space in the village, were bought up to build workers' housing.

Money and storage space for hay and grain were, and still are, very hard to find. It has been increasingly difficult to build a barn, owing to complicated zoning clauses. Nowadays, there is only a small handful, at most, of horses and ponies owned by Islanders that winter here.

In the fall, Amelia plans to keep Miss May as long as she is able. After that, the horse will spend the winter off the Island. Having a new horse on Mackinac, belonging to a yeararound family, is great news. The fact that the horse is for an Island youth is also encouraging. Hopefully, it will all work, and Miss May and Amelia may have many growing years together.

At this writing, I've just learned that another yeararound resident family, the Armstrongs, also have a horse for the summer, with an option to buy. It seems their daughter, Haley, is a good friend of Amelia's. I wonder if some of that perseverance of Miss Roe and her Miss May might have rubbed off.

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