James Alexander Malcom Mackenzie Fraser: The Pony Who’s Helping Me Raise My Kids

Why I believe every child deserves to know the steady love of a good pony.

Some families raise their children with dogs or cats. I’m raising mine with a pony (alongside the dogs, cats, chickens, and even a rabbit).

I know I want my kids to grow up learning compassion, responsibility, and the quiet strength that comes from caring for another living being. And for us, that lesson comes wrapped in a tousled mane, kind eyes, and the steady heart of a little gelding who has become one of the staples of our family, Jammie.

He isn’t just any pony. He’s patient in ways few adults can manage, endlessly forgiving, and wise in that ancient, wordless way horses are. He teaches my children about gentleness — how a soft hand and calm voice can move 300 pounds of determination and mischief. He shows them confidence — how to face fears with courage and grace. And he offers something even rarer in today’s world: the kind of peace that lives in the sound of hooves in the grass and the rhythm of steady breathing.

I watch my kids grow up side by side with him. They brush him on lazy afternoons, share secrets in the barn aisle, and find comfort in his quiet company when the world feels too big. He celebrates birthdays, soothes tears, and stands patiently as my children learn not just how to ride and drive, but how to care.

Raising kids with a pony isn’t always easy — it’s early mornings, muddy boots, and lessons in heartbreak when things don’t go perfectly. But it’s also magic. It’s watching a child who’s had a hard day at school bury their face in a soft neck and instantly find peace. It’s seeing responsibility blossom naturally, without lectures or reminders, because they know that pony is counting on them.

When I look at my children — kind, capable, grounded — I see the imprint of Jammie everywhere. He gives them more than childhood memories; he gives them roots.

There will never be another quite like him, but I’m endlessly grateful that my children’s earliest lessons in love, patience, and purpose come from this very special pony.