About Us

Growing up in the Ward family meant that horses were in your blood. Almost all or the girls were riders. My sisters, Penny and Jackie, began our never ending love of ponies. They showed their ponies, Belle Acres Fawn and Belle Acres Star very successfully throughout the 60s and 70s. When I came along (The youngest of 11), I got all the hand me downs. Not just the clothes- The Ponies!! I remember joking that April (Belle Acres Star) was a part of the family before I was. April was purchased 2 years before I was born. April came out of retirement and took me through short stirrup and into the medium pony division in 1980.

In 1981, we were contacted about a very fancy medium pony that was for sale. The pony was Clear As Crystal. Crystal was it for me. I adored her from the moment I laid eyes on her. Never (IMHO) has there been a more beautiful pony. I cannot tell you how many model classes that pony won! I showed Crystal for 4 years before outgrowing her and handing the reins over to Mickie Sage. Mickie & Crystal were great together, winning loads of classes. In 1986 they were Reserve Champion at Devon. Later, Crystal began having shipping problems that almost resulted in tragedy at a show in 1988. I decided that enough was enough...and Crystal was retired.

Question- So what does the 19year old Kelly now do with the most beautiful (now retired) pony in the world??? The answer was obvious. BREED HER!! And so it began. The quest to breed the "Perfect Hunter Pony". Perfect like Crystal. One pony and one event changed the entire course of my life. I wouldn't be doing any of this right now were it not for Crystal. "Crystal Acres" is dedicated to her memory.