DIXFIELD – Horse for hire. Loves to play ball with children and show off for audiences.

But Shardars De Akeem or “Keemy,” a 10-year-old white Arabian, is more than just a one-trick pony thanks to owner Sherry Garrett and her skill with horses.

“I’m trying to break him into the equine entertainment industry, so I would like to find him a job in show business. He can do anything,” said Garrett, who lives beside Route 2 at the foot of Morrison Hill.

At her Dreams End Stable Friday morning, Keemy ran through his whole repertoire of tricks, including kneeling and praying, posing like a flamingo, crossing his front legs, bowing, smiling, playing soccer-like kickball, jumping obstacles and rolling a barrel.

“His favorite trick is laying down. He’s really right on cue with it and he will stay there for quite some time,” Garrett said.

But unlike the other tricks, his favorite took him three months to learn because Garrett said she didn’t force it upon Keemy.

“It’s a very hard trick to learn because horses, when they’re laying down, are defenseless. They must have trust in a person to try and do it,” she said.

Having purchased Keemy when he was only seven weeks old, Garrett, a stay-at-home horse trainer, has had plenty of time to build that bond of trust and rapport with her friendly Arabian. She’s also been around horses or ridden them since she was 3 years old.

“When I got my first paycheck, I went out and got a horse,” she said.

Garrett’s stable of horses include “Sissy,” an elderly buckskin mare with arthritis, whom Garrett has had since the horse was a 2-year-old, and three miniature horses, “Oreo,” and his parents, “Lucky” and “Dolly.”

She also boards two horses – Bud, a black Morgan who formerly had behavioral problems with people, and Boogie, a 24-year-old quarter horse, who now also does tricks thanks to Garrett and Keemy, his pasture playmate.

Teaching the horses tricks, however, took a bit to learn.

“Usually a horse learns the person faster than the person learns the horse. That’s because people don’t take the time to learn horse language. A horse is a herd animal and you have to work at their level,” Garrett said.

Horses can learn verbal commands, and sign and body language.

“Horses do talk to people all the time. With their ears, their eyes and body movement. Physically or mentally, they try very hard to communicate with us, but we have a hard time understanding them,” she added.

Rapport also plays a key role in getting a horse to perform.

“Most of them like to play so it’s just a matter of getting the communication across of what you’re asking them to do and what they’re willing to do. You have to be real patient. Patience is No. 1 on the list,” Garrett said.

Unlike some trainers, Garrett said she doesn’t use gimmicks. Keemy also can do tricks without getting favorite treats like diced carrots.

“Horses will react to the way your body moves or the cues you give them. People don’t see it, but the horses do. They always know what’s coming before it comes. You never see good horse performers giving horses signals, but they are,” she added.

Although the miniature horse trio has performed at nursing homes at Christmastime and have given pony rides to children, Keemy began performing this year at two fairs.

Two years ago, he was a reserve champion at horse shows, but now he hams it up for audiences and loves it.

“He recognizes crowds. His ears go up and he puffs his chest out as if to say, ‘Look at me, I’m the show horse,'” she said.

Garrett hopes to hire Keemy out at $25 an hour, but also says that they’d love to do charity shows for animal shelters and children. For more information, phone Garrett at 562-7119.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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