SIMI VALLEY : Miniature Horse Is Honored for Work
A hip-high horse named Ragtime watched with apparent interest Thursday as his owner, Patty Fairchild, accepted a certificate of recognition from the city of Simi Valley.
Or maybe it was the nearby bag of carrots that the miniature horse was interested in. Or perhaps the crew of celebrities, including Ed Asner, who had gathered to watch the presentation.
The award certainly interested Fairchild, who was moved to tears by the appreciation from her hometown. Fairchild and Ragtime moved from Thousand Oaks in 1990 after a protracted battle with the city and neighbors over whether the horse should be allowed in a residential neighborhood.
Councilman Bill Davis, presenting the award on behalf of Mayor Greg Stratton, praised the horse’s work with children and the elderly.
“He’s not just a show animal, but he does a lot of really superior things for our area,” Davis said. “We’re very proud to have him.”
“It really touches my heart,” Fairchild said, weeping.
Before accepting the award, Ragtime stomped out his age--9--with his hoof. He waved with one leg. He kissed volunteers from the audience and untied one man’s shoelace.
The show met with polite applause from about 40 spectators, including Asner and actors Dee Wallace Stone and Dan Pintauro.
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