September 22, 1969-October 1998 Chestnut Pinto Mare

Granddaughter of Misty

Sire: Thoroughbred stallion

Dam: Stormy

Windy's Pedigree

Windy was Misty's first granddaughter and Stormy's second foal. She was a tall chestnut pinto mare born on Beebe Ranch. There has been confusion to who her sire is. The Pictorial Life Story of Misty has Windy's sire listed as Lightning, making her a full sister to Cloudy, Thunder, and Breezy. Windy's owner for the second half of her life, Mike Pryor, has her sire listed as Al-Marah Sunny Jim. This is false as both Marguerite Henry and Maureen Beebe confirmed that Windy was not by Al-Marah Sunny Jim. Windy's sire was a Thoroughbred stallion owned by Ralph Beebe as he trained Thoroughbred racehorses for a few years. The stallion and Stormy weren't supposed to be bred, but it happened, and the result was Windy. The Thoroughbred blood explains Windy's height and build compared to the other Misty family ponies. Windy's temperament changed like the wind. She could be sweet and gentle as a kitten one time, and then be strong willed and wild as a mustang the next. In her later years Windy became mellower. She was attracted to people and loved their company.

Windy spent the first few years of her life on the Beebe Ranch with her family. When Ralph Beebe died the Misty family ponies were sold and moved to the Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm owned by Paul and Helen Merritt. Windy was available for visitors to the farm to see and was a broodmare.

Windy had her first foal when she was four years old, a chestnut pinto filly named Sunshine born in 1973. In 1974 Windy had her first son Cyclone, another chestnut pinto. At the same time Stormy foaled Misty II, but rejected her and refused to let her nurse. Windy unselfishly allowed Misty II to nurse alongside Cyclone and almost sacrificed herself for Misty II's well being. Misty II and Cyclone, who formed a loving bond, were quickly weaned and Windy regained her strength. 1978 saw the birth of another filly named Gale who was sired by an Arabian stallion. Chestnut pinto colts Hurricane was born in 1985 and Tornado was born in 1987. Both colts were sired by her son Cyclone

Shortly after Tornado was born he and Windy were sold to Mike Pryor of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Mike prized Windy very much and took her to various events to promote the Misty legacy. In 1988 Windy had a chestnut pinto filly named Wind Storm. She was a full sister to Tornado and Hurricane who were sired by their brother Cyclone. Windy and Wind Storm were paraded before the start of the 1989 Pony Penning auction.

Windy was in several books. Windy was written about and listed on the family tree in The Pictorial Life Story of Misty. A Pony Promise by Lois Szymanski tells of Windy's adopting Misty II. Windy of Chincoteague by Ronald Keiper tells of Windy and a few other ponies that Mike had bought from the Pony Farm. Nightmist: The Miracle Pony by Jessie Ann Friend also features Windy.

Windy lived to be 29 years old. She was bred by her grandson Windjammer who had been allowed to share her pasture for company. The result was Windy becoming pregnant for the seventh time. She successfully foaled Nightmist, but the strain of foaling proved too much for the elderly mare and she died shortly afterwards in October of 1998.

Click on the photo for more pictures of Windy