Born: September 22, 1969
Sire: Thoroughbred stallion
Dam: Stormy
Windy was Misty's first granddaughter and Stormy's second foal. She was a tall, attractive looking mare. 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.
There is some 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. Mike Pryor, her later owner, had her sire listed as Al-Marah Sunny Jim. However, this is false as both Marguerite Henry and Maureen Beebe confirmed that Windy was not by Al-Marah Sunny Jim. Windy's sire was actually a Thoroughbred stallion owned by Ralph Beebe at the time. The stallion and Stormy weren't supposed to be bred, but the inevitable happened and the result was Windy. The Thoroughbred influence explains her height and build compared to other Misty family ponies.
Windy was born on Beebe Ranch and spent the first few years of her life there. When Ralph Beebe died the Misty family ponies were moved to the Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm which was owned by Paul and Helen Merritt. There was room for the ponies at the Pony Farm and they could receive better care. Most of the ponies, including Windy, were sold to the Merritt's.
Windy had her first foal when she was four years old. Born in 1973, Sunshine would be Windy's first daughter. A year later Windy had her first son, Cyclone. At the same time Stormy foaled Misty II, but oddly enough rejected her, and Stormy did not let Misty II nurse. Windy unselfishly allowed Misty II to nurse alongside Cyclone and almost sacrificed herself for Misty II's well being. Misty II and Cyclone were quickly weaned and Windy regained her strength.
Windy continued to produced offspring. 1978 saw the birth of another filly named Gale, Windy's only solid colored offspring. Hurricane made his appearance in 1984, and Tornado was foaled in 1987. 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 another foal, this time a filly named Wind Storm. She was a full sister to Tornado and Hurricane, all who were sired by their brother, Cyclone. Luckily they all seemed to have been born without genetic defects sometimes found when close relatives are inbred.
Windy has made appearances in literature as well. 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. Her grandson Wind Jammer was allowed to share her pasture and the result was Windy becoming pregnant for the seventh time. She successfully foaled Nightmist, but the strain of foaling proved too much for her and she died shortly after that in October of 1998. Windy was buried on the farm in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.
Click on the photo for more pictures of Windy
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