May 28, 1967 to 1986 Palomino Pinto Stallion
Grandson of Misty
Sire: Lightning
Dam: Stormy
Thunder's Pedigree
Grandson of Misty
Sire: Lightning
Dam: Stormy
Thunder's Pedigree
Thunder was Stormy's first foal. He was palomino pinto who resembled his uncle, Phantom Wings. He was born at Beebe Ranch and lived there for the first few years of his life. Thunder was stabled alongside his mother and grandmother. When Ralph Beebe died in 1972 Thunder and his family members were moved to Paul Merritt's Chincoteague Miniature Pony Farm. Thunder was written about and listed on the family tree in the Pictorial Life Story of Misty by Marguerite Henry. He was pictured in Wild Ponies of Chincoteague by Joseph Spies as a young stallion. Despite his long life and status as Stormy's first foal only a few pictures of Thunder have been found.
Thunder remained a stallion all of his life. In the mid 1980's he and Cyclone were alternatively turned out with the Misty family mares to breed with them. Thunder sired Misty ponies but it is unclear on which ones they are. Some of his likely offspring include Stormcloud, Thunder II and Lightning. Thunder was a passive pony in his stall, greeting visitors to the farm, but people were warned not to go out into the field with him.
Thunder went blind from a condition known as moon blindness. He was kept in a paddock by himself during the day and in his stall at night to prevent him from hurting himself. One night in 1986 he managed to escape his stall and tried to join the herd in the field. Cyclone was with the mares and had the natural herd instinct to defend his mares.The stallions ended up battling each other severely enough that they broke through the fence and ended up a good ways from the Pony Farm. Thunder was injured in the fight and was put down to prevent him from suffering.
Thunder remained a stallion all of his life. In the mid 1980's he and Cyclone were alternatively turned out with the Misty family mares to breed with them. Thunder sired Misty ponies but it is unclear on which ones they are. Some of his likely offspring include Stormcloud, Thunder II and Lightning. Thunder was a passive pony in his stall, greeting visitors to the farm, but people were warned not to go out into the field with him.
Thunder went blind from a condition known as moon blindness. He was kept in a paddock by himself during the day and in his stall at night to prevent him from hurting himself. One night in 1986 he managed to escape his stall and tried to join the herd in the field. Cyclone was with the mares and had the natural herd instinct to defend his mares.The stallions ended up battling each other severely enough that they broke through the fence and ended up a good ways from the Pony Farm. Thunder was injured in the fight and was put down to prevent him from suffering.
Click on the photo for more pictures of Thunder