On the green slopes of Haleakala, tucked in a pocket of open pastures and country roads, there are ponies and horses who might have the best pony-life ever.  These ponies reside at Maui Ponies, a business started by Melissa Sowers who’s heart was filled with her love for horses and her own childhood adventures riding throughout upcountry as a girl, and now she shares this love and opportunity with others.  From a child’s birthday party to a family reunion to pony camps and the classic pony ride, she has the horses and the ponies.  You can find out more here: www.mauiponies.com

On a personal note, this editorial shoot was a career goal for me too as it is for a magazine’s October/November issue.  I’ll share more about it once it is published, but I was pretty excited to do this.  And then to have the opportunity to showcase a mom-based business, with her daughter, just made it all the more wonderful.

We woke up Melissa’s little one M. from a nap for this shoot, and for any parents of a 2-year-old, you know that isn’t a winning recipe for success.  But little M. was a trooper, and this girl is more than a natural with the ponies, and not only rode so well but also is so at ease riding!  Seriously, I think she should be on “amazing kids” segment of a television show.  Plus, not only was she sporting stellar cowboy boots, a cowboy hat with a pretty haku lei, and the coolest belt ever, but she was riding wearing her pull-up too.  Too cute!

So the next time you are looking for pony rentals, rides, or horses on Maui, make sure to give Melissa a call.  She is a hard-working mom with so much heart for horses and others too.  And her horses and ponies are kind-natured, because not only do they have this incredible life, they are also well taken care of by Melissa and her staff, a staff that is more like o’hana.