About Us

In 1988, Leon & Sue Atkins started Atkins Pony Rides almost by accident. Sue was working as a fitness instructor for a health club and a fellow employee had two ponies. A horse lover who was taking lessons, Sue told her co-worker that if he ever wanted to sell the ponies, he should call her. Two weeks later, we got that call.

Although we were city dwellers at the time, we bought the ponies anyway and scouted out a place for them (and us) to live. We boarded them for a year until we bought a house and hobby farm.

The animal parade has grown considerably from those first two ponies. We now share the farm with 17 ponies, three donkeys, 3 horses, two dogs, 3 cats and 6 Vietnamese pot belly pigs.

We started out as purveyors of pony rides for children's birthday parties and our talented pets have also appeared in movies, commercials, television shows and professional photo shoots. Our prize donkey, Dusty, has also carved a niche as a religious actor. He carries Mary down church aisles at Christmas and is involved in the blessing of the animals earlier in each year.

The primary focus of Atkins Pony Rides these days is Festivals & Events. We are proud to be invited back year after year to some of the Top Festivals in Ontario. The addition of photos taken by our professional photographer have added to the joy we bring to kids and parents alike. They also allow our guests to take home a tangible momento of the great time they had at the Festival. Be sure to stop by one of these great Festivals and say hi to us and our friendly staff.

Sue & Leon Atkins

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Pony Buses!