When the wind picked up and the skies darkened prior to the start of yesterday’s small green pony hunter over fences, understandably many trainers were worried about how their charges would handle the already pressure-filled atmosphere of the U.S. Equestrian Federation Pony Finals in Lexington, Ky.

Ali Sweetnam had the opposite concern.

“We were scared he’d be too quiet.”

So why wasn’t she worried that her 6-year-old pony would be a tad wild? Mr. Magoo was born in the circus.

Before coming to Sweetnam and co-owner Michael DelFiandra, Mr. Magoo was sold to be a backyard pony where they shot BB guns off his back and later moved to a lesson program.

“He walked off the trailer, and we were like, ‘Oh God,’ because his color is unusual. He’s a grulla, and he has stripes down the backs of his legs and his ears,” Sweetnam said. “Then he went in, and he trotted, and he moves amazing. We were like, ‘Wait a minute.’ He jumped straight around our entire course never being there, never doing anything. So we were like, ‘Alright.’ We worked with him for about three weeks, and then we offered money on him, and we bought him.”

Though they’re not sure what he did while he was in the circus, Sweetnam knows one thing for sure—his experiences make him unflappable.

“Literally nothing fazes him, I think because of his background. Nothing bugs him ever, so he’s perfect,” Sweetnam said.

Christina Rogalny started showing him during week 7 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (Fla.) this year, and he showed 11 times prior to coming to Kentucky for Pony Finals.

Rogalny and Magoo finished ninth overall, a bittersweet ending to their partnership, as she’s too old to show a regular small at 13. 

“We love him,” Sweetnam said. “He’s going to be with us forever. I have a 6-year-old daughter who we hope can ride him and do him a little bit later in her life.”

Want more Pony Finals action? The first championships were awarded Wednesday. Read about the mustang competing in the large greens on Friday and about four first time competitors.

Find all of the Chronicle’s coverage here. Don’t miss our in-depth magazine coverage in the August 24th issue of the magazine. Full Pony Final results are here.