Kurt and Shari Beecher are no different than any other set of parents.

They do their best to train their children while they are in their care and are proud of their successes as adults.

And it makes no difference that the Beechers’ “children” average between 400-700 pounds and are about four feet tall at their full adult height.

The Beechers own Heavenly Welsh Pony Farm LLC in Okarche, breeding, raising and training the stout little ponies and then selling them to buyers across the country.

Sometimes, the ponies are used for exhibition or ceremonial purposes in parades or to promote team spirit at collegiate sporting events.

Sometimes, they are purchased to make dreams come true, like the beautiful white pony named Luke, purchased by Disney in 2012 for a toddler with Stage 4 kidney disease who renamed him “Maximus” after another white horse in a Disney movie.

And quite often, the horses are shown and ridden competitively and have the hardware to prove it.

This year, three of the Beecher’s former ponies were top award winners.

Heavenly Delight in Me, “Dee,” a 2013 roan Welsh mountain pony mare now shown and owned by Kristen Conway of Middleton, Dela., has won multiple supreme championships in conformation and is the 2019 high point Welsh Mountain pony mare in the country.

Heavenly Alleluia, “Allie,” a 2017 Welsh pony fi lly of cob type, now owned by Amanda Frazier of Tuscola, Texas, was grand champion at the Welsh Pony and Cob National Show in Tulsa in September and the high point Welsh pony filly of cob type in the nation for 2019.

And most recently, Heavenly Patch of Blue, was named the top U.S. Equestrian Federation Small Pony Hunter for 2019 and recognized at USEF Horse of the Year Awards Gala Jan. 11 in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The pony is a grey 2006 registered Welsh Mountain pony mare and her current rider, Shiloh Rose-boom of Corona, Calif., beat out more than 5,000 other riders for the coveted national award.

“I am honored to breed such wonderful ponies that have gone on to infl uence others’ lives,” Shari Beecher said. “I don’t take credit for any of it. They are God’s creations, not mine. We don’t have them for vanity or to get rich.

“Doesn’t any mom feel proud when their ‘kids’ go on to do great things in the world?” she asked, and then added the universal sentiment shared by nearly every parent:

“Even if no one else liked them, I would still love them.”