Pony Up! Quar�er Horse Project comes to Astoria
Auction to support families
who’ve lost children
BY HAILEY HOFFMAN/THE ASTORIAN
For many of us as children, a trip to the
grocery store meant a ride on a majestic
mechanical pony at the entrance for just
one quarter. Now, as these kiddie rides are
disappearing one by one, some of us can’t
help but wonder where are they now?
For 30 of these lucky ponies, local and
national artists have turned them into beau-
tiful works of art as part of the Pony Up!
Quarter Horse project, which will auction
off the ponies to raise money for the Wade
J. Woodmark Foundation in Depoe Bay.
Three ponies are on display at Bridgewater
Bistro in Astoria.
The foundation was started by Talley
Woodmark and John Woodmark after their
son, Wade John Woodmark, died in 2005
after accidentally being shot by a friend.
The non-profi t aims to provide support
and hope for families who have lost a
child by providing a retreat in Depoe Bay
for them to recover without distraction. It
also provides scholarships, literacy pro-
grams and more.
Talley, owner of the Silver Heron Gal-
lery, Blue Heron Gallery and Purple Star-
fi sh Gallery, got her inspiration for the
project from her husband, John. On their
fi fth date in 1993, he claimed to own and
lease 250 quarter horses. Talley, an eques-
trian herself, was thoroughly impressed.
He invited her to meet one of his horses.
They headed to a grocery store in Bandon.
She quickly realized his quarter horses
were not the breed found on a racetrack
but rather that children ride for a quarter.
They road tripped around Oregon together,
Photos by Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
TOP: ‘Phoebe,’ the graffi tied pony, is on display at the Bridgewater Bistro. LEFT: ‘Joy’ is
described as a galloping Appaloosa. ABOVE: ‘Thunderbolt’ is a futuristic steam-punk pony.
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