My daughter's pony, Peanut comes from England. He is all gray, cute as can be and knows it. The first day we got him, he gave my daughter a black eye. I was ready to send him back to England and he was going to have to swim for it starting off from the Pacific--quite a swim for a pony. In spite of his good looks and winning record, Peanut the pony was really a pill. When Alexa rode him, he was great but as soon as one got on the ground, he became a little gray monster pony. He would try to bite frequently and would stomp his front foot if displeased.

As time went on, Peanut the pony was rapidly on his way to a new home. In fact, Laurie and I convinced our daughter that she could have more fun with a nicer pony so we put him on the market. Promising Alexa that we would not sell Peanut until we found a replacement, the search began for a sweet pony. Alexa poured over the horse trade papers and magazines and she came across an ad that looked like a pony that might work. Phrases like "kid proof" and "bomb proof" were used in the description and we hired a van to go pick up the pony for a test. We were at the barn where Peanut is stabled to meet the van with his potential replacement. The sweet little pony was unloaded and presented. She was filthy and ugly and I was ready to put her back on the van. But I bit my tongue, as it would have to be up to Alexa to decide. She determined the new arrival had to be bathed immediately. She was very sweet and we all had a ball soaping her up and playing with her. Peanut was watching the whole time. We brought her around to the crossties, curried her, and groomed her to perfection. She was sweet and a pleasure to be around and my daughter adored here. She could kiss her, play with her, and really have fun and that is what a little girl's pony is supposed to be all about. So she wasn't a beauty, she was sweet and had a kind eye. If Alexa is happy, that is enough for me.

Our wonderful trainer decided that the new arrival should rest after her trip to Malibu and the test drive would come the next morning. I went home thinking how proud I was when we went to horse shows to see my daughter on her gorgeous gray English pony being handed the blue ribbons, an experience that I could not visualize with the new arrival. The sweet pony definitely did not possess that winning look. But I imagined the look on Alexa's face as she was excused from the ring and decided to say, "You know, Alexa, if you don't like the way she rides, we can keep looking". But Alexa was in love already and I could tell, if the pony was sweet under saddle, that we were about to be the new owners of one sweet, butt ugly pony. The next morning Alexa was gathering apples and carrots to give to the new Pony.

Peanut had already become a thing of the past and she was eager to part with the pony she had planned to keep for the rest of his life. Bye bye Peanut, hello Sweet But Homely. We arrived at the barn and Alexa raced by Peanut who was standing there ready to be greeted, to give treats to the new pony. Peanut seemed to look a bit sad. The new pony was brushed, had her hoofs picked and the saddle that was made in France just for Peanut was put on the strange back. She was calm and sweet as could be. She took the bit like a kid takes a lollypop and I knew I was in trouble. Susan, the trainer, got on first. Little miss sweetie pie's head flew up and Susan had to work to make her perform. She rode her about 15 minutes, I knew this was not the pony, but Alexa wanted to try her out. As soon as she got on, she realized that she was on a pony that needed a lot more training before she would be as automatic as Peanut. She looked and felt out of control and I was happy when she elected to get off and send the sweet ugly thing back home.

"Let's keep looking", Alexa decided.In the meantime, Alexa thought she would take old Peanut for a stroll. Like magic, Peanut had become this precious little pony. I have to believe he had seen the handwriting on the wall and that his cushy Malibu digs and loving family who catered to him was about to change. He must have thought, "Uh oh, perhaps this spoiled act is not working, I gotta change my ways". And change he has. Now kissable and loving, Alexa, although always respecting him and staying aware of his past shenanigans, has a pony that she can really enjoy. He doesn't try to bite, he stands there sweet as sugar, and he behaves as though Alexa is his responsibility. Could he have been jealous? Whatever it was, it worked and he is now a truly welcome member of the family. The search for his replacement has ended. So, this Valentine's Day, my daughter helped me create a treat for her equine Valentine: Peanut the pony with a corrected personality disorder!

Peanut's Valentine Treat
2-cups shredded carrot1-apple, cut up.
1-cup rolled oats
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar or raw sugar
1-tablespoon molasses
1-cup alfalfa sprouts

Mix together the carrot, apple, oats, sugar, and molasses. Place in a bucket and garnish with the Alfalfa sprouts and serve to your deserving pony or horse.
- Harry Schwartz, celebrity television chef, cookbook author, father, husband, pet lover, columnist and business man, has appeared on many television shows, such as "The Today Show", "Wake Up America" (America's Talking), and on The TV Food Network. Harry's new cooking program debuted early last November on PBS' "Chef Harry and Friends". Check your public broadcasting listings for times and dates of this show.