An Interview with Old Friends’ Little Silver Charm

10/10/19 Written by Kathy Witt

Visitors to Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm find a whole herd of celebrities; in fact, this rolling green Georgetown pastureland is where about 175 four-legged luminaries spend their golden years, including 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm, a 2007 inductee into the Racing Hall of Fame; 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem; and Game On Dude, the only horse to win three runnings of the prestigious Santa Anita Handicap.

 

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One of Old Friends’ most dashing equine stars is Little Silver Charm, a miniature horse named after his idol, the aforementioned (big) Silver Charm. The author of A Charmed Life, a book he co-wrote with former Boston Globe columnist Diane White that chronicles the story of Old Friends and its many resident and visiting celebrities, Little Silver Charm is also a social media darling, who loves to boast that his Facebook page has more than 6,700 two-legged fans following him.

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Photo by Laura Battles

 

Despite his small stature, Little Silver Charm is big on personality, as a recent interview with the superstar stallion reveals:

 

27 MichaelBlowenSilverCharm SteveHockensmith

How long have you lived at Old Friends?
Forever. Or at least since the farm was founded in July of 2003.

 

How do you spend your days?
Around 7 a.m., a member of my staff gets me from my well-appointed stall and leads me to my nearby paddock, where I have breakfast. Some days my personal groomer, Old Friends’ volunteer Jane McLaren, works on me to make me even more handsome than I already am. The rest of the day I spend greeting visitors, grazing and napping under my tree. In late afternoon I go back to my stall where I have dinner and relax before bedtime.

 

Who is your bestie?
Michael, no question. [Little Silver Charm is referring to Michael Blowen, the former Boston Globe film critic who founded Old Friends.]

 

Can you tell us your age?
I am in my early thirties – the prime of life for a miniature horse.

 

What do fans need to know about you?
I’m very personable, extremely intelligent and devastatingly handsome. But I’m also modest.

 

Favorite snack?
Carrots are an all-time favorite. I also enjoy gingersnaps, particularly Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Snaps.

 

Can we entice you away from the farm for personal appearances?
Never. I dislike travel because it involves getting into a truck, which brings back some very troubling memories of my early life. If you want to see me, you must come to Old Friends.

 

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Photo by Laura Battles

 

We also asked Little Silver Charm for his recommendations for fall outings:

 

  • Keeneland’s 2019 Fall Race Meet, Friday, Oct. 4, through Saturday, Oct. 26. (No racing on Mondays or Tuesdays.) Gates open at 11 a.m. with first post at 1:05 p.m. daily. Highlights include opening Fall Stars Weekend, featuring 10 stakes races and nine Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In events.

 

  • Tour Old Friends to meet the equine residents and learn these champions’ life stories. Ninety-minute guided walking tours are offered daily at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. March 15-Nov. 5 and at 11 a.m. Nov. 6-March 14. Tickets: $15/adults; $10/kids 4-12; free for kids 3 and under. Reservations are required.

 

  • A fall trail ride with Whispering Woods Riding Stables, over hills and along creeks to see an abundance of wildlife – fox, turkey, deer – and color among the beautiful hardwood forests.

 

  • Desserts By Rebecca is a bakery in downtown Georgetown that offers one of Little Silver Charm’s favorite flaves for fall and year-round – ginger – in an array of baked goodies, including a special white chocolate ginger espresso cookie for fall. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll, pumpkin donut, pumpkin macaron and other sweets add their fragrance to the shop around the holidays.

 

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