Two businesses create magical combination: Children and ponies

One of Lorie Wojtowicz's favorite things is seeing a child riding a horse, which is partially why she decided to offer pony rides at Fuji Park.

Wojtowicz, 53, who runs Lorie's Pony Express, offers the rides for $5 in the dirt parking lot near Fuji Park's dog park from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.

"It's mostly just been a passion," Wojtowicz said. "The bond between ponies and kids and horses is just very special."

She has one Shetland pony named Buttercup and Shetland-Paint mix named George. She also has two miniature horses named Sweet Pea and Sassy.

Like Wojtowicz, Dianna Borges and her family business, Borges Horse Rides, is offering $5 pony rides at the Carson City Farmer's Market on Curry and Third streets each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Borges has two miniature horses named Gizmo and Gadget. She said the business also offers pony rides for birthdays and sleigh rides in the winter.

She said she bought the ponies when her children were young and decided to offer pony rides to other children after her kids grew up.

"We're quite popular with the under 10 crowd," she said.

Wojtowicz said she started offering pony rides for birthday parties about a year and a half ago, but wanted to offer the rides to children who may not be able to afford the ponies for their birthday party.

She said she was a homemaker most of her life, but needed to start earning some extra income after her husband died seven years ago.

She was offering pony rides at the Walmart in north Carson City last winter, but stopped after the city said she could not offer the rides in the parking lot. Wojtowicz said she made an agreement with the city to offer the rides at Fuji Park and to donate $1 from every ride to the Carson City Parks Foundation.

"Everybody wants a pony ride at least once in their life," she said.