There is an Arabian Prince living in Clarkston, and no, he not from Minnesota, nor does he play the guitar, and his last name is not ‘Charming.? Though some might think he is. This prince can be seen trotting around the field of the Miller farm, or traveling the back roads pulling a buggy near Bridge Lake Road. Yes, that’s right, Prince is a horse.
About 13 years ago in the spring of 1994, while looking through The Clarkston News, Shar Miller saw an ad for a horse, being sold by Paul Jokisch who lived off Ellis Road. Jokisch was moving to Indiana and decided to sell his horse. He got the horse when Prince was 2 years old and had trained him to pull a cart.
Miller decided to take the offer and bought Prince for $1,400 dollars. He was 14-years old when she bought him. Jokisch used to ride Prince every night on the back roads, said Miller.
‘When I first got him he didn’t stop at any stop signs,? she said. ‘He just went through them.?
Miller takes Prince out 2-3 times a week for about a 3 mile trot.
‘When he was younger I used to take him for at least 10 miles,? she noted. ‘I try to go when traffic is kind of light and I like to stay on the back gravel roads.?
Miller enjoys her buggy rides with neighbor Gloria Callahan.
‘I used to have to alternate between Gloria and my other neighbor Rose Keener,? said Miller. ‘But since Rose moved to Georgia, Gloria gets to ride all the time now.?
Callahan enjoys getting out on the buggy and seeing the scenery and people.
‘It’s a lot different than being in a car,? said Callahan. ‘We get to catch up on everything.?
‘We get to talk a lot without being disturbed by phones,? said Miller with a laugh. ‘Well sort of, Gloria does carry her cell phone on her.?
Millers father sold off part of the farm to Gloria and her husband Bob Callahan about 55 years ago.
While riding in the buggy, ‘people show appreciation for what they see by slowing down and waving or honking their horns while they drive by,? said Miller.
She also has a ‘slow sign? posted on the back of her buggy and a flag-bearing antenna for safe traveling.
The buggy that Miller travels in was probably built sometime in the 1880’s. On the back of the buggy there is a sign that reads ‘The Flint Wagon Works.? According to the Flint Library, it was Flint Michigan’s first incorporated company in 1884.
‘My dad bought the wagon in Kingston and fixed it up,? said Miller. ‘We used to take it through the 4th of July Parade during the 50’s.?
Miller is a native of Clarkston and graduated from Clarkston High School in 1959 with a little over a 100 classmates. She still lives on the same generational farm that her grandfather, Sam Miller purchased in 1863, and the same house he built in 1877.
Her parents, Sam D. and Vernice Miller worked the 350 acre farm between 1939 and 1970, when her dad passed away. Afterwards, her mom sold part of the property.
Shar lived in Troy and worked in Royal Oak for awhile until her mother passed away in 1984. It was at that time Shar moved back home and split the remaining property with her brother.
So what got Shar into horses?
‘Well, when my father farmed he started with a team of horses and eventually got a tractor, but he still kept the team because he liked the horses so I grew up with them,’said Miller.
Prince is now a healthy horse at 27-years-old. A horse’s old age is usually between 20’s and 30’s ? 40’s is rare, according to Miller.
‘My blacksmith (Bill Parsons) says when he trims him (Prince) that ‘he looks good for another year,?? she said. ‘Arthritis and ageing sets in a horse just like people.?
Prince has become quite famous around the neighborhood, especially with all the kids from Springfield Planes Elementary.
Miller said Prince likes kids, especially when they offer him treats, but not so much adults.
‘If a kid calls out to Prince, He will respond to them and walk over to the fence, and take whatever treats the kids have to offer him, such as apples,? noted Miller. ‘However, if an adult calls Princes name, he is a little more apprehensive about it.?
When Prince is not out for his back road trots he enjoys his days in the field hanging out with his goateed friends Hogan and Nanny who are about 8 or 9 years old.