Last week, the MI Funny Farm welcomed its newest family member with the birth of a newborn foal to beautiful pony, Bracken.  Baby Zara is the first foal to be born on the new Mercer Island equestrian property and arrived on Thursday, March 15th, around 12:30 pm.

The MI Funny Farm shared the announcement on its Facebook page and welcomes members of the public to see Zara and Bracken from the public trail adjacent to the property. The farm advises visitors not to enter the driveway or walk through the front garden and to please “be calm and quiet, and always keep children from sitting on the fence for their own safety.”  Additionally, there are signs around the property that advise: “Please do not feed or touch the horses.”

Zara has been spotted prancing around her pasture (here’s a cute video) with watchful Bracken nearby. Other horses and ponies that enjoy the farm include Mary (the Matriarch) and daughter Saffron (a “teenager” in horse years); buddies Clover and Dash, who are rarely seen without each other; and Pye, nicknamed “the Scientist,” because of his solitary nature, often seen out observing the goings-on of the farm. Be sure to check out this “Meet the Horses” album on the MI Funny Farm Facebook page.

The MI Funny Farm is a private property and is owned by Mercer Island’s Ellison family. The Ellisons purchased the nearly 5-acre  property – formerly the Stevenson Farm, a horse-boarding farm – in 2012 and continue a 60-year equestrian legacy. According to the Mercer Island Reporter, the Stevenson Farm had a 20-stall horse barn and was still boarding 10 horses when it closed in 2011.

The new equestrian facilities, designed by McClellan Architects and constructed by Robert Casey Construction, are now nearing completion, and the property includes a single-family residence, carport, horse arena, barn and stables, and a track that runs along the perimeter of the property.

The MI Funny Farm is in the process of obtaining its business license and insurance and will eventually offer riding lessons. The farm is located just south of Island Crest Park at 6053 Island Crest Way. For business updates, visit and “like” the MI Funny Farm Facebook page.

[Feature image of Bracken & Zara courtesy MI Funny Farm / Savannah Cook]