Jamie Defazio Guiberson and Muggles the Pony keep very busy schedules, but don’t worry—they are returning to the Unionville Community Fair this year after a very successful appearance at the fair’s centennial event in October of 2024.

Guiberson is a full-time emergency and critical care nurse at the New Bolton Center, and she has also written and published two children’s books. The star of those books? Muggles the Pony, of course. 

Jamie first got to know about Muggles the Pony at the New Bolton Center about 15 years ago, and today the two make as many as two dozen appearances together throughout the year.

“I take Muggles to schools and libraries and to local events to foster interest in reading and the creativity of writing,” Guiberson explained. “We probably do two dozen events a year. Unionville is the only fair that we do.”

During the appearances, Guiberson said, the goal is simply to spread some happiness to those who meet Muggles the Pony.

She added that, when it comes to delivering a book talk to children, it really helps to have the star of the book come along—especially if that star of the book is a playful pony who has a way with people.

“He has always had a larger-than-life personality,” Guiberson said of Muggles, explaining that it was that big personality that helped spark ideas for books. “He always found himself in funny situations. He is full of mischief, and he’s always getting into something, so ideas for children’s books organically came into my mind.”

The first two books that Guiberson wrote—“Muggles and the Case of the Missing Cat Food” and “Muggles and the Case of the Missing Basket”—serve as the start of a series where Muggles solves mysteries around the barn.

Muggles the Pony fits perfectly at an event like the Unionville Community Fair, and Guiberson said that she is looking forward to taking part in the fair again. She grew up in the Kennett Square area and appreciates the importance of agriculture to the local community. She said the Unionville Community Fair offers a great atmosphere for visitors to the area, and there are lots of fun activities to enjoy.

Muggles the Pony was one of the big attractions at last year’s event, and that will be the case again.

Guiberson said that she and Muggles will likely be there on Friday, Oct. 3, a day when some local schoolchildren will be taking field trips to the fair, as well as on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5, and visitors will be able to take pictures of Muggles and pet him. Muggles has been a driving pony for about 7 years, and they will offer short carriage rides at the fair for a small fee.

Copies of the books will be available for sale at the fair, Guiberson said, and she will be happy to sign them as the author. As an added bonus, they will be able to add a hoof print to the book—Muggles’ own way of signing an autograph.

While Muggles the Pony is a star of children’s mystery books, it is no mystery why he’s so well-liked when he makes the appearances.

Guiberson explained that Muggles the Pony was part of a teaching herd at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Kennett Square. New Bolton Center provides an internationally renowned standard of care for large animals of all sizes, ranging from pet goats to elite equine athletes and high-producing dairy herds. From the time he was a small pony, Muggles developed a reputation for having a big personality and for being a bit mischievous. He’s still inspiring stories in Guiberson.

The North East, Maryland resident said that she has started a spin-off of other Muggles-related stories, like the one she is writing about an adopted and rescued foal. 

Muggles the Pony stays at Whistle Hill Farm in West Grove, where Guiberson’s sister, Laura Defazio, works as the manager.

Guiberson said that her aunt, Terry Hawkins, is the illustrator for the Muggles books, and another aunt, Gloria Hamilton, edits the books.

The first two books are available at amazon.com and most online retailers. Guiberson said that she is hoping to publish the third book soon—perhaps by the end of this year. A fourth book is also already being worked on and will likely come out in 2026.

She wants all the books to have a positive message for children and bring a little happiness to readers.

“All of the stories have an undertone of kindness, teamwork, and diversity in a subtle context,” Guiberson explained.