The Horses & Ponies
As with any therapeutic riding center, some of the most important members of our team are our horses. Without these gifted animals, our program could not function safely, or effectively.
The animals, which are selected to join our training program, must have certain innate characteristics; they must be calm, patient, and good-natured. These horses need to be mature, level headed, and with a willingness to work with a variety of riders with different abilities and disabilities.
Once we have chosen a horse for the team, its health, and general wellbeing are our first consideration. Every horse needs to be ridden on a regular basis to keep it in good condition, both physically and mentally. We work with each horse daily, to ensure that it knows what is expected of it and it can be trusted and predictable under all circumstances. All this training takes time, and is continuous and ongoing for as long as the horse is with us.
It takes years for a horse to acquire the experience and maturity to meet our standards. The average age of the horses on our team is 13 years, and they deserve and get the same tender loving care, as do our students.
Every horse has scheduled veterinary checkups, and their feet are trimmed and shod every 6 to 8 weeks. On top of this routine care, there is always the possibility of illnesses and emergencies when dealing with horses.
Feed is another critical component of good horse health. As horses age, like people, they often require supplements such as vitamins and minerals to supplement their regular feed. Horses are fed a balanced diet to meet their individual needs. Hay needs to be top quality. On average, it costs us $1,000 a year to feed one horse.
Our animals are extremely precious to us, and we do everything we can to insure that they have a long, and happy, life with us.
We have seen a complete change over in our horses in the past year (2010/2011). Our team was aging and needed to be retired and new horses brought into our program. 2010 was our change over year and now we have a wonderful team of great horses. We are presently using 4 horses and are looking to add one more to the team in the near future.
DOMINIC
Dominic is a Quarter horse gelding (male) who is 13 years old. He joined our team in March of 2011 and fit in instantly. Not very often do you come across a horse with this special grace. He is 16.1 hands (65” to the top of his shoulder) which for non horse people is huge. He literally towers over the other horses but is amazingly soft, calm and gentle. He will stand for hours to be brushed and handled. Patience is an attribute which cannot be overlooked in a program like ours, and Dominic has tons. He is a joy to be around. Dominic due to his size is ridden by our more independent riders as side-walking with him is not possible. When Dominic is not doing therapy he is shown competitively by our coordinator who owns him.
SELENA
Selena is a 14 year old mare (female) paint horse measuring 14.3 hands (59”) who joined our program in July 2010. Selena has been a competitive western pleasure horse for years and was purchased by our stable manager for herself, her little girls and to be used in the therapy program. Selena has proven to be an incredible asset to us, as she has a perfect build and size to suit a variety of rider types. She is used with our smallest of riders who require side walkers to some of our more excitable riders who are somewhat unpredictable. Selena is always steady and calm. She is incredibly smooth which makes trotting great fun.
JAC
Jac is the smallest of our crew at 14.2 hands (58”). He is a gray quarter horse gelding (male) who is now 14 years of age. He joined our program in 2008 and is now a veteran therapy horse. He is size is perfect for therapy and he is awesome with the kids. He draws the children to him and its love at first site. He is fun to ride as he is peppy and bouncy so trotting is for the adventuresome child. Most of the kids love to trot with him. He can accommodate just about any rider and is very versatile. Jac has a really funny personality, hates being by himself and loves rolling in the mud. The dirtier he can be the better. Jac was purchased with funds provided by Bombardier Aerospace.
HANNAH
Hannah is the newest member of our team. She was purchased in NY State in March 2011 and started her training shortly thereafter. As she is new to the team she has the fewest riders and she still has much to learn. She took a while to adjust to the move from her previous home, where she had been for 6 years, to ours but is doing fine. Her training is progressing well and she is a great little mare with a strong personality. She has a lot to give and is expected to be a wonderful therapy horse with a little time. Hannah is 12 years old, and stands at 15 hands or 60” to her whithers.
SOME OF OUR PAST HORSES
IMAGINE STAR
Star (retired in 2010) is a registered Quarter horse who had been at the stable since 2002, when his owners donated him to us. Even though he is up there in years, he still very playful and loves being outside. He was a big baby and loved all the attention he can get. He had great talent and provided many good years of therapeutic riding to many children. He is presently retired and lives with one of our longtime volunteers who loves and cares for him. He will undoubtably remain there for the duration of his life
TJ
TJ joined the program in September 2007. He was loaned to us and remained in the program until the sping of 2010 when he was retired due to old age. He was a liver chestnut color and measured 15.2 hands T.J. was the largest horse in the barn at the time but was a real gentleman. He was patent and affectionate, always willing to be brushed and stroked. Walking was his favourite speed but he was totally capable of doing anything we asked. He had been shown in dressage and was being shown locally by one of our students. Unfortunately TJ passed away in December 2010.
Mia – sold
Mia was a 9 yrs old, cream coloured Pinto pony. She was by far the cutest and most adorable horse in the barn. Like any pony she loved to eat and have all the attention. She was kind and gentle (a little stubborn at times) but was perfect for many of our smallest riders. She was purchased in the spring of 2008, thanks to a grant from Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities. We sold her in 2011 as we no longer had any riders suitable for her. She was sold to a family for their little girl who cherishes her to bits. We wish them a long happy life together.
