Meet Our Horses at

Bodacious (Bode)Bodacious (Bode) is a registered Spotted Draft. Though he looks larger, he’s only 16 hands and about 1,500 pounds. He used his size to intimidate previous owners - seven in his first six years! His coloring, bright orange spots on white, is called tobiano. His mother was a paint and his sire was a Belgian, who could have been 16" taller and 500 pounds heavier than he is. Bode knows he's a big boy, but is willing to do what is asked of him. A sensitive guy, he's had some dressage training and appreciates a well-balanced rider who doesn't slip sideways on his round back.

Koda is a dunn-colored Mustang gelding, more than 20 years old and 13.2 hands, that we bought at Christmas 2012 in hopes of replacing Sage. The white marks under his mane are his Bureau of Land Management brand. Shortly after he joined the herd, he and Bode began discussing herd leadership, demonstrating that size has nothing to do with it!

Blue Romeo I said I'd never have another three-year-old on the farm again, but Blue Romeo convinced me to bring him home from London, Ky. in August 2008. He's a fairly rare "blue" roan, with black and white hairs intermixed (that won't fade to white as the majority of grays do.) A Morgan/Quarter Horse cross, he's now 15 hands tall and about 1,000 pounds, several inches taller and several hundred pounds heavier than he was when we brought him home. 

The family of rodeo riders who raised him wanted him to be a barrel racing horse, but he's too low key for that. He came to us with the best manners and training of any horse we've ever bought. He did, however, have a scar from an ill-fitting saddle.

A very sweet people-oriented horse, Romeo would sometimes rather hang out with people than the other horses. His beautiful head-set and carriage make him look very regal as he learns dressage.

Sundance A solid bay Quarter Horse / Arabian cross, Sundance was raised by a friend of a friend. She trail rode him, used him for lessons and showed him. She sold him, then bought him back.

When he returned at 14, with all his ribs showing, he had become a "cribber." Cribbing is an obsessive-compulsive disorder prevalent in Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds, often prompted by anxiety or the boredom of being left in a stall. He braces his teeth against wood and sucks air, making an odd noise. It creates endorphins and becomes an addictive behavior. While some products claim to stop cribbing, nothing works for Sundance, including hot sauce where he wants to put his lips.

Sunny is a good horse for beginners. He is very laid back, prefers to follow the others at a very low-key pace. At 15.2 hh and nearly 1,000 pounds, he can carry a rider up to 200 pounds. It took Sundance about eight weeks to understand the concept of candy, now he nickers and begs for it after every ride.

"Yesterday will be a day I will always cherish - the very best trail ride though the woods on Sam who is the best trail horse I have ever been on.   My husband will ride him the next time we visit.   He is a golfer, but Sam will be perfect!" Johnstown, OH

Sam is the obnoxious teenager in the herd, never accepting his place in the hierarchy, always pushing or attempting to push the others around. A black and white Tennessee Walker, Sam is a Cadillac in terms of horse gaits. His running walk is effortless and smooth, tho as stubborn as he is you'd think doing it for 10 strides was like running a marathon.

At 15.2 hands and 1,200 pounds, Sam was starved so badly when he arrived that we had to feed him yogurt for a week to get his digestive system back in balance. Now well fed for more than a decade with us, he still assumes he's near starvation and will snack every chance he gets with a rider who's not paying constant attention.

A real personality, Sam will eat nearly anything sweet offered in an outstretched hand. More intimidated by men, Sam needs a rider who is assertive enough to make him mind his manners.

"Thank you for a giving us a well needed escape from reality on our one year anniversary.   This was a wedding gift that I think will turn into an anniversary gift from us to us.   It was nice to get on horseback again.   Sam was such a gentleman and Storm kept us on our toes!   All of your 4-legged family members were a joy."

Sage is a Heinz 57 of the horse world. We were told the little grey gelding was 12 years old and part Mustang when we bought him in August '07, but one farrier said he has Thoroughbred hooves. His size of 13.2 hh belies that. Another horsey friend is sure he's a Kentucky Mountain Horse with his sneaky smartness, speedy walk and effortless fox trot.

A very easy going horse, Sage is very responsive and forgiving. After a year with us, he was no longer jumpy and fearful of being hurt. Nor is he as bossy and pushy to ensure he got enough to eat as he was when he arrived, now that he knows there will be enough. He loves Bode and will stick to him like glue.

Sage came from the mountains and doesn't have much education, but as Susan (his owner) says, we hope to at least get him a G.E.D… His canter is very smooth and he can canter while the other horses trot. He loves little kids and they love him, too. When he has fearful or tiny riders, he wears his angel wings. When an experienced rider demands that he listen, he sometimes shows his devil horns.

Buster - Buster Brown is a 13-year-old Percheron-Throughbred cross who has done dressage, trail riding and jumping. At 16.3 hh, he's our tallest horse, tho Bode still outweighs him with his Belgian heritage. Buster is to be Jen's dressage horse, tho Bode won't be ignored. This big chocolate brown guy thinks he's a kitten and absolutely LOVES attention and people.

Weaned at 4 days old because his mom was a nurse-mare for Thoroughbreds around Lexington, Buster was bottle fed by a rescuer. Awkward and gangly, he was sold at two to a local woman who provided him with great training, care and attention for 11 years until health problems forced his sale. Thank goodness her primary concern was that he come to a good home! Tho he carries himself like royalty, he's not assertive in the herd. He thinks he's a kitten and wants to crawl into your pockets and hunt for treats!

Jackson's Speed - Foaled March 22, 2004, Jackson's Speed is a 16 hh 1,100-pound "flea-bitten" grey off-the-track Thoroughbred. (Flea bitten doesn't mean he's been bitten by fleas, but that he has brown flecks in a primarily white coat.) He raced for 4 years, earning $35,000 at Indiana tracks. Surprisingly quiet and sensible for being so recently on the track, he moves beautifully and really tries to please his rider. Clare is training him to become a dressage horse. With just a couple years under saddle and off the track, and his flighty Thoroughbred heritage, Jackson needs a rider who is alert, aware and confident. Unlike our first Thoroughbred, Jackson has a good stop and a steady canter that doesn't turn into a race! His only oddity is that the tip of his left ear is missing and was when he was registered as a yearling.