Stepping Out for America's Horses


Stepping Out
for America's Horses
February 15-June 15, 2022

Presented By
Robb Report


Cajun
Cajun was abandoned when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2004. Emaciated with severe hoof damage, when he made his way to New York, no one could touch or ride him, but he overcame the trauma. Cajun has been a therapy horse with us since 2006 helping clients who are learning to survive, cope, adapt, and grow.


Honey
Honey, a 13-year old Haflinger mare, has been a therapy horse for the past ten years. She is our "go-to" horse when a new person is seeing and feeling the opportunity to be close to a horse or pony for the first time. It is the beginning of that incredible bond that will form and change the lives of special needs children in a very profound way.


Roxy
Roxy needed 12 darts from a sedation gun when she was rescued from a farm littered with dead animals and labeled aggressive, dangerous, and beyond help. She came to Peace Ranch for a 90 day trial. That was 12 years ago. Through compassionate training Roxy overcame the trauma of her past. Today Roxy is a compassionate healing partner for similarly labeled children and adults helping them overcome their trauma, restoring hope, and transforming their lives.


Clyde
Clyde with Elizabeth Nardi
Clyde, a 28 year old crossbred pony gelding, is the heart of our program at Pegasus TRA. Clyde is often the first pony that many of our participants ever ride and he has aided many riders in overcoming any fears while becoming acclimated to our program. Clyde was recognized as Therapy Horse of the Year by the Pennsylvania National Horse Show in 2016.


Buttercup
Buttercup is a 16 years old former show jumper turned therapy horse. A kind, gentle and beautiful Quarter pony, Buttercup loves the work she gets to do with our TR participants.


Stuart
Stuart with Nick
Photo @Diane McKay
Stuart is a 14-year-old Haflinger gelding who lost his right eye to cancer. It doesn't stop him from teaching individuals with a variety of diagnoses to ride and learn horsemanship skills in our therapeutic riding program. He demonstrates to everyone that it is okay to be different, how to overcome a challenge, and how to give back!


Winrischa
Winrischa (meaning Tall Oak) was found in a small Kansas community. When local authorities would not take action against the neglectful owners, Rainbow Meadows stepped up to find a donor who would pay the demanded price for the 5-month-old colt: $1000. It was highway robbery. But we could not walk away from this baby in need. From starving and orphaned to thriving and beloved, Rainbow Meadows provides safe haven to horses in need.


Mucho Dinero
Photo @Terri Cage Photography
Mucho is a 6 year old, Thoroughbred gelding standing at 17 hands. Donated by his very caring owners, Mucho was trained by one trainer his entire career, earning $107,799. He raced 20 times and was donated to Remember Me sound and happy. Mucho exemplifies our mission of working with trainers and owners to responsibly retire their horses. Mucho is currently being retrained for his second career and is available for adoption. Learn more here.


Twisted Tom
Twisted Tom was a fan favorite on the NY racing circuit winning $940,000. When his breeders became concerned that the popular eight year old gelding was still racing, he was claimed by Rick Schosberg, the President of Take The Lead, the NY horsemen's track retirement program, to retire the horse to Rerun. His retirement is a perfect example of how race tracks, owners, breeders and trainers can work together to ensure the safety and welfare of horses and provide the best possible outcome for horses in need of aftercare options.


Style
A picture's worth a thousand nickers! Retired from equine-assisted services, Style enjoys socializing with his herd mates, going on walks, and rolling in the grass—he is an expert roller! In service, Style was always considerate and showed his commitment to accommodate many abilities, needs and personalities. We are so lucky to be able to give Style a happy retirement, and appreciate his service helping children and adults improve their quality of life.


Doc
Our amazing therapy horse. Doc, a 31 year old Tennessee walking horse, has been serving children and adults with special needs and veterans for over 8 years. He is also a Special Olympic horse competing for both North and South Carolina Equestrian teams. Show here is our amazing rider, Irene, who is only able to ride with the use of our electric lift. Her incredible side walker is Ray, who started with our equine services for heroes program and now serves as our Veterans Service Coordinator, helping other veterans.


Jackson
Amber Lynch riding Jackson
Jackson: From Hard Life to Famous Therapy Horse Jackson is a great therapy horse! He's extremely popular with participants of all ages with significant physical impairments, those struggling with PTSD, and independent riders. One of his most 'famous' appearances was at a large fundraising horse event, where he was ridden by a stroke survivor in front of 3,000 fans. However, before he came to Ridin' High, Jackson had a tough life. One of our therapy center's supporters saw him on Craiglist and felt the horse deserved a chance, so she bought him as a personal trail horse and loaned him to our center two days each week. It didn't take long to discover that his true calling was as a therapy horse and he became a permanent member of the herd.


Babe
Babe is Riding To The Top's most senior herd member, at age 33+! She is the consummate lesson pony and is the epitome of "bombproof", never batting an eye or taking a flighty step with snow sliding off the roof or with unexpected sounds during our therapeutic lessons. Her work at Riding To The Top seems to give her meaning and purpose, and RTT’s clients, volunteers and staff all love her!!


Teddy
Teddy is the black Shire who came to us because his owner discarded him due to an infected hoof, which in her mind made him "damaged". We welcomed him into our program where his story resonates with many of our clients who have been labeled because they are different. Teddy has a new career as a therapy horse and an example of turning disabilities into possibilities.


Helo
Big Hugs for Helo from client Damien!
A few years ago, Helo’s owner, one of our volunteers, loaned Helo to us when we were temporarily in need of an additional horse for our programs. An unflappable and kind horse, he was a natural for the job! After the temporary job, he went back to his everyday life of trail riding, camping, and dabbling in dressage. As he got a bit older, his owner loaned Helo to us again. He's been with us full-time since May of 2020 and is now an indispensable part of our program and our go-to for riders who need the ramp to mount. It's also wonderful to know that when the time comes that he needs to retire, he will have a forever home with his wonderful, loving owner.


Sweet Caroline
Sweet Caroline is a Buckskin Quarter Horse mare that we saved directly off a trailer. She had gotten beat up in the trailer on her way to LA via VA. The shipper gave her too us -- it was just too many hours for this older skinny beat up girl to travel. She is healing now and the most beautiful and thankful soul. She's not rideable, but we are hoping to find her a soft landing for her older years. You will not find a friendlier, kind horse.


Louie
Louie's owners leased him for lessons at the barn where he was boarded to offset expenses. When he contracted EPM, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis that left him unrideable, his owners were forced to find him another home because they could not afford the boarding fees. Louie found his way to Roanchar Ranch Draft Horse Rescue in the Spring of 2020. It didn't take long for his fun-loving personality to show. He loves picking up things with his mouth, like training sticks or coats. He is in the process of learning tricks so that he can show off all his talents. While Louie still exhibits some symptoms of EPM, his current treatment is producing positive results. We hope to be able to reevaluate his riding options in the summer.


Sevin
Sevin was rescued from a kill pen by his owner and donated to us in 2016. He was discarded but now he belongs. Sevin has a forever home at Runnin Free Ranch and is part of our equine assisted counseling program. Sevin helps to bring hope, life and freedom to veterans and their families, at NO cost to clients.


Sonny D
In January 2008, Saddle Light's barn manager, Lori, rescued the Welsh pony, Sonny D, out of a round pen where he was standing knee deep in mud when he was eight years old. Although initially fearful of human contact, as time went on, Sonny D started to trust again and was introduced to some of the smaller children who had problems sitting up and holding their heads up - and some couldn't even walk. But, when they were sitting atop Sonny D, they would laugh, giggle, and make lots of happy sounds. If Sonny D could talk, he'd say, "My walking helped the children get stronger, sit up by themselves, pull up to standing, and even start to walk. HOW COOL IS THAT!! I'm never leaving this place!!"


Charlie
Charlie is the very reason that our organization was started over 20 years ago. Forgotten by his owner, he was left to fend for himself with another equine friend and slowly starving. By the time we were called to assist in a law enforcement seizure in December 2021, Charlie was hundreds of pounds underweight, dehydrated, in need of a farrier and an equine dentist. Charlie is thriving now. At 10 years old, he still has a wonderful life ahead of him. Safe Haven was created for horses like Charlie to ensure that they will be well taken care of and have the best life they can.


Elsie
Elsie joined our herd as a sturdy choice for our children and adults with life challenges. After several years of service, however, she was diagnosed with Frog-Bone and Cushings diseases, risking her future at our program. Not willing to give up on this gentle giant, our veterinarian, farrier, and staff put Elsie on extended rest, adjusted diet and medications, and customized her shoes. As Elsie healed, she returned to the vital role of healing others.


Beau
Beyond All Limits aka "Beau" is a 30 year old OTTB that had 84 starts on the track. Beau has survived being over raced, and has lived with a chronic sinus issue for 6 years for which he underwent surgery and is on a daily nebulizing schedule. He is an example of and represents overcoming the odds. He's a survivor which draws our Equine Assisted Therapy participants to him for the support and positivity they seek. They also strive to beat the odds like Beau!


Pumpkin
Regala Di Trieste (Pumpkin) is a 20 year old Thoroughbred and mother of 9 foals who then ended up at a local auction. She is aunt to American Pharoah, having the same dam as Pioneer of the Nile (Star of Goshen). She's made great progress. We plan on taking Pumpkin to some local shows this spring and summer and document her journey from broodmare to show horse. Pumpkin is a perfect example of how trainable retired broodmares are, even after decades of no riding.


Nephew Howard D and Risque's Warrior
These two geldings were claimed and sent to race in Puerto Rico. After being sent to race in Puerto Rico ending in challenging racing experiences and poor finishes, "Howie" and "Risky" were rescued and rehabbed by the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare Inc. Through a partnership between our organizations, "Howie" and "Risky" were sent back to the states to find new homes and careers with the Secretariat Center. Kind and sweet, they are receiving additional aftercare treatment after their long travel home and will both make great horses for the right adopters.


Tonka
Tonka is an eleven-year-old Haflinger Gelding standing 13.1 hands with a star, stripe and snip. Tonka loves his job as a therapy horse! He has found his niche in life and has made a lot of people feel fabulous about themselves. He participates in all our programming including horsemanship, learning and therapy. He's a real extrovert who keeps our therapy herd entertained!


Phoenix
Phoenix, a beautiful, highly intuitive rescued Shetland pony mare with a traumatic past joined our Miracle Herd a year ago. Even though she has trust and abandonment issues, she has an uncanny gift to connect with children, youth and adults receiving Trauma-Informed Care Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies services in our program. Many have experienced unspeakable abuse and neglect. Phoenix teaches trust, offers hope, emotional healing and unconditional love.


Buster
Buster with Volunteer Jean
Photo @Janice Fischer Photography
Buster is a 17-year-old Belgian Draft Horse gelding and is in his second year of service as a therapeutic riding horse. Buster loves attention from his people and quickly became a barn favorite here. Buster receives much deserved love and affection from volunteers, including Jean, a long-time volunteer of 12+ years. Buster has a quiet, calm and gentle personality, making him a perfect fit for so many different riders of every age and ability.




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