Our Equine Teaching Staff

Binky Spunky and affectionate, Binky needs a leader who will be calm, confident, and assertive. Once this 13-year-old quarterhorse recognizes your leadership, he becomes a soft, willing follower.
Buddy Tennessee Walker, Buddy, is a sweet, reliable 23-year-old gentleman. Buddy enjoys trail-riding and has an amazing, ground-covering walk. Buddy’s been-there-done-that demeanor makes him a special favorite of our newest riders.
King of Hearts “Big Boy,” a Trakhener-thoroughbred cross, is a gentle giant. He loves people and, despite his size of 17 hands, willingly responds to the leadership of even a small child. His calm, affectionate demeanor makes him a real favorite. Initially purchased as a dressage prospect, an injury sidelined him from athletic demands and guided him into his career as, what I like to call, “The World’s Fanciest Schooling Horse!"

Levi Levi, a 13-year-old palomino quarter horse, is worth his weight in gold. Sweet, curious, and quiet, he helps new riders gain confidence. Though he has a great trot and canter, his favorite gait is a slooooooow walk. We thank Mary Barnhill for letting her horse be part of our teaching staff.
Starlight Blues “Star,” a Thoroughbred with soft, floating gaits and a quiet, calm disposition, feels as comfortable at a dressage show as he does on the trail. With his relaxed, responsive attitude and lovely way of going, he blossomed at his first dressage show last year, and I plan to continue showing him this year. Although he’s my dressage partner, he’s a wonderful schoolmaster for students who want an introduction to a peaceful way of dressage. He can also hunker down and forget he’s a dressage horse to take care of a child in a lesson or on the trail.

Merlin Merlin, an 11-hand Welsh pony, has a big job: to teach our littlest riders. He is kind, patient and quiet enough for a child’s first ride, but he will trot and canter nicely for more experienced kids who know how to ask. We thank Phillip Combes for letting his pony be part of our teaching staff.
Spumoni As wildly-colored as the ice cream he’s named after, Spumoni loves kids. He wasn’t always like that. When I got him as a “project,” he was fearful and resistant. He now greets people eagerly. He is a very sensitive, willing fellow who responds well to quiet leadership. We thank Scotty Combes for letting his pony be part of our teaching staff.

Tuxedo Fifteen-year-old Tux is a kind fellow with some get-up-and-go. He does excellent work in the ring, but his favorite job is to be a safe mount for students on the trail. He loves to jump too.
Chocolate Swirl At age 3, Chocolate Swirl, is the baby of our herd. He is absolutely the calmest, quietest youngster I have ever met. In fact, the day I brought him home after buying him, he was so sensible in his new surroundings that I took his temperature. I thought he must be ill! This laid-back demeanor is just part of his Zen approach to life. He is going under saddle, but he’s not part of the teaching staff yet.