Rio

Riding Level: Advanced Beginner;

Ground Work Level: Beginner. 

For the most part, Rio is easy to ride for Beginners, and fun to ride for more advanced students.  However, when he gets out of his comfort level (meaning situations that are new or different to him), he can panic and get very skittish.  He is a very smooth ride and very responsive to cues.  Rio is a lovely jumper and is very willing if he has a confident rider.  On the ground he has a super friendly personality and is easy to handle, except when he rubs his head so hard on you it pushes you over!

Shadow

Riding level : Advanced Riders only;

Ground Work Level: Beginner. 

Ex-Roping horse; super well-trained horse that responds instantly to weight and leg aids.  Pulling on the reins while "hanging on" with leg pressure will cue him to collect and he will want to respond by taking off at a gallop (like he would for chasing down a calf for roping).  In lesson situations he is a challenge for students wanting to reach “the next level.”  For riding on your own, you must know what you’re doing to be safe.  He came to us as a highly trained Western reining & riding horse.  As a “Super-Athlete,” he has taken to the English riding discipline with enthusiasm as well, and has become a wonderful jumper.  On the ground, he is so sweet and gentle, a 2 year old could lead him around.   

Romeo

Riding Level: Advanced;

Ground Work Level; Advanced Beginner. 

Well trained horse, highly sensitive to weight and leg aids.  Leg gripping tension from the rider will cause him to want to run.  Pulling on the bit can make it worse (as in Shadow, above), so rider must understand how to use loose rein (or light hands) and relaxed leg to keep him calm and under control.  Romeo has also become a beautiful jumper when ridden English.  He is a sweetie-pie on the ground and loves attention.  He only gives a problem if you are leading him and he sees some nice green grass; he will strongly pull to get to it.

Jordan

Riding Level: Advanced Beginner/Intermediate;

Ground Work Level: Beginner (but Intermediate for Bridling). 

Jordan is usually fairly easy to ride; responsive, but not too fast.  He can be a little headstrong at times, so the rider must know how to use light but firm hands.  He is a beautiful mover while doing dressage.  He loves to jump, but should not be jumped over 12-14 inches due to a hock problem.  He is gentle on the ground with people, but a mean bully to the other horses.  The handler must know how to safely lead him out among other horses.  Also, he has an altitude attitude, and can be very difficult to bridle because he thinks it is great fun to hold his head up 12 feet high when you want to bridle him.  He cannot be tied to the hitching post because he has a tendency to panic over unknown (to us) goblins, and pull back hard. 

Shoshoni

Riding Level: Intermediate;

Ground Work Level: Intermediate. 

SPUNKY!! Shoshoni always wants to go and loves to canter and run.  She is easily controllable, however, and an Intermediate Rider will know how to keep her from running off when they are riding alone.  Like Bambi, above, Shoshoni can be very excitable if something out of the ordinary occurs, so the rider must have very good balance and be able to stay centered.  She is a very good jumper; however, it is not as “smooth” as some of our other horses.  With ground work, she is still a little stand-offish with many people; not as affectionate as our other horses.  Because she was abused in her early training (before we got her), it still takes a slow, steady handler for her to trust. 

Jack

Riding Level: Advanced Beginner;

Ground Work Level: Beginner. 

Jack is level headed and easy going as long as he is with other horses.  However, he is insecure when away from the herd and needs a rider with confidence to help instill it in him when riding alone.  He does need someone who can give clear and strong commands with their aids because he is easily confused and unwilling to do what might be the wrong thing.  When he is out of his comfort zone, he can be headstrong and difficult to ride.  Jack is not a natural jumper and is still learning to do low jumps.  On the ground he is very sweet and easy to work with except sometimes he will test his handler with picking his hooves.

Bambi

Riding Level: Intermediate;

Ground Work Level: Advanced Beginner.  

Bambi is well-trained in Dressage for English riding.  She responds well to the rider’s cues, so the rider must know what they are doing.  Bambi can be high- spirited and her rider must know how to control her head and not be rough (use “light” but firm hands).  Bambi can be very excitable if something out of the ordinary occurs, so the rider must have very good balance and be able to stay centered.  She is also a very nice jumper, and needs a rider who knows how to keep her from “rushing” the jumps.  She is a sweetie on the ground, but is a big horse.

Joey

Riding Level: Advanced Beginner;

Ground Work Level: Beginner. 

Joey is our newest horse (Feb. ’07) so we are still determining how he will be for different types of riders.  He is fairly slow and steady to ride. He doesn't spook or run off.  He has a bad habit of backing up when you try to mount up.  He has only been ridden with a hackamore so the rider must know how to use their aids in conjunction with not having a bit in the horse’s mouth.  He is also insecure and doesn’t like being separated from his friends in the herd.    On the ground, he is easy to lead, groom, and pick hooves.  He will not let you open his mouth, though.

Harley

Riding Level: Beginner;

Ground Work Level: Beginner 

Sweet old Harley is as easy as they come under most circumstances.  He may get lazy and try to cut barrels, and he doesn't like to be the leader horse.  He won’t run off with a young rider and he will usually stay at a slow pace.  He can get very nervous, though, when out of his comfort zone away from home.  He does get a little spunkier in the winter, but he is still very safe.  On the ground he is tolerant and is like a big Teddy Bear.  You must be slow and careful when tightening his girth or he will get scared and pull back.