Our Horses
Each one of our equine partners has something special to offer, whether it be boosting confidence, trying something new, learning valuable leadership skills, resilience, and so much more! Our horses end up with us when they can no longer do the job they were previously doing, be it due to age or injury. They all come from different backgrounds and training styles, but each one has a very important role here at HHK. They truly are the heart and soul of our program and everything we do. We work alongside our horses to ensure each child has a positive experience while practicing life skills, leadership, and connection.
Our herd currently consists of 14 horses ranging in all sizes, ages and abilities. They are fed, cleaned, and monitored daily to ensure their good health and happiness. We pride ourselves on giving our horses a comfortable and safe forever home here until they pass on from this world.
Duncan
Duncan is one of the original HHK program horses, and is still one of our go-to horses for any lesson. He is a 23-year-old Quarter horse gelding, and he was donated by the Brady Family 13 years ago. He is patient, gentle, smart, has a great sense of humor and is a fantastic teacher. He has taught hundreds of students how to properly put on a halter and how to ride.
Nacoma
Nacoma, AKA Grandma, is one of the oldest horses in our barn at a ripe 31 years old! Despite her age, she is still spicy and fun and loves to herd the minis when they all get turned out together. She is wonderful with the liberty/connection work and is very clear in her communication. She’s the best for our littles and has taught many children how to ride.
Ben
Ben is a 23-year old Dutch Warmblood, donated by Stephen Pellet. He was a former lesson and show horse. He is completely retired now with no-one riding him, but he is the best horse in the round pen for connection work. He is relational, insecure, needy, loving, and deathly afraid of cows. He is the largest horse in our barn, yet we call him ‘the toddler’ as he is a complete nuisance to his pasture pal Rojan.
Rojan
Rojan has had a very busy life. He was a successful event horse, he is a retired mounted police horse (complete with police badge!), he competed in gymkhana with a little girl, and now he is Ben’s roommate. He is patient, kind, and wise. He has no idea he is 30 years old and sometimes leading him is like flying a kite!
Peach
Lovely Peach is a 16 year old homebred mare (Quarter horse/Oldenberg) who was bred to be a jumper. She sustained an injury early in her career and was donated to HHK. She is smart, spicy, and loves to be scratched under her neck. She is the favorite of many of HHK’s clients. She seeks out adoration, and loves to be groomed and told she’s beautiful. Not only a pretty mare, she is phenomenal with her groundwork, placing her feet exactly where the client asks which makes her an excellent teacher. She recently competed in a local gymkhana and was the hit of the show! She’s fancy and she knows it!
Ari Homer Prest
Ari (registered name, Homer Prest) originally arrived from Denmark as an active and successful show jumper in the 1.35m jumpers. After spending his youth as a top equitation horse and traveling the show circuit, he was donated to HHK after an injury sidelined his career. We spent two years rehabbing him and he is now sound for the job he has at HHK. He has developed quite the personality, constantly testing boundaries and seeking attention from clients and staff alike, and we are sure he is very happy in his forever home here. He is loved and pampered by Emma on a weekly basis, solidifying his self-belief in his angelic status.
Jackson
Sweet Jack. It took awhile for Jackson to find his place at HHK. He was trained late in life and wasn’t sure how to teach. Over the past few years we have worked with him and supported him as he learned how to communicate with the students and how to fill in and help them learn. He will push boundaries with younger kids to the point of utter frustration, which if executed correctly can lead to some excellent teaching moments, but he is a rockstar with the teens! He has absolutely found his niche at Rancho Cielo.
Stu
Oh, Stu. This 23-year-old Icelandic Horse thinks the rules really shouldn’t apply to a senior citizen. He is our go-to for teaching boundaries because he has none. He loves to be loved and just wants to be able to sit on your lap.
Honey
Honey is a 17-year-old TB mare who was rescued from a backyard breeding situation during the Carmel River Fire evacuation. She is relational and sensitive, and knows when you are present and connected, and when you are not. She is a brilliant communicator; our staff can interpret the students’ internal emotions by reading Honey’s expressions and body language, making her an outstanding Equine Assisted Learning partner.
Seamus
Seamus belongs to Julia Torres, one of our employees. He is the youngest member of the herd at 5 years of age, but has the energy and presence of a much older equine. Let’s say he likes to conserve his energy. He is a Gypsy Vanner and sports beautiful feathers on his legs and half of a silly mustache making him an instant hit with some of the clients! He is another one who will test boundaries, and we will often use him when teaching assertiveness to our youth.
Gleason
Gleason, aka Glea, belongs to one of our facilitators, Christy. He is a gentle giant! His size and gentle spirit make him a great beginner riding horse for our teens.
Our Equine Helpers
Puzzle and Brandi
Puzzle and Brandi, aka the Minis! These two are inseparable and bring everyone who meets them great joy. Their job is to help the littles learn how to halter, groom, and lead. Their small size (don’t tell them that!) helps with kids who are a little unsure about the bigger horses. We have many excellent activities using Puzzle and Brandi that teaches kids and teens alike about boundary setting, teamwork and communication. They are both wonderful EAL teachers!
Dutch and Crunch
Dutch and Crunch are our resident goats. These boys are brothers, and add much joy and humor to the HHK family. Probably the most spoiled of the herd, they just want to do what THEY want to do, and mostly get away with it! They don’t get a completely free ride however, they are often used as barn management teachers to youth who have never experienced the farm life.
Helen, Rita & Jerry
These three were a happy accident that Lori hatched when one of our staff members hens accidentally incubated her eggs for longer than was previously thought, and the owners didn’t have the capacity to hatch out more chicks. Naturally Lori was there, faithfully watching over the incubator night and day until these three popped out. They are the perfect addition to the barn that Lori never knew she needed! Jerry’s crowing and the girls’ eggs really amplify the whole atmosphere of the barn.
Pumpkin
Pumpkin is the boss and runs the HHK barn. If you know an orange cat, you know what we mean! Donated to us by a family who kept him as an indoor cat in a residential area, we can see why they felt the need to allow him to live his best life every day out here as a barn cat.
In Memory
Please take a moment to reflect and celebrate the horses that have passed.
Tommy
Tommy was a 20 year old, 17 hand, Dutch Warmblood. He had melanoma masses under his ears that prevented him from wearing a bridle comfortably. We found that Tommy made the PERFECT vaulting horse. He loved being surrounded by kids and working on the lunge line. Tommy was a flea-bitten grey, so naturally he loved rolling in mud.