|
Santé
I have been Santé's proud mom since 2007. He's a 24-year-old off-track thoroughbred. I met Santé when I was 16 years old and taking riding lessons. I fell in love with him even though our rides mostly consisted of me hanging on for dear life while Santé happily ran around uncontrollably (and he still has the need for speed when the mood strikes). I just knew he was someone special. Santé is a big guy with an even bigger personality. He loves to make silly faces when he wants treats. He's afraid of things that are round. He gets a little too excited around female horses sometimes. He's an old man who takes two pills a day and has to wear special wraps at night so his ankles don't get swollen. Santé's early life was marked with neglect; he was often ignored, not given proper nutrition, and was even abandoned at a barn in the middle of winter before I bought him. His story helps him connect with others who have had similar stories of resilience. |
Horses below are owned/leased by Kings Meadow Equestrian Centre
(thank you for allowing them to be a part of my therapy team!)
(thank you for allowing them to be a part of my therapy team!)
|
Bullet
If Bullet was a person he would be Mr. Rogers. Or Bob Ross. Basically, he is 100% wholesome with a gentle heart of gold. He is my go-to facilitator if I'm working with a client who is nervous or shy. He's 24 years old and is quite happy to take things slow and steady. Bullet is very talkative and always says hi to his friends when they pass by. He loves to be social, whether it's with people or other horses. He used to teach little kids how to ride with immense sincerity and patience. Now he enjoys the retired life and is always happy to meet someone new. |
|
Poco
Poco is about 21 years old and enjoying the retired life from riding. She is the queen of boundary setting - if she doesn't want to come in from the field you will never catch her. It may take time to build trust with her but once you do it is a very special bond. Her favourite thing is to receive butt scratches. Poco tends to stand out due to her beautiful colours and her solitary personality. Most horses in a herd stay in close proximity to each other, however it's not uncommon to see Poco hanging out far away from the others in the field. Many clients connect with her who may feel separate or different from others. |
|
Indy
Indy is a superstar and so easy to love. He is a talented jumper and has been around the show ring many times. These days, he's taking it easy as a lesson horse and easily wins the heart of each person who has the privilege of meeting him. Indy is a great advocate for himself and will let you know when he's hungry (which is all the time). He's one of the biggest horses we work with and has a grounding, quiet presence. He has great intuition and knows when to gently challenge someone. At 13 years old he's one of the youngest horses on the therapy team but has the heart of a wise old man. |
|
Bella
For those seeking a smaller companion, Bella is a good partner. As a large pony she is less intimidating than some of the bigger facilitators. But don't let her size fool you - she makes up for her smaller stature with a large amount of sass. Bella is 21 years old and has also taken many trips around the show ring. She is a great facilitator who helps clients learn about boundaries, perseverance, and compromise. |
|
Pika
Pika is another veteran in the show ring and as a lesson horse. She's the smallest pony in her herd, but she definitely knows how to stand up for herself. Many clients are drawn to her as her beautiful blonde hair sets her apart from the other horses. She's sweet and gentle, and a great pony to work with for those working to build confidence. You may not believe she's 22 years old, as she still has lots of spunk. Pika is a great role model for loving yourself no matter how little you are or how different you look. |
|
Peter
Peter is the resident donkey at the barn. He is friendly, social, and has a very chill personality. He loves affection and is known to follow clients around the field as they visit all the horses. He's as ancient as he looks at 26 years old. My favourite thing is when I'm walking towards the herd with a client and Peter breaks away to be the first to greet us. Peter's favourite thing is to obnoxiously run past the gate when you're bringing a horse out of the field so that he can roam the property and eat the good grass. He gets away with it all the time, because who could get angry at a face like that? |