Meet Our Horses
Meet Apple
Apple is our miniature horse and even though he’s only a few feet tall, he is not short on personality and beauty. Born in 2002 and arrived to the Ranch in 2014, Apple likes to be the protector of the female horses, although he only measures just above their knees (they remind him otherwise sometimes!). Before coming to the ranch Apple was bullied by a herd of large horses and was very scared of people. Now he will stand calmly and curiously as young people approach him, and is a favorite for leading around, grooming, and especially painting on and braiding his hair. He is such a trooper! We are so thankful for his patience and gentleness with us!
Meet Joe
He’s been called Easy Joe, the Gentle Giant, Big Joe. Joe arrived to THYR in the summer of 2022 and is a Red Suffolk Punch draft horse who was born in 2003. Joe’s size sets him apart, but even better is that his size is matched and surpassed by his gentle, sweet demeanor. He loves hugs. He plays well with all of the other horses.
Many of us grieve parts of our story and feel unwanted, and we need to be with this horse and hear this part of his story – he was in line to load on a trailer for the kill factory before his previous owner purchased him before sending him to us. He is most wanted and his story is a beautiful part of THYR’s story now. We are grateful for Joe and grateful to share him. Come by sometime, stand in awe of his beauty and stature, then give him a hug.
Meet Shorty and Mandy
Shorty and Mandy arrived to THYR together in January of 2022 from the same farm, and they continue to be pasture buddies.
Shorty, pictured on the left, was born in 2007, is a fox trotter, and has a beautiful roan (reddish with white and black sprinkled in) colored coat of hair. Mandy, pictured on the right, was born in 2013, and is a quarter horse. Shorty is like an “old man” in the pasture and is very interested in people. Mandy, our youngest, has lots of fun energy yet is very easy and calm when on a halter and under a saddle.
They remind us, as two very different horses and personalities sharing the same pasture, that very different personalities can share life together though it may seem odd or challenging at times.
Meet Sierra
Sierra is our sweet, gentle rescue horse who was estimated to have been born in 1997, when she came to us in 2013. Sierra had just been rescued when we purchased the ranch property and became the first horse in our herd. She had been starved and hit a lot in the head. It appears she had also had a barbed wired bit used on her as her mouth was cut up and a tooth was broken. It has taken her a while to trust people due to her abuse and neglect but over the years she has overcome her fear and is most willing to serve our youth with similar backgrounds. She is a constant reminder of the unique purpose of the Ranch property and has become a favorite to many of our youth.
Meet Grace
Grace is a Rocky Mountain Trail Horse with loads of love and spunk. She was born in 2007. Her blonde (known as flaxen color) hair and dapple brown and gold color is an ideal Rocky Mountain Trail Horse. Grace can display high excitable energy when it is time to lunge, yet is the most calm and steady when under saddle. She also loves to eat! Grace was donated to the ranch by Karen and Mike French. Mike was looking to sell his horses but at a doctor’s visit, he met a nurse who had volunteered with THYR then told him about the Ranch, and he instantly knew he wanted his horses to be a part of a program where they could be loved by many people.
Meet Raven and Milo
Raven is a black Rocky Mountain Trail Horse who was born in 2003, and she has cared for Milo since he was a baby. Milo is a miniature donkey who was born in 2013, and Raven adopted Milo when he was a newborn baby after Milo lost his mom. Raven’s relationship with Milo is beautiful – two very different animals but strong connection! Raven and Milo were donated to the ranch by Karen and Mike French. Mike was looking to sell his horses, but at a doctor’s visit he met a nurse who had volunteered with THYR then told him about the Ranch, and he instantly knew he wanted his horses to be a part of a program where they could be loved by many people.