Horses

Our students have special needs that require special horses. A horse that is gentle and quiet enough for a child is truly a treasure. A horse that is gentle and quiet enough for a student with a disability is an even greater treasure. Our students have learned to trust and love our therapy horses.

Our horses have been carefully screened for suitability to work safely and effectively with our students. Those horses that pass the screening are then specially trained in activities unique to therapeutic lessons, such as riders being loaded from wheelchairs from a ramp.

Many of the CANTER horses are borrowed from or donated by individuals throughout the community. Even when classes are suspended for holiday or summer breaks, our horses are conditioned by members of our team to insure their health and to keep them from getting bored with their jobs. It takes a very special horse to work for CANTER, and we appreciate the animals for their contributions to the well-being of our students. Please get to know a little bit about each of our current horses below. In addition to their names, you can see when they were born, their color, breed and gender, as well as what their personalities are like! 

WILD THING Breed: Paso Fino Mix Other Info: '02 Chestnut Gelding Owned by: Personality: Wild Thing has a reputation for being our grumpy old man because of his looks, but he really can be a sweet boy and delivers a nice lesson for our students.  SHORT STRIDE "SHORTY" Breed: Quarter Horse Other Info: '07 Chestnut Gelding Owned by: CANTER Personality: Short Stride or Shorty  as we often call him, is our class clown. He's a very hard working, eager to please boy. He has a wonderful personality and is a favorite of the volunteers and students alike!   COWBOY Breed: Mustang Mix Other Info: '03 Tri-Color Pinto Gelding Owned by: CANTER Personality: Cowboy is a very sweet, but reserved boy who prefers a more experienced, calm student. He loves going on the trail with Boot & Hawk! MISS ANNIE "ANNIE" Breed: Haflinger Pony Other Info: '05 Red Roan Mare Owned by: CANTER Personality: Annie is a super sweet pony. She has a wonderful swish in her walk which gives great input for her riders. She's calm and very responsive to her team. She made fast friends with Kizzi and they are now great paddock mates.  FLASH OF WIND "KIZZI"  Breed: Missouri Foxtrotter Other Info: '08 Tri-Color Pinto Mare Owned by: Linda DeMarco Personality: Kizzi is a beautiful girl who's been on loan to us since August of 2025. She's super smart, gentle and very easy to handle. Her only downfall.. she's attached to Annie, and gets very vocal when they're apart! LILL' BITZ Breed: Miniature Horse Other Info: '04 Tri-Color Pinto Gelding Owned by: Andi Taylor Personality: Lill' Bitz was loaned to the stable in late 2025 from our barn manager/instructor, Andi. He is super popular and some students would so rather handle him than ride. This small, friendly, mellow guy serves us well in helping calm fears and get students used to being around horses. He's a wonderful addition to the team!!   HAWK Breed: Thoroughbred Mix Other Info: '05 Flea Bitten Grey Gelding Owned by: Gerri Tussing Personality: Hawk is a big handsome boy that despite his size, is a real sweetheart. He's on loan to us and we are expecting him to make a great CANTER horse!  BOOT Breed: Arabian  Other Info: '03 Tri-Color Torbiano Gelding Owned by:  Personality: Boot is one of the newest horses on loan to us. Despite his naturally fast pace, he calms immediately when worked with. He's super friendly and wants to please.   WILLIE Breed: Mammoth Jack Mule Other Info: '03 Brown Gelding Owned by: CANTER Personality: Willie comes to us as our first mule. We took him as an adoption trial and he has proven very calm, responsive and tolerant thus far. Being so big, we hope he will do well with our more independent riders as he's too tall for most sidewalkers to assist with. He's bonded with Lovie who will be staying on with us as well!  LOVIE Breed: Miniature Jenny Mule Other Info: '03 Brown Mare w/Jerusalem Cross  Owned by: CANTER Personality: Lovie is the most adorable little girl with a personality to match. She joined us as Willie's emotional support animal and although she was initially meant to help him adjust to his adoption trial, we fell in LOVE with her and she is doing well become a CANTER equine. Sweet, spirited and halters well.