We have a fantastic line up of lesson horses to suit all levels of riders and personalities. Our old website, heads-up.ab.ca, has some pictures as well.
Vinny
Vinny is turning 7 in June 2011 – he is another breeding stock Paint. He is a red chestnut, with very handsome markings on 3 of his legs, and a flashy blaze on his face. He is 16 hands high. He has superb basic dressage skills, but requires his riders to be very clear about what they want. He likes to do the bare minimum, and is the most energy efficient model we have. Vinny is another puppy in a horse outfit – always comes to meet us in the field, and tries to “help” when we are catching other horses.
Monkey
Monkey is still one of our favourites in the program – he does phenomenal dressage and jumps like a grand prix horse. He stands at 15.2 hands high, but rides like 16.2 hands high. He is turning 9 years old in May 20111 – he is a chestnut and white pinto, with a quarter horse/appaloosa heritage. It has been made clear by my family that Monkey is not allowed in the house when we are moved in — sorry Monkey!!!!
Norman
Norman is the “lesson horse extrordinaire” – he is 21 years old this year (2011) – standing at 15 hands high he has the heart of a much bigger horse. He is pure business man, but loves the smaller kids. He can teach youngsters how to trot and canter, or he can help an experienced rider with some fine equitation details. This guy knows it all, and will clearly tell you when you are doing it wrong. He was rescued from the PMU industry as a foal, and thanks to his previous owner, knows all of the dressage and jumping skills needed to help our riders. Norman is a Belgian cross, chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail with a star and stripe. He is currently babysitting 2 horses in training and need to develop some trust in humans.
Reba
Reba is a very pretty quarter horse mare, liver chestnut standing at 15.3 hands high, with a star and a snip. She is somewhere around the 11 years old mark. She has a very comfy trot to work with for beginners, and for experienced riders she can do the more advanced jumping. She is a doll to work with in the barn, giving the smallest riders a chance to learn their horsemanship. Reba is going to be a pasture buddy for someone we know that is keeping a single horse at home. She will be returning to us next spring. We are starting to research stallions to breed Reba — she would have a stunning baby!
Doc 1
Doc 1 is turning 8 years old in May 2011. After our initial problems with Doc he has turned into a very willing and enthusiastic partner for his riders. He is still very particular with who rides him – and we still allow him to tell us who he will work for. He has a kind demeanor to go with his good looks – standing at 16 hands high, very thick build, a nice red chestnut with a blaze and lots of white on his legs. He is a breeding stock Paint – meaning that he has Paint parents, but no white splashes on his body.
Doc 2
Doc 2 has turned into a great horse for beginners to figure out the ropes – he is kind, thoughtful and very handsome. His draft heritage show clearly through his high white stockings on the back legs and a nice white blaze on his face. His neat roaned bay colour make him easy to spot in the group. He can work up to the level of the more advanced riders, or help a beginner learn how to canter. He is turning 7 in the spring of 2011, stands 16.1 hands high and looks like a warm blood.
Parker
Parker is turning 6 this year (2011) — and has come a long way in a short time. He is a thickly built draft/paint cross – standing at about 16.1 hands high. He is getting a handle on basic flat work and has started to work over fences. Still inconsistent, but that’s the way it goes with youngsters!
Red
Red is a very large draft cross standing 16.2 hh — he seems to have some issues from past handling and trust, but I’m sure we will get through to him. He is a red roan/bay with unknown parents and training. I am told that he was broke to ride at some point, but we need to restart that journey! He is 5 years old this year (2011).
Andy
Andy is a thoroughbred mare that we got as an ex-race horse – she turns 8 in spring 2011. She is a delicate looking 16 hands high, “liver” chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail. She too has some fancy leg markings and a large blaze. She has learned how to jump easily, and reminds us that thoroughbreds were made for speed. She is mainly ridden by the more experienced riders as she occasionally remembers what her ancestors were bred for. She has shown us a very gentle and quiet side lately — seems to like her new digs!
Candy
Welcome Candy to our program — she is our first pony — and very cute. She is a 5 year old Welsh Cross (section B) — standing at 13.2 hands high. She is a bay with a star. She has shown herself to be trustworthy with my daughter riding at walk, trot and canter, and is ready to start doing more. We will start adding her to the line up with riders that have shorter legs.
Sparky
Sparky is our new addition a few days ago — he is a Medicine Hat Paint with white and chestnut markings. He is around 15.3 hands high, with eye catching blue eyes. We are just figuring out what he knows and what he likes best — so we will update this in a little bit once we’ve experimented a bit.
Stompy
Stompy is our new donkey — he has taught the beagle (in less than 1/2 hour!!!!!) that we do not go into Stompy’s pen if we are 4 legged predators. The boundary is very clear, and both dogs have quickly learned that it is best to abide by Stompy’s rules. Stompy is very friendly and likes scratches, and makes a funny partial-bray when it is feeding time. We have heard his full blown voice when his buddy (Sparky) is taken into the barn.
Brandi
Brandy is our new black and white paint mare. She is a sweetie to handle, and has quickly learned the ropes of being around a barn with lots of comings and goings. Brandi is still quite young at 4 years old this spring — has just learned walk/trot/canter and started some small jumps, and is just beginning to get used to the more advanced riders in the lesson program. She is 15 hands right now, but may grow more as paints sometimes do. We will get some pictures of her once the mud is gone and her white patches stay white long enough for us to focus a camera on her!
