OUR HERD
Moses "Mo"
Moses is the 2025 Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Intl. Equine of the Year for Region One! Congratulations Moses! A 16.2 hand Clydesdale /Appaloosa cross gelding, whose red roan coat, 4 white socks and stripe make him unmistakable. He’s been sharing his love at Shepard Meadows since 2015, when he arrived from Long Island after being rescued there. If you have the opportunity to work with him, be sure to scratch that special spot just below the withers and watch his expression! Moses was born in 2003.
Sponsored By: Maria Pinto, Industrial Strength LLC
Indy
Say “hello” to the most famous member of the herd, “Indy” short for Indiana Jones. He’s a former trotter, and at 16.1 hands, is one we all look up to! A Standardbred, all black, with no markings, except a whorl on his forehead, he’s playful and youthful. He arrived in 2016, and although he’s semi-retired, he primarily works with our unmounted group programs. He likes to think he runs the farm, and perhaps he does! Indy was born in 2007.
Sponsored By: The Robert Rosenheim Foundation
Tonka
Tonka is in fact built like a truck! He’s a Haflinger pony gelding, with palamino coloring and a whorl, star, stripe, and snip. Born in 2011, he’s the youngest member of our herd, and we don’t forget it. Tonka is owned by Oakendale Farm, LLC and leased to us. He spent a year at The Ethel Walker Equestrian Program before coming to us in the spring of 2019. He’s a rock-star pony with equally dazzling personality. He’s a favorite of all the young riders!
Sponsored By: The Mensel Family
Doodle
Doodle was born in 2006 and is owned by Shepard Meadows. He arrived in 2024 and settled right in to our program. He's a 15-hand high Connemara and his coloring is buckskin. His formal name is Waterford's Crescent Moon. Like Moon he has a crescent shaped star on his forehead (hiding under his forelock), but their crescents are in the opposite direction - one waning, and one waxing. Next time you're at the farm discover which is which. So cute!
Sponsored By: Amanda Malkowski and Family
Elmer
Elmer is our therapy mule. He was a rescue that came to us in late spring, 2019. He was timid and shy, and very protective of his dinner. Nowadays he is a love-bug who loves all the attention! He greets our volunteers and participants with his tender “whimper” and keeps tabs on all the comings and goings in the barn. The horses joke that he’s their therapy! In 2022 Elmer was inducted into the USEF Hall of Fame for his therapy work - the first mule in the history of the world to do so! Elmer was born in 2016.
Sponsored By: The Ragone Family
Moon
Moon is a miniature horse, a dark bay gelding with a “star” and whorl with scattered while hairs on his face. The star is actually the exact shape of a crescent moon – and thus his name is Moon (or Little Moon). He was born in 2010 and like Elmer, he came to us as a rescue. He and Elmer share the courtyard with their own private homes, keeping watch throughout the day. Moon specializes in working in our hippotherapy program - speech and language. He is so simply adorable, there is always a lot to talk about with Mr. Personality.
Sponsored By: Amanda and Kevin Hickey
Sylvie
Sylvie was born in 2013; she's an American Quarter Horse mare. She stands 15.2 hands and her color is liver-chestnut. Aside from three whorls, she is without markings. It has been said that the whorl pattern on your horse's forehead is the gateway to their soul. American Indians believed they could predict the temperament of a horse by the whorl on its head. Sylvie's father was world champion in western pleasure and she resembles him. She sure is pretty!
Sponsored By: Shelly Whitlock-Pope
Gatsby
Gatsby arrived at Shepard Meadows in 2024. Hailing from Massachusetts, he is a Patriots fan for sure. Born in 2008, he is a Quarter Horse/Draft cross who is mighty handsome indeed. Standing at an even 15 hands high, he is bay with an interrupted stripe and a snip on his face, and wears one sock on his left hind leg. And the rest of the herd is envious of his fantastic forelock!
Sponsored By: P. Pearl O'Rourke
LJ
LJ's is a chestnut Quarter Horse with a stripe and snip. His full name is Colonel Little Jo. He arrived in early 2023 as a free-lease, and his favorite activities are eating and being groomed (in that order). LJ is a favorite with young riders learning to trot!
Sponsored By: Laura Patrick & Scott Leigner
Pippa
Pippa was born in 2021 and came to us from Flamig Farm in West Simsbury in September of 2023. Like Clara, Pippa is 1/2 Pygmy and 1/2 Swiss Alpine. Her colors are super cool and she's a bit more reserved than Clara. We love that our animals all have their own unique and different personalities. Hey, they're just like us!
Sponsored By: Mary Houle
Clara
Clara was born in 2021 and came to us from Flamig Farm in West Simsbury in January of 2022. Clara is 1/2 Pygmy and 1/2 Swiss Alpine. You can’t miss her (and Molly and Clara) with their centrally located own private home and yard! Clara has a big personality for such a youngster. She brings us plenty of giggles and smiles, especially with her occasional zoomies.
Sponsored By: Susan Eggers
FORMER PARTNERS
Bart
Lola
Huckleberry
Tess
Kentucky
Charmed
Frodo
Molly
LJ
Calvin
Daphne
Mabel
George
Blueberry
Red
Kat & Charlie
Shep & Meadow
