She’s a 15.3 hand Appendix Bay, who also happens to be the mare in charge! Her show name was “Sunshine Glow” and boy does she! Born in 1989 she’s been on the team for over 10 years. Now-a-days she works with our smallest riders a few days a week. She’s semi-retired, but still wants to be part of the action. She’s absolutely amazing, enjoying all aspects of life at Shepard Meadows.
Sponsored by “Nichole Higgins & Maria Pinto”
Moses is the man! 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!
Sponsored by “Michael & Meghan Houle”
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 adult riders. He likes to think he runs the farm, and perhaps he does, but don’t tell Lola!
Sponsored by “The Robert Rosenheim Foundation“
Georgie Porgie Pudding an Pie, he’s an American Quarter Horse/Draft Cross who joined our team in the fall of 2018, on loan from Oakendale Farm, LLC. He’s a gorgeous dun color with a dorsal stripe and dazzling blaze. It seems everyone within 50 miles knows George. He has taught so many riders as a lesson horse, through pony club rallies, and even show jumping and dressage shows. There isn’t a person anywhere who doesn’t love our big and steady George!
Sponsored by “Maria Pinto“
Tonka is in fact built like a truck! He’s a Haflinger pony gelding, with palamino coloring and a whorl, star, strip, 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 (and Kentucky’s BFF too)!
Sponsored by “The Farmyard Party 2022″
His name is Kentucky, but he hails from upstate NY. Also known as “Tucker,” he’s a registered American Quarter Horse who joined the herd in the spring of 2019. He’s incredibly handsome (oh those eyes!) and loves to bring our riders off lead and towards independence. He has competed in many western horse shows before coming to Shepard Meadows, and was even quite the barrel racer.
Sponsored by “American Legion Auxiliary Kiltonic Unit 72“
Elmer is our therapy mule. He was a rescue that came to us in late spring, 2019. He was timid and shy, and still sometimes thinks twice about trusting all of the two-legged friends at the farm, but boy does he love 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!
Sponsored by “The Ragone Family“
Bart arrived at Shepard Meadows in the fall of 2019. He’s a Shire/Appaloosa cross who has spent most of his life fox hunting in the Hudson Valley, NY. He’s our gentle giant who is dedicated to serving in our Veteran’s Program – a great teacher to those new to riding as well as being responsive to those more experienced. Look for Bart rambling our fields with a joyous rider!
Sponsored by “Dr. Woody Baxt“
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 is 10 years old and like Elmer, he came to us as a rescue. He and Bart seem to have bonded quickly, which is kind of silly since Bart is 16.2 hands and Moon is 39″ – but then again, their private homes are adjacent to one another!
Sponsored by “Allied World“
Molly is a volunteer and visitor favorite. Did you know that the word caprine means relating to, or resembling the goat species? Molly has a dedicated volunteer team to groom her, take her for walks and graze around the farm. In 2015, she arrived as a three-year-old along with her friend Mabel, who has since passed. Molly is a Oberhausli Cross in buff. She now has new best friends in Evelyn and Clara.
A mother and daughter team, Evelyn was born in 2013 and her daughter Clara, was born in 2021. They came to us from Flamig Farm in West Simsbury in January of 2022. Evelyn is a Pygmy goat and Clara is 1/2 Pygmy and 1/2 Swiss Alpine, either way they are adorable and a lot of fun to have at the farm. You can’t miss them (and Molly) with their centrally located own private home and yard!
Shep and Meadow, were rescued from a local shelter in 2019. You probably won’t see them while you’re at the farm, but they do a phenomenal job with pest control. They are working cats, who are occasionally spotted in the evening when they come around for their dinner. Update: In the fall of 2020, Meadow decided to make a permanent move to a house down the road on Hill Street, happily the families keep in touch.
