Meet Our Horses
Our amazing therapy horses are the foundation our our program. Not just well-trained and versatile, they are patient, easy-going, and have a special intuition tuned to the needs of their riders. They are able to stand patiently still as riders are helped on and off and adjust to a variety of tack needed to support participants. For many of our horses, this is a second career. Some have competed in shows, some have worked on ranches and one is even a former police mount. Horses are initially brought in on a 3-month trial period and ridden by staff before being handled by volunteers and then, ultimately, riders and groundwork participants.
Sponsor or Donate a Horse
“Sponsoring a Horse” is an incredible way to donate
to our ranch and directly support our programs.
Read more about horse sponsorship.
Did you know that our horses are all donated?!
If you would like to consider donating a horse, click here to learn more.
Apache
Apache is an American Paint Horse who has had lots of experience participating in Western Horse Shows, and trail riding. Apache was generously donated to us by a family in Paso Robles, who decided that he was ready to change careers and serve our community. Apache is already a favorite of many of our riders, as he is easily distinguished by his beautiful markings and very long legs. Apache is sponsored by Sandy Klein.
Bella
Bella is a chestnut-colored Haflinger mare born in 2004. She was donated by an owner from Novato. Bella is short, sweet, and strong, making her a reliable mount for our younger riders. Bella is sponsored by The Nickel Family, in memory of Noah Nickel
Brighton
Brighton, a 16-year-old Quarter Horse gelding, was living on a family farm with a pony, and a pig in Santa Rosa before coming to Halleck Creek. Brighton has a strong background in western trail riding and has a wonderful temperament, especially around children. Brighton is very clever and can often be seen untying his lead rope so that he can roam around the ranch. His sweet personality and calm demeanor make him a perfect member of the Halleck Creek herd. Brighton is looking for a sponsor. Sponsor me now
Buddy
Buddy was generously donated by Halleck Creek Rancher’s farrier, Rob Dunlap. Born in 1998, Buddy is a bay Quarter Horse gelding with gentle eyes and a loving heart. A very social gentleman, he loves connecting with humans and will nicker as you approach. He’s a favorite among our riders, one of whom said, “He just seems perfect for me.” Buddy is sponsored by Richard and Nancy Robbins, in honor of Nancy Brookshire
Buck
Born in 1999, Buck is a buckskin Quarter Horse who was donated by a private owner from Sonoma County. Buck was born in Wyoming and has years of experience as a ranch horse, but he has truly found his calling as a kind and gentle therapeutic riding mount. Because he has experience being neck-reined, Buck is an excellent partner for riders whose motor skills prevent them from learning direct-reining. Buck is sponsored by Lisa Star.
Coatsey
Coatsey is a Quarter Horse born in 2002. He was donated to our program in 2018 and quickly became a favorite of both volunteers and riders. As a former working horse on the Barboni Ranch, Coatsey gained lots of real-life experience that enables him to be incredibly patient, calm, and consistent when working with our riders. Coatsey is sponsored by Lucas Dedominic.
Emmett
Emmett is named after Emmett the Clown, and he certainly lives up to his name. Born in 2003 and officially designated the most playful horse onthe ranch, Emmett is a Paint horse with lots of personality, a bald white face, and captivating blue eyes. Donated by the same woman who gave us Jazzy, Emmett brings years of trail experience, steady feet, and lots of laughs to our program. Emmett is sponsored by Donna Rosenstein.
Finn
Finnegan (Finn) is an Irish Sport Horse and Connemara cross born in 2002. Before coming to Halleck Creek Ranch, Finn was a jumper at a barn in Nicasio where he helped many young riders reach their goals. He continues to serve our students today, always willing and ready to help his riders succeed. Finn is looking for a sponsor. Sponsor me now.
Frank
Frank is a liver chestnut Quarter Horse gelding born in 2009. As a former working horse from the nearby Barboni Ranch, Frank has been there, done that, and is a no nonsense kind of guy. He’s calm, gentle, grounded, and reliable – just how we like them! And despite not having had any experience being ridden and led at the same time prior to coming to HCR, Frank seems to have quickly figured out that he’s carrying precious cargo, and takes each ride in stride. Frank is looking for a sponsor. Sponsor me now.
Fuego
Don Fuego, born in 2004, was generously donated by Helle Eriksen of Baywood Equestrian Center. Fuego has an outgoing personality and has many years of experience teaching children and adults to ride. Fuego is a Morgan horse, a breed which is known for their athletic ability, versatility, and pleasant disposition. Morgan horses also carry their heads and tails higher than most other breeds, and you will easily spot Fuego at the ranch, as he appears to be the tallest horse in the world, as one of our students exclaimed. Fuego is sponsor by the Community of HCR Memory of Levy.
Harry
Harry is a chestnut Quarter Horse born in 1994. He loves to be around people, and he was clearly a natural at his work in our program. Previously privately owned, Harry joined our team in 2005 and served as a leader in our weekday program since its inception in 2006 where he always inspired smiles for our volunteers, staff, and students.
In April of 2023, Harry and his paddock-mate Jazzy moved to our newest property, RockRose Ranch, where they enjoy retirement while grazing lush, green pastures each day. Harry is looking for a sponsor. Sponsor me now
Historia
Historia is a grey Andalusian mare born in 1993. She was donated in 2009 by a private owner after a career in advanced level Dressage, a competitive equestrian sport. With her flowing white mane and tail, she’s as beautiful as she is highly-trained. While Historia is no longer ridden, she remains one of our most reliable and caring horses to work with our students from the ground. Historia is sponsored by Graciela Johansmann, in memory of Trystan Condon
Iggy
Iggy is a dapple gray Appendix (a cross between a Thoroughbred and a Quarter Horse), born in 1995. Some say his breeding offers the best of both worlds: the grace and stature of a Thoroughbred, and the brains and demeanor of a Quarter Horse. We say: our Iggy has it all! He loves social interaction with our students and makes an especially great mount for riders who are advancing their skills. Iggy is sponsored by Sydney Minnerly
Jazzy
Jasmine (known around the ranch as Jazzy) is a bay-colored Quarter Horse/Arabian cross mare born in 1991. Jazzy was donated by a private owner from Sonoma County in 2012. Though we don’t know whether she has any jazzy musical skills, she does have years of Natural Horsemanship training and an extensive background in endurance riding, a form of long-distance, competitive trail riding.
In April of 2023, Jazzy and her paddock-mate Harry moved to our newest property, RockRose Ranch, where they enjoy retirement while grazing lush, green pastures each day. Jazzy is sponsored by Scott and Mary Olund, Bay Area Bluestone
Kaleki
Kaleki stands apart from her equine peers as the only one to have been born here at Halleck Creek Ranch in 1997. She was hand-raised and trained to become the incredible therapy horse she is today. Her dam (mother) was a beautiful Belgian mare named Rosie who worked for years in our program, and her sire (father) was a Paint stallion named Amigo. Kaleki inherited her dam’s bone structure and her sire’s flashy color, making her strong enough to carry larger riders and look sharp while doing it.
In early 2023, Kaleki and her pal Talulah moved to a nearby RockRose ranch where they enjoy retirement while grazing lush, green pasture. Kaleki is sponsored by Wajnowski Family
Lily
Lily is a Quarter Horse mare born in 2000 and donated to the program by our Board President Dan Steadman. Dan used Lily to “work” cows and ride trails. Lily was also a broodmare in her past life, having her last colt just a few years before being donated to our program. We’re delighted to have the well-trained Lily on our team, and while she is no longer ridden, she treats all of our groundwork students with care like the loving mama she is! Lily is looking for a sponsor. Sponsor me now.
Oberon
Named after Shakespeare’s, King of the Fairies in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Oberon lives up to his royal name. His easy, gentle spirit and warm personality has captured the hearts of everyone who meets him. An American Quarter Horse, born in 2002, Oberon previously worked as a ranch and rodeo horse, and has the experience and talent needed to traverse the trails of West Marin with confidence. Oberon is sponsored by Eva Ihle
Polo
Our gentle Palomino pony is a wonderful trail guide. In his younger years, he taught many people to play polo and has been a summer camp, trail, and lesson horse for most of his life. Polo is everyone’s new best friend with his perfect ground manners and happy-go-lucky attitude. Polo was generously donated by Miwok Equestrian Center. Polo is sponsored by Carla Demaestri, Hendrickson Development, Inc.
Paige
Paige is a beautiful, stocky, chestnut Quarter Horse mare that was born in 2004. She resided at one of our neighboring stables and was generously donated by her owners as they were moving out of the area and could not take her. Paige previously excelled in hunter/jumper competitions and is a wonderful horse to ride out on the trail. She is known for being very kind and social, both with people and her equine friends. Paige is sponsored by an anonymous donor.
R.C.
Meet “Relentless Con”, R.C. for short. R.C. was recently donated by the San Francisco U.S. Park Police (a branch of the National Park Service). Headquartered at the Presidio in San Francisco, mounted U.S. Park Police provide a range of law enforcement services within the Presidio and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including crowd control and management during major demonstrations and special events. As you can imagine, it requires a very unique and well-trained horse to handle these types of situations. We’re lucky to have R.C. on our team! RC is sponsored by Scott and Mary Olund, Bay Area Bluestone
Ruby
Standing at 15 hands tall, our beautiful chestnut Quarter Horse mare Ruby was previously a reining and cutting horse. Professionally trained, Ruby is a welcome addition to the trail rides and is very happy to teach us all that she knows about taking care of her rider. Ruby is sponsored by Rick Lind, Kate Aldrich, and Ben Lind
Skippy
Skippy is a dark bay-colored Welsh pony cross mare born in 2002. Donated by a private owner in 2011, Skippy took about a year to really settle into her job here at Halleck Creek Ranch. As one of the younger horses on our team, Skippy requires a little more exercise and training than our older mounts, but she excels every time she’s given an opportunity and she helps our riders do the same. Skippy is sponsored by Michelle Flynn
Talulah
Talulah (previously known as Daisy) is a strawberry roan Belgian Draft/Appaloosa cross mare born in 2003. She was donated by a private owner from Novato. Talulah’s strength and size made her a great match for adult riders. She brought years of experience on the trail that we got to enjoy for a long time while she served in our programs!
In early 2023, Kaleki and her pal Talulah moved to a nearby RockRose ranch where they enjoy retirement while grazing lush, green pasture. Talulah is sponsored by Jim and Lynn Finkelstein
