Our 4-Footed Family
UPDATED: November 2014
The following steeds are the heart of our little riding lesson stable. They are the crucial "half" (me, being the other half) of teaching folks to safely ride at Hurricane Hill Stables. A good horse can build confidence just as easily as a not-so-good horse can take it away. We work very hard to build confidence here and am very proud of every one of our horses and the joy they bring to so many. So, without further ado, meet the herd!
MORGANA ~ A 2008, fancy, black and white tobiano/pinto pony that is likely a shetland/hackney cross. We purchased her at 5-years-old in 2013 from auction with an unknown history. Morgana is an energetic, 12.2 hand pony that has earned herself a respectful following for the short time we've had her. Morgana excels in leadline lessons for me with smaller riders and is as bold as she is beautiful and reminds me of Sundance in how smart she is (possibly, too smart). She takes very good care of new riders for us and makes my job easy and fun. No task is too big for this little pony!
MERLIN ~ A stunning, 2005, black quarter horse gelding that we have had since 2012. He was purchased from auction, his history unknown. After many months of training, he is currently earning his keep as a lesson horse for our intermediate riders. Merlin is mild mannered, solid, very strong and enjoys the trails the best with his unlimited supply of energy. He is best with a rider who is confident in their skills and will try so hard to please if he understands what is asked for him. He has a very big heart. I have a lot of fun working with Merlin!
BRISINGR ~ A 2011, palomino (nursemare/orphan) foal that I purchased when he was only 2 weeks old for my then, 10-year-old son, to raise as "his" horse. He has learned so much from his horse! As part of his training, Brisingr will also be an occasional lesson pony for riders that have confidence and are skilled enough to safely learn to work with green/young horses. This 13.3 hand, quarter horse cross is SO fun to work with! He has always had enough personality for 2 or 3 horses and his energy is as abundant as his personality. My son has done so well with him and rode, with excellent guidence, 2 sessions of horse-camp during Brisingr's first few months under saddle in the summer of 2014. He is well on his way to being a trusty mount as Brisingr gets more miles under saddle. With every ride, he just keeps getting better and we couldn't be more proud of him!
FAITH ~ A 2012 hanovarian/appaloosa cross pony that is turning into a little gem of a horse for the few I have working with her. She has been very carefully started under saddle and is a smart, confident little steed already. Faith is currently pony-sized at about 13.3 hands and has a few years left to grow with her warmblood breeding (they're late bloomers). We expect nothing but good things from this gorgeous, colorful little mare who will be a trusty lesson pony once she matures. Faith, like Brisingr, was a nursemare/orpan foal that we purchased when she was just 8 weeks old. Such a good find!
ONE FINE DAY ~ Sundance ~ A 1996 registered pinto mare that we have had since her birth. She is out of Hawk's White Light'n (below) and by Harlan Bars, a black and white, overo, paint stallion. Sundance is a bold, smart 15 hand mare who has carried many students that enjoyed riding her over the years. However, since retiring Sunny, pictured below, Sundance is currently my trusty mount to lead students safely out on trails. Her mother, Hawk's White Light'n, would be very proud of her as Hawk was amazing at this particular job. Sundance is very well bred as well and has great foundation (quarter horse) bloodlines which trace back to Leo, King, Harlan, Three Bars, Hank H, Peter McCue and Traveller.
COPPER COLOR ~ Copper ~ A 1990 registered paint mare who is that priceless kind of horse you can put anyone on. Copper is a proven broodmare (see Storm, below, or on our Beginnings page) and has a quiet, mild-mannered disposition. She is a great beginner lesson horse with a natural, slow jog that anyone can sit to! Her canter is cadillac-like too. She works when you work, if you stop, she does too. A good trait in a lesson horse and she has made my job an easy, enjoyable one over the years. Copper is often the one we turn to when folks are nervous or would just like a quiet, easy ride in the ring. She also enjoys trail rides and is about as close to "bomb proof" as you'll find!
THIRTY SNICKERS ~ Snickers ~ A 1999, registered appaloosa mare who is just full of personality. She was a nurse mare foal and from the moment I met her, she has been an in-your-pocket type of horse. She has potential to be a dressage horse but doing trail rides and lessons suit her just fine, especially trail rides! Snickers was a great project for many students who contributed to her training. Snickers great-great grandfather was Bold Ruler who was the sire of the legendary race horse Secretariat.
COPPER'S MUD MAGNET ~ Storm ~ A 2001 registered APHA, bay, tovero stallion. Storm is good minded and is a natural pleasure horse who is also talented in reining. He is smart, well built and his dam is one of the best, beginner school horses ever (see Copper). Storm has great bloodlines that go back to Leo, King, Hank-A-Chief, Three Bars, Cherokee Maiden and many more well known foundation quarter horses and paints. He is quiet enough as a stallion that I had some students help me to start him under saddle years ago. Eventually, he had 3 months of professional reining training and if I had time to do it back then (2005-06), I would have shown him. Storm is currently living a life of leisure overseeing things here on the farm and I never get tired of how he'll greet everyone with his sweet nicker.
DANCER'S RUNAWAY ~ Sunny ~ (Retired as of 2009) A 1987 registered appaloosa mare that I've have had since her birth. She is out of Ziyadah (aka: Filly, who was my first horse) and by Polvorin, a chestnut thoroughbred stallion. Sunny was Filly and my first foal. In her prime she was a great leader for trails, always setting a perfect pace even as she started to go blind. Sunny was a former teacher of many students and for me on the trails, a little Porsche to ride. She has great thoroughbred bloodlines that go back to Count Fleet (a triple crown winner) Native Dancer who won upwards of $750,000, Peace Corps and Rosemont (the one who beat Seabiscuit). As of today, Sunny's still a trusty part of the herd but is officially retired from lessons and is living out her days here on the farm with lots of TLC and apples, she loves her apples! We treasure the time we have with her.
Off to greener pastures but never forgotten
The following horses were loved by so many that I think it only fitting to keep a few pictures of them on our web site for all of the wonderful years of service they gave. The good memories, I am proud to say, will last a lifetime for those that loved them as we did. "Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose." -Kevin (The Wonder Years).
MA's GERONIMO ~ (1988-2014) A 1988 pinto gelding we purchased as a 5-year-old for my mom as a surprise birthday present in 1994 that we hoped would live forever. No such luck but he will live forever in our hearts for all of the wonderful experiences he gave to new and not-so-new riders over the 21 (of his 26) years he was with us. Geronimo was such a magnificent horse for me to teach on with many riders young and old. I have no idea where 21 years have gone but I can tell you that when things are good, it's like a downhill roller coaster of fun times that leave you with so many great memories! A good horse like "Mo" will definitely live on in our hearts forever.. Rest in peace old boy <3
BANDIT'S SONNY BAR ~ Bandit ~ (1993-2012) A registered pinto gelding that we were blessed to have since 1997. Bandit was puppy dog sweet to work with and proved himself to be a great lesson horse for so many riders. He was a very popular pony for my lesson program and will be greatly missed. He enjoyed any attention as much as everyone loved working with him. But mostly, I'll miss him for the wonderful experience he gave my son as he carried him safely through his first trail rides and lessons. There was never a bad ride for Cole with that sweet horse. We'll miss you buddy <3
HAWK'S WHITE LIGHT'N ~ Hawk ~ (1982-2006) registered pinto mare who we had for many wonderful years. Hawk was a great trail, barrel and team penning horse. She was also a great broodmare who had beautiful foals who are built nice and are smart, sometimes too smart, just like her! Sundance and Kaje, pictured on our "Beginnings" page, are 2 of her foals. Hawk was a stunning and irreplaceable mare who is still greatly missed.
NUGGET ~ (1970-2006) Nugget was an adorable, dun Shetland pony and another irreplaceable part of the family. She was a careful babysitter for our son Cole and had many students who loved her. She was a great first horse for Cole and will always have a special place in our hearts. Many experienced horse folk know that a good pony is worth it's weight in gold. Nugget sure was! Great, trusty ponies are hard to find!
A favorite poem to share (author unknown)
~ HORSES AND PEOPLE ~
We were all gathered at the sale barn
waitin for the horse sale to get underway.
When this old hand sat amongst us,
it was easy seein' "Cowboy" was on his resume!
He watched the horses come and go with an
easy, patient horseman's eye.
He studied each horse as they came through,
but he never nodded or attempted to buy.
I found myself watchin' the old man,
when to my surprise he turned and spoke.
"Horses are alot like folks I've known,
some's honest and true, others can't be broke."
Then he pointed out a nice sorrel filly
as she swatted her tail and gave a squeal.
"She's like Miss Milly down at the diner,
plenty of good looks and sex appeal.
And that skinny lookin' ole horse, actin' all touchy,
nervous and rank, he reminds me of old Mr.T Wad,
the loan officer at the bank.
Now that old mare, she's a kids horse,
she'd teach em and they'd never come to harm,
She's sure alot like old Ms Beachem a grand lady,
and my first school marm.
See that little two year old, boy he'd like to break and run.
All he wants is away from here, he reminds me of my son."
It seemed like we sat for hours, talkin', laughin' and
comparin' notes, about honest horses and people we knew,
those we like and those not worth the oats.
About that time, an old bay entered the ring,
the old hands voice began to soften.
If he was a man, I'd call him friend
and that's just somethin' I don't do often.
A little thin and gray around the muzzle,
like me, he's gotten on in years.
But there's a heap of know how restin
between that old horses ears.
That old horse is some ole cowboys pal,
Sellin him, would be like committin' a sin.
So if you'll please excuse me boys,
think I'll just, buy him back again!