Meet the Herd!
Alesi
Alesi is absolute perfection. He is the ultimate school master over jumps which has earned him the title “Alesi the Great.” He is the best at what he does and takes care of his rider no matter what. Not only is he fantastic to ride but he is quite the looker, boasting a gorgeous thick tail, and always looking like he is ready for a photoshoot. He is a great fit for adults and intermediate youth. A fun fact about Alesi is that he was trained and ridden by Olympic Show Jumper, Will Simpson. Alesi is definitely a barn favorite and we are so lucky to have him with us!
Aussie
Aussie is a retired cutting Quarter Horse gelding - full of speed when needed, but also listens to the 5 year old on his back. He often has something to say in horse nickers for those approaching. His eager to please demeanor and athleticism makes him a good fit to both adults and children. He takes a bit more leg to get him going but is not lazy by any means. Aussie has been with us since 2014 and continues to impress all with his adaptability from the show ring to the lesson arena, and beyond.
Ben
Ben is an Angel sent from above. He is a Paint Horse gelding that was gifted to Dr. Lilly in 2009 when she was pregnant with her first child, shortly after Dr. Lilly lost her first ever horse companion, Lark. Ben’s background is full of exposure to both English and Western disciplines and he is eager to please those riding side saddle, wishing to rope a cow, or jump over small jumps. He is well trained and diversified enough to be ridden in any good fitting tack. Ben is honest and trustworthy which makes him the perfect horse for young beginners!
Bleu
Bleu is a gentle giant, the biggest horse on the ranch, with a goofball personality. He is always guaranteed to make you laugh whether he is having the time of his life in turnout or making funny faces in hopes of getting more than one cookie after a good ride. While a little more challenging to ride due to his size, Bleu is fantastic at packing his rider around the arena. He is Dr. Lilly’s former show jumper and has since retired from jumping. A fun fact about Bleu is that he used to jump in the Grand Prix’s and even did a six-bar class once!
Chex
Chex is a spunky little lady with a great personality that the kids love! While gentle as can be, she can still be a bit of a challenge to ride as she can be stubborn at times, making her a great fit for the older kids who are looking to step it up. Some fun facts about Chex include that she came from the Cal Poly Ranch Horse program and is formerly a western dressage horse, which is very noticeable in how she carries herself with class!
Chrome
Chrome is a “go with the flow” kind of guy, and can be a bit lazy, but if you ask him to he can go 0-60 in a second! He is incredibly gentle and is very in tune to his rider. He has a wonderful personality and is incredibly photogenic, always striking a pose just in case there is a camera ready. A fun fact about Chrome is that he was an absolute rockstar in the cutting pen and had a very successful career as a cutting horse!
Donk
Donk captures everyone’s heart where ever he goes with his unique looks and sweet demeanor! He is Dr. Lilly’s personal riding horse and is not used for lessons.
Jinx
Jinx is every young horse enthusiasts’ dream horse, she absolutely adores attention and being doted on by her riders, especially if she is getting her mane and tail braided. She is super trustworthy and honest but can be a bit of a challenging ride for the younger riders, which makes her a great teacher. Jinx spent many years as a riding horse at Cal Poly when she was owned by the Dean of CAFES.
Spice
Spice is our youngest lesson horse and is as gorgeous as they come. She is a former reining horse and is currently taking a hiatus from lessons to be a mom. This year she had a gorgeous little filly sired by the well known AQHA reined cow horse stallion Scooter Kat. Spice is incredibly fun to ride and with all of the fancy buttons of a show horse, she can definitely teach you a thing or two!