Our Horses

 

Name: Absolutely Bay (A.B.)

Breed: Quarter Horse – Gelding

Birth Date: March, 1991

Arrival: December, 2008

Height: 15.1 hands

Whoa there partner!  Allow me to introduce myself… My name is A.B. which are the initials for my registered name, Absolutely Bay. I’m proud to say that I am the one and only quarter horse residing here at the ranch!

I was named for my coloring because I’m all brown with a black mane, tail and hooves which makes me an absolutely bay horse! I’m the rough and tough guy on the ranch. I’ve been compared to a steam engine, but I think I could take one!  In my earlier days, I spent time barrel racing in the rodeo arena and to this day, I can still turn on a dime while cutting corners in the pasture!

My human’s name is Chris Brown and we are a good match for each other.  I am not available for the lesson program at this time but hope that you will stop by and say “howdy” when you come out to the ranch. Giddy Up now Ya Hear!!!

My Name: Annie

Breed: Arabian – Mare

Birth Date: January, 1996

Arrival: December, 2008

Height: 14.1 hands

Hang on to your boots or they may blow off as I fly past you! I’ve been teasingly called flash by some of the students here, but my real name is Annie. If you like high energy, then I’m the horse for you!

I like to envision my self as queen and the rest of the herd as my loyal subjects! I have no problem taking charge and telling the other horses what to do. Just a smack of my lips or a click of my teeth and both humans and horses alike can pretty much read my mind!

Aside from being a dominant horse, I am also beautiful! I love to grow out my lusciously thick black mane and tail really long. I bestow kisses to anyone who asks, especially if you offer up a treat! (I prefer peppermint candies).

My Name: Kashi

Breed: Arabian – Mare

Birth Date: January, 2002

Arrival: December, 2008

Height: 13.3 hands

I’m the cute little freckle faced girl. Even though I’m the smallest female horse on the ranch, I can still keep pace with my long-legged horsy friends. I’m a rescued horse and have found a safe haven here at the Valley Trotters Youth Ranch.

I tend to be bossy in my stall when it is dinnertime. I communicate best by blowing air thru my nose to create a loud snorting sound. I snort when I’m excited, hungry, and annoyed. I find this form of communication works best for me!

If you ride me, you will become familiar with my springy, bouncy trot. I am a lot of fun and am looking forward to greeting you when you come out to visit!

My Name: KoJo

Breed: Arabian – Mare

Birth Date: January, 2007

Arrival: September, 2010

Height: 13:3 hands

Some of the older horsy guys at the ranch call me young, in-experienced, green-horn, sometimes they call me the new kid, at other times they tell me “I have a lot to learn”… truth is, all these descriptions about me are true, I guess!  But I plan to work hard, learn, exercise and someday I plan to teach the kids to ride. Especially, those kids with a history like mine.

When you come to visit me you will see through my hairy white coat, the wounds which have healed leaving behind scars that will always remind me of when I was young filly.  I was pretty, but careless with many of my choices that resulted in injury to my legs.  Now that I’m at the ranch with people and horses that love me, I’m learning how to behave in a responsible way.  I’m love’n it here at the ranch! Everybody’s nice and they really, really want me to succeed.

My Name: Krissy

Breed: Arabian – Mare

Birth Date: April, 1993

Arrival: December, 2008

Height: 14.0 hands

Okay, no blonde jokes please! Even though I’m a blondie. I’m a pretty smart little horse! My name is Krissy and yes I’m a little prissy.

You will notice my long, flaxen mane and the white blaze running down the center of my face. I also have three white socks on my legs, Since I have such a lovely mane, I like to toss my head a lot to fluff it up.

I am a fun horse to ride and am very sure-footed. Be sure to bring some carrots when you come out because they are my favorite snack! See you soon!

My Name: Lord Abbott (L.A.)

Breed: Arabian – Gelding

Birth Date: January, 1999

Arrival: July, 2009

Height: 14:2 hands

Lord Abbot, that’s my name but I prefer LA!  Like the southern California city Los Angeles, I’m flashy and well known.  All the kids that learn to ride at the ranch get to know me because I’m the horsy of choice for new riders.  If I were a car, my equipment package would include; power steering, power brakes, cruise control, power 8-way adjustable seats, sunroof, dual zone air conditioning…  I operate on “auto pilot” – get the idea?  I’m easy to control, that makes me special!

I arrived at the ranch with my best friend, SR. Like half the residents at the ranch we were rescue cases. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t come from a bad background, my human owners were actually very good to me. I just didn’t have anything to do, no assignments, no purpose, I just wondered around all day, more accurately, I was rescued from a life of boredom.

Now, I get to meet new kids every week, (they bring me carrots) hint, hint!  I even go to special events at schools, parks and social gatherings just to meet new kids.  So what ya waitin for, get on over here…  let’s dance!

 

My Name: Mama

Breed: Appaloosa – Mare

Birth Date: March, 1991

Arrival: December, 2008

Height: 14.1 hands

Hello my darling dear students! You may call me Mama whenever you come out to visit. I guess my name pretty much tells my story. One of my beloved children, Racky, still lives here at the ranch with me.

I am little different looking than the other horses because of my breed. I am an Appaloosa, which means I have a pink nose, a wiry mane and tail and freckles on my rump. Although I am pretty shy at first with new people, I warm up quickly once I get to know you.

I take a special liking to young children. I am the nurturing type and take gentle care of all of my riders. My special talent is to perform a bow when you presented a yummy treat – so be sure to bring something for me when you come!

My Name: Racky

Breed: Appaloosa – Gelding

Birth Date: April, 2003

Arrival: December, 2008

Height: 15.2 hands

My name is Racky and I’m the only one of the herd with permanent resident status.  On a clear moonlit night, I was born right here on the ranch.  Until the building project, I still inhabited the very same stall that I was born in.  But now that my human friends have built new stalls for all of us, I take pride in occupying one of the first stalls you will see when you come to visit.

My best character trait is my beautiful, silky smooth, long tail.  Since I’m part Appaloosa, I have speckles on my nose and rump.  My special skill is that I have mastered the art of opening the latches on all of the stall doors with my muzzle.

Although I’m kind of a “mama’s boy”, I strive to be the alpha horse in the herd.  I like to challenge “Tomichi” for his position and keep him in tiptop form. As a young horse, I have much to learn about leadership and setting good examples, please come visit. I look forward to making new discoveries with you!

My Name: Sir Red (S.R.)

Breed: Arabian – Gelding

Birth Date: January, 1995

Arrival: July, 2009

Height: 13.3 hands

Sir Red, that’s my name but you can call me SR.  If you think my name has anything to do with my color, you are right!  I have a short reddish brown coat of hair. One fact that few know about me is my pedigree. I come from a very special group of Egyptian Arabian horses that are purebreds known as Straight Egyptian Arabians.  My mother, father, and all my grandparents all the way back to biblical times have bred with only Straight Egyptian Arabians.  So that makes me special and that’s why the humans call me, Sir!

Since coming to the ranch along with my horsy best friend LA, I have enjoyed many wonderful activities which keep me young. At least 4-5 times a week I get to carry a saddle on my back,  riding in that saddle is a child or young adult that is just as special as I am.  I try very hard to let them know how proud I feel when we are a team. Together we are special!  I strut around with my tail and head held high… in perfect Arabian form.

To those that want to ride me, you must understand that sometimes, I get a little carried away. When I’m trotting or working beside another horse, some say I act as though I have to be in front of everyone.  Guess it’s the race track training, yep I had a racing career when I was younger, and got the tattoo to prove it. So the humans that are retraining me to be calmer probably won’t let us team up unless you have a lot of riding experience.

My Name: Tomichi (pronounced Toe-me-che)

Breed: Arabian – Gelding

Birth Date: January, 1997

Arrival: March, 2011

Height: 15:3 hands

Hey there, or should I say Hay there! After all, hay is one of my favorite foods. I’m the newest and tallest horse at the ranch.  I’m a rescued horse, but not able to tell my human friends much about my background.  It’s the language thing… ya know!

Oh well, due to my size and age I am the rightful leader of the herd at the ranch.  I tell the other horses when to eat, when to sleep and when to move out of my way!  Anyways, they listen to me most of the time. There are very few horses that wish to challenge my dominance, so I must defend my position of authority occasionally.

Everybody that rides me has an enjoyable experience. I must tell you though; I don’t much enjoy those with rough, quick moving hands that might pull too hard with one rein then the other. I like gentle smooth hands that seem to massage me with through the reins…. Oh yaaaa!

My Name: Rimah (pronounced Ree – mah)

Breed: Arabian – Gelding

February, 2000 – April 10, 2011

This is a continuously renewing memorial in honor of Rimah, Paula Brown’s magnificent “Big Red Rimah”.  This majestic creature’s life is celebrated through the many wonderful memories he gave us. He will never be forgotten, often remembered for his amazing attraction to humans.  He was a skilled ambassador that would welcome you into his world but at heart, he was more interested in how humans lived.  Together Paula & Rimah shared many hours and miles on the trail of life, they developed a special unexplainable appreciation for each other.

Suddenly and tragically, on April, 10^th 2011 Rimah, was rushed to Texas A&M large animal hospital suffering from intense abdominal pain.  The A&M Veterinarians, Techs, and supporting staff gave Big Red Rimah the best emergency treatment that was available. True to his character, and with eloquent confidence, Rimah resisted the effects of the massive lipoma (benign tumor) that was choking out life from within his digestive tract. Realizing that her Equine partner was suffering from a massive irreversible condition, Paula did the only thing that was humane. At 6:45pm she released Rimah from his ties to this earth and allowed him to exchange pain for freedom.

Like Paula, I am confident that she will once again ride Big Red Rimah “up & down hills, as he kicks up his feet as an expression of his excitement”.

- Greg Bozard

The following is a biography that Paula authored about her equine partner in April 2009…

Howdy, my name is Rimah! I’m a lovable guy who loves attention.  You will recognize me by my reddish coat and fiery mane which has earned me the nickname of “Big Red”. A white star adorned on the center of my forehead also ads character to my handsome features.

I am a full-blooded Arabian and am full of spirit!  I was born in Florida and spent my early years on the racetrack, but decided to move to Texas and give endurance riding a try.  My human’s name is Paula Brown and she loves me very much and takes me on as many endurance rides as she can.

I love cantering up and down hills and kick up my feet to express my excitement!  I’m known for trotting with my tail high in the air when I’m enjoying myself.  I am not available right now for the lesson program, but wouldn’t mind at all if you brought me a big juicy carrot and petted me during your visit to the ranch.

My Name: Voorslag

Breed: Arabian – Gelding

January, 1983 – May 26, 2011

 

This is a continuously renewing memorial in honor of Voorslag. VTYR’s oldest and most trusted Angel in horse hair. “Voorsey” as he was known by his close friends, is missed by all and will be remembered by many for his patient and always predictable mellow temperament.

Over the years, Voorsey, provided the opportunities for 65-children & adults to experience for the first time the joy of learning to ride a horse. Voorsey was the foundation equine that God used to confirm the vision of what VTYR is doing today.  Before entering into ranch retirement early in the spring of 2011, Voorsey seems to have known that this would be the year that he would be released from this world and move to a new assignment in heaven.  The VTYR staff and friends that were close to Voorsey witnessed the passing of the torch, the changing of the guard, the completion of the transition, as Voorsey passed on his special gift of teaching to “LA”.   Just as if it was the Master’s plan LA has pick-up teaching assignments as Voorsey was growing grey and less reliable…

Realizing that our friend was not going to recover from an ongoing health related issue, we made the difficult decision to release Voorsey from this earth on 26-May-2011.   At 12:07 PM he started his new assignment in heaven.   Rest well my friend!

In preparation for the release of the website, the following is a biography that was authored about our equine partner “Voorslag” in April 2011…

Greetings!  My name is Voorslag and I am the eldest horse on the ranch.  You can just call me “old reliable” if you’d like.  I am a rescued horse and my name literally means “saved from the slaughter!”

Being the oldest as its privileges…  Retirement…. awhhh!   I am enjoying a long deserved retirement and have few restrictions during my remaining time here at the ranch. My human friends take good care of me and allow me to wonder about, searching and seeking out those things which still interest me.

I carry with me a few distinct features that set me apart from my horsy buddies here at the ranch. I’m the only one with white stockings creeping upward from my rear hooves. My hair color is slowly changing from brown to grey, also, you will recognize me because, I’m the one wearing a long furry coat well into the spring.  Burrrrrrr….. I chill easily!