Doc. What’s up Doc? Doc is just the kind of boy everyone would love to have live at their farm. He gets along with everyone and is just such a nice guy. He’s got the best mane and tail of any horse or pony I have ever met. Hours of fun are had simply playing, braiding, and decorating his mane and tail. Doc is especially good with the young kids who are new or simply a bit apprehensive around horses or ponies. He stands like a statue. He is calm and collected and simply moves at the pace the rider need him to. His heart for service reminds us daily that God will use all things and those things come in many forms. A willing heart and obedience is all that is needed.
Slick is a Welsch breed. His name explains his personality to a degree. He is always looking for anything hidden in your pockets and he thoroughly enjoys trying to find it without you knowing. He is a great boy. He likes to get up and go! He enjoys his job in the ring, but really loves spa time (grooming) and a good ole fashion trail ride. He is always game and ready waiting in the wings for whatever the days holds. His good nature reminds us daily of the importance of a good attitude and how much becomes possible because of it.
Mouse is a grulla quarter horse gelding who is playful and loving. Mouse was two years old when he was purchased. He 
was living at a farm with a women who had taken him in as a favor to a friend who had fallen ill with cancer. Mouse is a sweet, kind, intuitive boy. He is eager to smell you up and down while nuzzling you softly to say hello. Mouse lowers his head and softens his movements when he senses it is needed. He has a special ability to make whoever he is with feel as if they are the only person on the farm. Mouse has an old injury on his left front leg due to a severe cut that occurred near his cornet band. The injury was significant enough that it has left visible scaring, however that has had no bearing on his willingness or ability to work. Due to diligent foot care he has never been lame a day in his life and has been able to participate in play of all sorts at the ranch. He is masterful at meeting people where they are at and giving them exactly what they need in that moment. His intuitive, willing and playful nature make him a special and treasured friend of many at the ranch.
Lanie is a bay mare quarter/fox trotter mix. She came to live with us at the age of 5. Lanie’s first years of life where hard ones. We adopted her from the MHAR who had come into possession of her due to a court ordered human case involving 
roughly 25 horses that lived on a farm where they were suffering due to neglect. At the time she was seized she was one of five horses that was still alive. Many of her pasture mates where found dead and decaying amidst her. Lanie spent her first few weeks at the University of Minnesota being treated for lice. She spent the next few weeks in a stall being monitored for weight gain and general care purposes. In the early stages it was evident that she had virtually no handling and was very weary of humans in general. Once things were stable she was turned out in the arena and paddocks and it was there that she began to demonstrate what a smart and social girl she was by carefully checking out the place before running and having fun. Lanie is very sensitive, willing girl who is serious about her work. Lanie is inquisitive yet cautious about new things. She observes and studies the movements of those around her and while she is not quick to trust once she does she is a very loyal friend. Lanie is a survivor. She reminds us daily that it is important to approach life with a willing attitude and to not allow our past experiences define our future ones. She is living proof of how a bad situation can become good and good can lead to great purpose.
Honey is a grey mare who is actually white. Honey is approximately 14 years old and is a quarter horse arab mix who has a beautiful face. She is one pretty girl. Honey has been loved her whole like and well taken care of making her capable of nothing less than giving that love, patience and unconditional love with those she spends time with at the ranch. She has a little jog trot that is so quiet and smooth you could ride it all day long. Honey reminds us daily of how to live a life that is so saturated with love that it spills over and gets everyone who comes in contact with it experiences the overflow of that love and goodness.
Rebel is a quarter horse chestnut gelding that is about 15 years old. Rebel is a big boy with a big stride. Rebel is always willing to try and give you his best. He never shys away from a task. He approaches everything you through at him with an honest try and a heart that seeks to please. Rebel has some old injuries that have left him with residual of arthritis that requires extra stretching and attention to joints reminding us daily how the flesh is weak but the spirit is strong. Rebels heart and his try in all things serves as a powerful example that regardless of our personal circumstances there is always room to choice to live life from your best TRY.
Oden is a bay quarter horse gelding who is 7 years old. Oden is a big boy with a joyful and playful l heart. He is so silly and a bit peculiar! He sure keeps things interesting at the ranch. His playful nature keeps us on our toes as well a
s his herd mates. Oden is a big athletic boy who loves to demonstrate his moves while chasing and rally his herd members to demonstrate theirs. Oden came to live at the ranch after his previous owner fell on difficult times and needed to re-home him. Oden moves beautifully under saddle and loves to share that smooth balanced motion with his passengers. Oden reminds us daily how important it is to maintain and cultivate a playful attitude. Life is messy and this messy can often crowd out joy in our lives. A playful spirit like Oden’s reminds us that joy is a fruit of the spirit that is made possible when we live from a place of truth with Jesus at the center of our lives. Daily we see God at the ranch through his creation of Oden as the truth of Gods word rings in Nehemiah 8:10 and 1 Peter 2-9.
Rue is a 7 year old red roan quarter horse mare who was well loved before she came to join the h
erd at Hope Rides. Rue is a wonderful combination of sassy and sweet. She is honest all day long and gives to you what you give to her. She is a wonderful example of how relationships are built and maintained always providing an opportunity for personal reflection and evaluation of the part we play in the ongoing building and complexity of relational living.
Bullseye a quarter appaloosa pony 48 inches who we estimate to be 18 years old. While she is small in stature she is anything but small. Bullseyes small size coupled with her big spirit is a wonderful reminder that powerful things can come in little packages. Bullseye spends time with smaller riders who find safety in her size while exploring that small in size does not mean small in purpose. She is a wonderful gift to the ranch and we love watching how God uses her to reach people of physical and spirit sizes.
Sailor is a quarter paint pony who is 20 years old. Sailor is as steady as they come. He is a honest. He is faithful. He is steadfast. The Lord blesses us daily through his creation of Sailor and the ability to see his nature woven into all of his creation. What a wonderful reminder and tool for teaching others of how this horse embodies the characteristics of our heavenly father. No matter the situation sailor stays the course and acts as an anchor in our program. He faithfully and humbly rises in each situation.
Badger is a liver chestnut quarter horse gelding who is approximately 12 years old. Badger is bred to chase cows and he loves to work. Badger is a “questioner”. He is honest and never misses an opportunity to question the process. He is always checking the integrity of the things around him. If a loop hole exists he will find it. Badger questioning nature makes him a warrior when it comes down to go time, he is quick to fall into place and do his job and yet he does not stand quietly in the face of inconsistency. He will give you his best, but be sure he will require your best too.
In Loving Memory – Linus was a palomino quarter horse gelding approximately 15 years old. Linus retired from a reining career and 
served at the ranch as a loving heart horse who just loves to BE with people. Linus enjoyed light riding, but mostly he just spent quiet time with folks extending unconditional love to those who need it. He was a beautiful reminder that some of the best conversations require no words. He loved the camera and was always ready for a photo opportunity. He will forever hold a special place in the hearts of the kids and volunteers at the ranch.
Apache is a quarter horse paint gelding approximately 18 years old. Apaches loves to know what is coming and what is expected of him. He reminds us daily of how important it is to live in away that is 
congruent in which our words match our actions and a willingness and ability to execute of those actions. A life lived in alignment and that bears the fruit that comes with living in that manner. Apaches nature allows for wonderful conversation and opportunities for personal reflection.
Sandy is a quarter horse palomino mare, 16 years old. Sandy’s personality is a sum of fairness, accountability and i
ntuitiveness. This horse is soft and supple in the hands of characteristics that reflect fairness, accountability and intuitiveness and yet an entirely different horse absent of these qualities. She shows up to the degree that you do hence acting as a mirror for those that she works with. She can engage or disengage at a whim shadowing that of the human she is working with. Her nature offers an incredible reflective experience for those who struggle to be what they expect from others. She helps illustrate how our lack of self reflection and willingness to look at ourselves shows up in the manifestation of the fruit in our life.