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Aladdin, better known as “Big Al,” is a palomino Miniature Horse gelding. At 9.1 hands Al is a quite tall for a mini. He has his own carriage, which he enjoys pulling. Al’s best friend is Smokey. The two of them are thick as thieves and have been known to take down fence rails in their paddock to sneak out and eat grass in a neighboring pasture.
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Bella is a a sweet quarter horse mare who is 14.2 hands. She has retired from a show career in the western reining discipline and her friendly attitude and fine tuned training make her a great addition to the High Hopes herd. Bella was born in Texas and has also lived in Missouri and Wisconsin before coming to Connecticut. |
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Bert is a 14.2 hand Black & White Paint gelding. Bert lives and works at High Hopes during the fall, winter and spring semesters but returns to 4H camp each summer to carry young riders there, as he has done for many years. Bert is ridden by our smallest riders and seems to know that he is carrying precious cargo.
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Buddy is a Percheron gelding. His previous
career was spent mostly on the trail, but his easygoing personality
has made for a smooth transition to the arena work required at High
Hopes. At 16.2 hands he is big, but so is his heart. |
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Candy is a Clydesdale/Hackney cross. Her skill as a driving horse brought her to High Hopes, where she is the anchor of our Driving Program. Candy’s summer coat is stunning, dark and glossy. She doesn't have a bit of ego even though all the geldings admire her when she passes by. Candy has shared a pasture with many of our horses at different times and she quickly becomes best buddies with each of them. |
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Chip is a 14.2 appaloosa gelding. In his previous career Chip carried riders in the hunt seat discipline and liked to jump. Although Chip is small, he does not have typical choppy pony gaits. He is very inquisitive and is always interested in what is going on around him. |
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Fanny is a 16.1 hand Paint and Percheron cross mare who was born and raised in Massachusetts. Most recently, Fanny was owned by a Connecticut family who rode her on long trail rides with their grandchildren. Fanny’s laid back attitude and comfortable gaits make her a popular choice with our riders and instructors. Plus, she’s very pretty! |
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Geranita, better known as Geri, is a gray Lippizan mare with very smooth gaits. She is great for some
of our more advanced riders. Geri was the 2003 High Hopes Horse of the Year and also the 2004 NARHA Region I Horse of the Year! Geri has lived at High Hopes most of her life, having been donated to High Hopes as a yearling. |
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Gracie is a paint mare who came to High Hopes in the winter of 2010. She has a big bouncy trot which helps our riders learn to post. As one of the youngest herd members, Gracie's gentle, sweet and friendly nature makes her a perfect fit for High Hopes. |
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Half Pint -- his name says it all! He is a dashing Irish Sport Horse who is not very tall but is very stout. He looks like a smaller version of Latino. Half Pint came to High Hopes after being imported to the US for a career in fox hunting. |
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Hummer joined the High Hopes herd in the spring of 2010. He is a big, handsome Percheron cross who is gentle and easy going. Hummer's owner enjoyed riding him in hunter paces and other trail events. Hummer's full name is "Humvosh" which means "big, beautiful grey" in Hungarian. |
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Latino is a Shire Cross gelding with a former career in fox hunting. His broad stature and somewhat slow
gait are helpful for participants learning to vault. Latino was the 2005 High Hopes Horse of the Year! Latino is kind and gentle and helps fearful riders feel at ease. |
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Major has a wonderfully quiet nature and willingness to always do what is being asked of him. His gentle manner and smooth gaits make him a great horse to learn riding skills on. Though Major is a Paint by breed, his only white marking on his bay coat is a star. |
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Nifty is a dun Quarter
Horse gelding. He has performed as a show horse in English, western
and reining competition. He has a playful personality and currently enjoys
being long-lined for many of his classes. Nifty is the 2010 High Hopes Horse of the Year. |
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Parker is a 16 hand Quarter Horse Gelding. He came from a private home in VT where he worked as a western trail horse. A beautiful red chestnut color, when Parker joined the High Hopes equine staff he became the 8th chestnut horse in our herd! Parker is known to flap his lips when he is being ridden – it’s like he is having a conversation with his rider! |
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Petra is a Norwegian Fjord mare. She is a brown dun with a dorsal strip and her mane is “roached” to show off her two-toned coloring. She serves High Hopes’ participants by being one of our most stoic, reliable and tolerant horses. Petra is exceptional for many reasons including the fact that she came to work at High Hopes at the very young age of four years old! |
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Smokey, a Shetland Pony, is only 10 hands high and therefore one of the smallest members of our herd. What he lacks in height, he makes up for with his flowing mane and tail and his outgoing personality. Smokey is a Delta-certified therapy animal and participates in many of High Hopes’ outreach programs. |
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Sonic is a 14.1 hand chestnut Arab gelding who spent time as a school horse at UConn before being purchased by a private owner. Sonic is very easy going and is great for independent riders. He is the smallest horse in our biggest, rowdiest herd of 8 geldings most of whom are over 16 hands, but being little doesn't stop him from trying to be the boss! |
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Taylor came to High Hopes in the summer of 2009. During his career as a show horse before coming to High Hopes, Taylor was the Connecticut Horse Show Association Quarter Horse Hunter Under Saddle champion. Taylor is responsive and comfortable to ride. He is friendly but can sometimes be shy. |
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Teddy is a high-spirited 14.2 hand Bay Morgan gelding who is full of personality and likes to work hard. Teddy is a “people horse” and genuinely becomes sad when he has a day off! Born at the University of Vermont in their world famous Morgan breeding program, his previous careers include extensive trail riding. |
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Vixen is a 15.3 draft cross mare. One of the youngest horses in the High Hopes herd, she is smart, adorable and has a very "kind eye". She is very comfortable and fun to ride. |
