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Aladdin, better known as “Big Al,” was born in 1996. He 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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Apache is an Appaloosa Pinto gelding (also known as a Pintaloosa) born in 1988. Apache is one of our longest residents, having come to High Hopes in 1997. He is a hard worker and always does what is asked of him without ever complaining. Apache has a reputation for seeming aloof but we know that deep down he is a big mush, we seem glimpses of his softer side when he is getting massages from his Barn Buddy. Apache was the 2008 Horse of the Year.
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Bert is a 14.2 hand Black & White Paint gelding born in 1984. 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 born in 1990. 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 born in 1995. 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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Cassidy is a 1991 Quarter Horse cross gelding. Cassidy worked as a pleasure riding, trail and school horse for many years. He has a “been there, done that attitude” that is very desirable in our busy arenas. He bears a brand on the left side of his rump that we like to imagine was done at a ranch out west where he wrangled cattle… |
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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! |
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Gracie is a paint mare who came to High Hopes in the winter of 2010. She is one of the youngest herd members, born in May of 1999. Gracie's gentle, sweet and friendly nature makes her a perfect fit for High Hopes. She has a big bouncy trot which helps our riders learn to post. |
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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 the hunter paces and other trail events. Hummer's full name is "Humvosh" which means "big, beautiful grey" in Hungarian. |
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Kerra is just 11 hands tall and is a Welsh Pony cross. She is our smallest riding horse who is often the first horse that our smallest riders ride independently. Kerra lives with Smokey and Al and loves to take part in their regular escapes from the paddock to visit neighboring pastures! Kerra may join in the antics with her buddies in the pasture but in the barn and arena she is all business. |
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Latino, born in a 1988, 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! |
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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 was born in 1988 and 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 1996 16 hand Quarter Horse Gelding. He came from a private home in VT where he worked as a western trail horse. Parker is 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 born in 1995. She is a brown dun with a dorsal strip. 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…she came to work at High Hopes at the very young age of four years old! |
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Rocky, a Quarter Horse who used to show in Children’s Hunter classes, was born in 1991. Rocky always “goes with the flow” and is often ridden by the wiggliest children, he seems to enjoy their energy! Rocky is technically chestnut in color, but he is one of the more unusual “flaxen” chestnuts, because his mane and tail are very blonde. |
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Smokey is only 10 hands high and therefore one of the smallest members of our herd. He was born in 1988 and is a Shetland Pony. 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. Born in 1990, Sonic 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. |
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Teddy, born in 1998, is a high-spirited 14.2 hand Bay Morgan gelding. Teddy is full of personality and likes to work hard. Teddy is a “people horse” and genuinely becomes sad when he has a day off! Teddy was born at the University of Vermont in their world famous Morgan breeding program. His previous careers include extensive trail riding. |
