Meet the Horses
Ranch Horses
DURANGO
A Saint Bernard of a mustang from Arizona, including the droopy lip. We learned early on about the “freeze” state of a horse before knowing what the term was yet. Durango is a very confident horse that makes sure nothing has the capability to sneak up on him. Over the years, he has won many hearts without the use of saddles, bridles, and sometimes halters.
What’s special about working with this mustang is that he knows he can take care of himself, so to be accepted by him is such a sincere feeling.
TRIXY
This little black and white pony. A favorite of many for her size and spunky personality.
Trixy came from an Amish Auction who had tried to make her a cart pony. She hates carts to this day; not sure of her struggle with a cart before her arrival. However Trixy has settled into a wonderful lesson pony and trail pony when she is not eating.
COMANCHE
Confident in his affection if nothing else. This sweet, lovebug, paint came from a
barn where he lived indoors, almost 24/7, for about 7 years. We were told he originally came from North Carolina, was meant to be trained but life got in the way for them. With a late start in his training and learning, he has some behaviors and spooks like a young horse but I have never met another horse that gives someone his all 100% of the time.
DODGE
A small mustang from Utah has taught us many big, big lessons. This 14.2hh pony
showed us how much fear can alter the behavior and actions of a horse, like becoming aggressive or running away before there was a chance of being harmed. Through understanding and patience, he has shown us how kind, soft and smart his true nature is. He continues to become more confident and understands when he needs to be the leader between him and his rider.
MAC
This wonderful kind Belgium Cross came here with the importance of putting on a couple hundred pounds of weight. When this happens, it is important that the weight gain is a slow transition through strengthening and conditioning. We are continuing to work at the muscle building stage now. Mac has turned into a sensitive fellow that understands how big of a horse he actually is and oddly flexible. With his strength, he plans a few steps ahead to find food or get as close as he can to it; this comes from the fear of not having enough food again. However
when you are with him each step during your ride he will choose you over food. We connect with the horses through meeting their needs and then helping them connect with new people to work as a team.
DAKOTA
A wonderful, sensitive and protective Blanket Appaloosa Dakota is now retired however in his day he helped move cows and keep people safe during cattle roundups He
knows almost every acre of the Fingerlakes Forest. He preferred riding with confident riders.
ARAMIS
He is our herd's head horse but not anywhere near the biggest horse being a faint red roan Arabian/ Quarterhorse. Though he can be pushy to other horses and fussy about what he wants to do, he is a horse that loves to be ridden softly. He knows his job as he has done it for many years now, it is time we are looking for a soft place for him to retire from the business.
TRAVELER
Our sensitive, sweet boy. He moved from barn to barn and finally arrived at our barn
in 2015. Traveler likes to feel safe and will thrive with people who are comfortable with
themselves. This old boy likes when someone is honest about how they feel, whether it's while riding him or walking next to him. Through his time at our ranch, he has found a person understands him and can help settle his anxious mind and feet.
TRISCUIT
A 2yr old gelding really is all the explanation needed. He is a beautiful paint and a half
brother to Snicker, luckily he is already taller. This youngster is sweet, and learns very quickly, but reminds people that he is young and can be a little mouthy.
Gus aka Augustus McCrae & Woodrow aka WF Woodrow Call
Our cart ponies. Woodrow, like his name, likes to act tough and hide any insecurities. While Gus, who is missing an eye, still sees the world as it is.
Boarded Horses
LEO
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TIMBER
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MOCHA
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LEX
Lex is a Halfinger horse who is not very young anymore, but act like it, he's still just as intelligent and clever, and he will always try to figure out who is the boss : him or you. Despite that, he's a rather solitary horse and sensitive to being picked on by others. However, you can trust him blindly and he will always keep you safe.
Horses with new Homes
JASPER
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FINNAGIN
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HEMI
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CHIEF
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MIKE
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DICKY
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SNICKERS
She was a smart and sassy mare here at the ranch. Snickers was trained by our
very own trainer and assisted in giving lessons, even took some people to the local horse show.
Unfortunately, she was just not the size horse we truly needed, however, her loving family will send updates occasionally to let us know how she is doing.
MAX
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SMOKEY
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DORITTO
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BEAUTY
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PATCHES
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Horses who have crossed the rainbow bridge
MAXIMUM DRIFTER
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LB aka Windy Wind Chimer
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TORMEY aka the Iron Horse of Cornell Polo- Tormenta
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Silverado the Fool aka SILVER
Was and still is a teacher of many lessons. He was as stubborn as his owner, our trainer in her younger years, and always tried to keep horses and people alike safe. Whether he was leading a trail or meeting a new horse to be introduced into the herd, if he didn’t feel good about something he made sure everyone else stayed away. Passing away
from Polyneuritis Equi, the difficult decision was made to donate Silver to Cornell University for study and teaching purposes on such a rare disease.
TUCKER
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PATRIOT
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BUCK
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IOWAY
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POWER
This boy matched his name. With the background of a racing thoroughbred, he came with his own anxieties and knowledge that was newer to us. This sweet boy was missing an eye, went through colic surgery and would have what I would describe as maybe a small panic attack after running. Once his feet stopped moving, this sweet boy would just stiffen up, no matter what direction you asked for or how you asked, he would not move. Understanding this,
the only option was to step off, and there was a visible sign of relief to not be asked anything after whatever he was going through mentally. I think this amazing gelding really taught us what it meant to have a special needs horse.
MYSTIQUE
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DAISY
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Dogs of the Ranch
JJ
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LUXIE
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PIPPIN
A beautiful, brindle, german shepherd mix, block headed boy can make anyone smile.
Somehow, he stares into your soul and awaits your affection. You may even see his infamous belly drag across any surface, any time of year.
BANDIT
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DALLAS
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LEVI
All the way from Wyoming in 2015, this border collie came with a true blood line of
herding horses and he loved to do it! Due to selective hearing, he would try to move the horse whether it was actually helpful or not. Having a spinal contusion in 2022, this sweet, coppered eye boy never had a defeated look on face. If you do meet him, don’t fall for his puppy dog face and demands of stick throwing, those days are behind him.
CORSICA
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Cats of the Ranch
MINOU
Once a kitten found in a cow pasture with some of his siblings turned into the most
friendly rubber boned cat that we have had the pleasure of spending time with at the ranch. He had a fancy French name, could hold a conversation, walked guests to their cabins and loved to be picked up and stretched, from paw to paw he probably reached at least 3ft. With an unfortunate early goodbye, people have said he has come back to us in the shape of an orange
boy with a German name.
MITTENS
The first ranch cat, and his sweet brother Cici who we believe just went feral after
being in our barn for a couple years. This 22 toed cat watched many changes happen over his lifetime. Though he was not a fan of being picked up, he was photogenic and would just flop over for someone to come pet him. He always had company to cuddle during cold winter nights.
SIMBA
Named by one of our lovely French friends, Simba was dropped off by a group that
was concerned for wellbeing at the place she came from. She found that walking guests to their Cabins and becoming friends usually lead to table scraps. Later, we found out that she was not yet spayed and had 4 orange babies who all found loving homes, including the orange boy that we decided to keep.
KATER aka Minou 2.0
Minu 2.0. Although this big and sweet orange cat has very much his own personality,
everyone who meets him reminds them of our sweet French cat. Also living around the corner,
he will greet our trainer in the morning and evening, let himself inside the house, boss the dogs around and is continuously yelled at by the birds. To take his predecessor one more level up, not only will he walk you to your car, but he will happily get in. Many have learned to check their back seat if windows are left down or a door is open just a little too long. He is also referred to a Dash Cat as our trainer does enjoy taking him for small vehicle rides.
ACE
Named by the D in D&K, this orange boy had a rough start to life, and even some rough
patches. He seemed to be the one that local predators targeted but always healed up just fine and never slowed him down. He arrived shortly after Mittens and Cici did and became the cutest trio we have had, years later, Minu made it a trio again.
LYNX
If a cat could say, “I’m older than I look” this petite girl would say it many times. She is a
sweet, large eyed calico that picks who she wants her affection from and is very photogenic.
GATO
Our black and white spanish speaking boy lives at our barn around the corner and
people will often ask if he is still around. He goes in the cow pastures, up the hill of our horse pastures and is always “around,” I have realized that we may not always see him, but he sees us. Shy at first, the first person he found a liking to was, of course, the only person who is not very fond of cats.