School Horses/Ponies

Allen

Cuddly, friendly Allen joined us in the Summer of 23' from an Amish farm in Granger, MN. He quickly adjusted to the schoolie life and even won his class (Intro A) at his first ever dressage schooling show!

Betz

Gentle, steady Betz joined us in 2020 from an Amish retirement auction in Canton, MN (we still send her people photos of their farmhorse turned schoolie). She quickly became a beginners' firm favorite, willing to "try her hoof" at anything (even the occasional jumping!). 

Dax

Friendly, steady Dax joined us in Spring 24' from a friend of the program (whom AM used to take trail riding with Dax when she was a teenager...). He has quickly become a firm favorite of the college riders.

Harry Trotter

Quiet, laid-back Harry came to us in early 2022 from an Amish family in Lime Springs, IA (he was advertised in the paper for being "too slow"...). He quickly adjusted to the schoolie life and is our go-to adult beginner horse. 

Milo

Zoomy, kind Milo came to us in the Fall of 22' from a nice family in Fayette, IA. He quickly learned his job and excells as a G2-3 horse. He even won his Training level class at his 2nd ever Dressage schooling show!

Stylish Jo

Athletic, friendly Jo came to us in the Spring of 24' and has quickly made her mark in the intermediate lessons. She is still young but she is curious and always tries hard for her riding. We can't wait to see her develop in the next few months!

Trigger

Affectionate, outgoing Trigger came to us in the Summer of 21' and has soon become a staple of the intermediate lessons. He loves his jumping!

Coquette

Sweet, quiet Coquette came to us, barely halter-broke, in the Summer of 2018 (along with her brother Jolly Jumper). She's since grown up, learned about being a riding pony, a Mum (to Mischief Managed), and a reliable steady lesson pony. 

Daisy

Unicorn-like Daisy came to us in early 2021 after spending her early life teaching our farrier (and his siblings) to ride. We wished we could clone her as she is the type that can be your child's first ride and go XC in the next lesson with a teenager. 

Jolly Jumper

Versatile, friendly Jolly Jumper came to us in the Summer of 2018 (along with his sister Coquette). We started him under saddle and he has since become one of of most versatile lesson ponies, happy to enthusiastically "try his hoof" at any discipline. 

Mac-a-roanie

AM had lots of "adventures" (clinics, shows, etc) with baby Mac-a-roanie (when he belonged to good friends down the road). He was then sold and moved to the Chicago area. He however eventually came back to Iowa and joined the lesson string in the Fall of 19'. He (along with Daisy) is the perfect all-around schoolie, able to be your teenager's first ride ever before taking you XC in the next lesson. 

Mulligan

Mulligan actually is related to Mac-a-roanie and is here on loan from our neighbors @ Quandahl Farm. He is here to learn about "lesson barn shenanigans" and get some miles. So far he is proving very curious and a total cuddle-bug!

Blackjack

Cuddly, and sometimes sassy Blackjack came to us in the Fall of 2021 when our farrier's father donated him to the program. Blackjack's original "own kids" had outgrown him and he was ready for more children to love. 

Cappuccino

Athletic, mischievous Cappuccino came to us in the Fall of 2021 from an Old Order Mennonite auction in Elma, IA. He started life as a "schoolpony" driving his charges to school and driving is still where her excels at. He is the riding school's "ATV" helping with dragging the arena and mowing the lawn. He also is a staple of the G2+ Shetland lessons, helping kids become more assertive riders. 

Domino

Friendly, keen Domino came to us in the Winter of 2023 from a Granger, MN Amish family. He also started life as a "schoolpony" - but "his" child actually rode him to school instead of driving him. When his boy outgrew him (he actually is the smallest pony here), his people called AM to offer him for the lesson program. Sweet Domino is a favorite of the G2 Shetland crew and he can't wait for them to reach the G3 level so they can "zoom" and "jump"!

Galileo

We adopted "zoomy pickle" through the MHARF in the Summer of 2019. He is the perfect all-around lesson pony, able to be your child's first every ride but also to take them over their first jump or canter in the field. 

Ginny Weasley

Sassy, atheletic Ginny came to us from Harmony, MN in the Summer of 22'. Our more advanced riders worked with her through the Fall and Winter (they *love* jumping with her) and she started G2 Shetland lessons - with a lot of enthusiasm! - in the Fall of 23'. 

Merrylegs

Assertive, cheeky Merrylegs was the original lesson pony as she was the first we purchased specifically from Wisconsin for the lesson program, in 2018. She is super fun to drive and, under saddle, she will teach your child to become a more assertive rider.

Rosie

Gentle, patient Rosie came to us in the Fall of 22' from Lime Springs, IA. She is the oldest equine in our herd but you'd never know it. She is eager to work every day and is the ultimate "baby-sitter" tolerating with unending patience all the barn kids' shenanigans...

Buttercup

Athletic, outgoing Buttercup came to us in the Summer of 2023 quite fearful of new people (probably due to some rough handling in her past). She was pregnant at intake and is due to foal in the Spring of 24'

Bertha

Forward, assertive Bertha joined us in the Fall of 23' from an Amish school fundraiser in Canton, MN. She proved very eager to please and learn her new job but she wasn't quite sound at intake and is recovering before entering the lesson program full-time.

Mischief Managed

Sassy, curious, and well... mischievous Mischief Managed was born at AMF Equitation in June 2022 (the son of medium pony Coquette). He *loves* being the center of attention & copying what the big horses do, and he can't wait to be a "big boy" and participate in lessons too!

Tejano Taylor

Affectionate, flamboyant Taylor predates the lesson program as he was the first horse AM got in the US, back in 2011. He raced in Chicago for many years and the busy racetrack prepared him well for a busy lesson barn! He is mostly retired now (with all the peppermints!) but will occasionally fill in if we need an intermediate flatwork schoolie.

Valentine

Assertive and athletic Val predates the lesson program and used to be (along with Tejano Taylor) AM's personal horse. She's joined the lesson string in 2022 and while she will make you work hard in the arena, she *loves* anything outside, particularly cross-country jumping and fox-hunting. 

She is currently in foal and due in the early 2024 Summer.

Banana Split

Friendly, curious Banana Split came to us, very emaciated, in the Winter of 2023. We "rehabbed" him and enjoyed his friendly, cuddly personality. He now lives with a family in Cresco, IA and we look forward to seeing him and "his" new rider in the County Fairy this Summer! 

Candy

Sweet, athletic Candy spent a little less than a year here (2023-2024) as a foster pony from the MHARF (more on adopting her here). She started life as a gaming pony and could still be "zoomy" but she also is genuinely kind and is the type who will "babysit" a child (she had endless patience for the barn kids' shenanigans!). 

Caramel

Loving, empathetic Caramel came to us from WI in the Winter of 2019. He took his job as "seeing-eye pony" for his late friend Smurf very seriously and showed the same caring personality (with a hint of mischief!) with the lesson children. 

He sadly passed in the Spring of 2024 and is greatly missed by all in our #barnfamily!

Cookies & Cream

Calm, resilient (and sometimes sassy!) Cookies came to us very emaciated in the Summer of 2019. She spent the next two years showing beginner riders the ropes before being adopted by one of our adult riders and enjoying a "pre-retirement" in West Union, IA. We love hearing about their adventures in local parks!

Dale Evans

Easy-going, friendly Dale predated the lesson program as AM had originally bought her as an endurance prospect (all the way from Oklahoma!). She did one season of endurance and then she quickly adjusted to the lesson program. She was a great favorite of all levels and unfortunately recently passed away (Winter 23)

Dori

Sweet, friendly Dori (Daisy's daughter and Mischief's half-sister) spent the Summer of 22' at the riding school, on loan from friends in Canton, MN. She was very popular with all levels and we are frequently asked when/if she'll come back and stay with us. :)

Duncan

Our favorite curmudgeon, Duncan was on loan for two years (2020-2021) at the riding school. He was well-loved by 2-legged (he even got birthday cards!) and 4-legged friends (Merrylegs still misses him). He is now retired with is family in Cresco, IA and we love hearing from him from time to time. 

Honey

Athletic, sweet Honey came to us in the Fall of 23' from Southern MN. She really enjoyed her jumping but found the "schoolie life" a bit too stressful. She now is a companion to a neighbor's horse and we still get to see her occasionally!

Mocha

Kind, patient Mocha had started life as a ranch horse out West. She came to us in fairly bad shape but all could see her great mind right away. After a year (2020) at the riding school, she was retired with one of our former adult students who enjoyed lots of adventures on the trail with this sweet mare before she passed in the Summer of 23. 

Sir Oliver

Funny, eager little Sir Oliver spent the Winter/Spring of 2021 with us. The riding school life wasn't quite his calling and he now is an Amish driving pony (we hear "his" little boys love him because they can get to the river to fish *very fast*!)

Smurf

Sweet, mostly-blind Smurf came to us in fairly rough shape in the Summer of 2022. He quickly bonded with his "seeing-eye" friend Caramel. In a pinch, he would fill in for leadline lessons when we were short a pony but mostly he enjoyed all the love and pats from students and families - and roaming around the farm and "innocently" (conveniently?) finding his way to the neighbor's alfalfa field... He passed away in the Fall of 23 and is greatly missed.  

Van Gogh

Laid-back Van Gogh spent one year with us (2019) before moving on to a lovely family in Western Iowa (trail-riding and now giving Western lessons). 

Wilson

Athletic, sensitive Wilson was here on loan from Winona, MN for two years (2021-2023). A huge favorite of some of our more advanced riders (he loved his jumping!), he really longed for having "his own person" and didn't quite enjoy having multiple lesson riders. He is back with his original family - and his mini BFF!- in Minnesota and we love seeing photos occasionally on social media!

Zena

Sweet, cuddly Zena came on short-term loans from our neighbors down the road whenever we were short a horse in the early days of the lesson program (2018-2019). She was *very* well-loved for her patient demeanor and is remembered fondly by all the young riders who had their first ride on her.