Hi. I'm Asia. I'm a Sagittarius. I'm a 25-year-old bay Arabian gelding. I was born in Arkansas and, because of my attractiveness, was shown as a baby. Then I moved to Arizona where I began to compete in shows in various events, allowing me to express my talents and keep me from being bored. Idle hooves are the devil's workshop! I've now worked at Connections for ten years. Although my stature is not great, I'm known as "little big man" around the barn. I have a great sense of humor, love pulling pranks, and I'm very dramatic and expressive...some would call it flamboyant. I'm arrogant and sensitive. My sensitivity to the clients' needs is one of my best attributes. I seem to be able to read their needs, both physically and emotionally. I will even signal my leaders during sessions if a client becomes off-balanced by nibbling on their arm. If you're attracted to elegant refinement with a great intellect and sense of humor, please adopt me. I'd like to be able to continue this work into my golden years.
Lilly (born 8/2/2003)
Hi! My name is DLM Pantara, aka Lilly. Being born on Aug. 2, I'm a Leo. I am a jet black registered Missouri Fox Trotter, with one white hind foot. Being a Fox Trotter I'm very smooth to ride. Since I don't trot, I will be great for riders here that can't handle much impact. My feet move naturally in a different sequence than horses who trot. I was born to do this, and when I get going I can really move it, move it, move it!!! I have been working with clients in the Equine Assisted part of our program, which is very rewarding. I am very grateful for the opportunity to express my dramatic, creative, intuitive side . In the Equine Assisted Mental Health work, we horses are supposed to mirror the challenges in our clients' lives and help them find tools to overcome their issues. It's kinda like charades. Sometimes, I nearly have to stand on my head for them to get it! Some clients say when they are working with me on the ground it feels like we are dancing. I like that idea, "Lilly The Dancer!" I am completing my studies to become a therapeutic riding horse. I feel very proud when I hear them talk about me; how brave I am when I face something new. The truth is, I'm so curious I have to check it out, and, with a few bats of my extraordinarily long eyelashes, I'm good to go. I hope they can find some volunteers who can walk as fast as I can. I need your support of this program so I can stay here and do the work I love, and continue my growth as I help others.
Lucky Miss Te (born 2/22/2001)
Hi. My name is Lucky Miss Te, but everyone calls me Te. I'm a bay-and-white registered paint mare with sky blue eyes. I am a Pisces and am 9 years old. All the guy horses think I'm a hottie. I have been a career woman working as a show horse. I am thrilled to have my new career as a therapeutic riding horse. It's much less stressful and a lot more rewarding. I had a little bit of a rough start in this herd making friends. The humans say it's because I'm mostly white, and in the wild I would attract predators. Get real--when's the last time any of us horses saw a real predator? But I guess old prejudices die hard. Being a sensitive, creative Pisces, I've found a solution--roll and stay dirty--so I don't stand out. I want to thank all of you who support this program for giving me the opportunity to do this work!
Nickie (born 2/14/94)
Hi. I'm Nickie. I'm an Aquarius. I'm a 16-year-old bay-and-white paint gelding. I am the largest and most handsome, in my opinion, of all the other males in the herd. I love working with clients. Everyone says I put my whole heart into everything that I do, which is interesting since I was born on Valentine's Day with a "heart" on my back. I have been donating my services to Connetions since I was five years old. I have some minor special needs regarding my feet requiring special shoes. My temperament is very stable and trustworthy. My only shortcoming is that I have anxiety around food. I always worry about where my next meal is coming from. Can't understand that - I've never known a hungry day in my life! Oh, well, I guess we all have our stuff. If you will adopt me, I will be able to continue the work I love and take so seriously, and I promise I will make you proud of me.
Peli (born 1996)
Hi! My name is Rojo Peli's Star, everyone here calls me Peli. I am a 14-year-old, dark burgundy chestnut, quarter horse mare. I'm petite in stature but not in width. If you like big booties, I'm your girl. Taurus is my sign. I'm unique, here at Connections, in that I was bought by my person Kedzi Morgan, and came to live with some of the herd before Connections was in existence. After I was trained enough, Kedzi would let me help out with clients in the program . We moved away after a while and I became the mother of Little B, my beautiful daughter. As B grew up she wanted to be more independent, and I really struggled with empty-nest syndrome. I was driving my daughter nuts! Overprotective, smothering - you get the picture - I filled that void by coming back to help at Connections. I was so glad to see my old friends - both two legged and four. It felt good to have an outlet for my need to nurture. I'm getting my needs met and my person Kedzi can take over the responsibility for my daughter's education - after all, she did a great job with me. It really feels great to see my clients' faces light up when they show up for a session, and I greet them with a soft nicker or offer to dance or bow. I've heard it said I'm a horse with more whoa than go, but I feel I am just very careful...and who wants to get sweaty anyway? I want to thank my person for understanding my needs and hope you will find a way to help this program. I can do the work, but I can't pay the bills. That's where you will come in......I hope!
RETIRED
T.C. (born 6/4/96)
Hi! My name is T.C. I'm a Gemini and my birthday is June 4, 1996, which makes me 13 years old. I'm a registered quarter horse, chestnut in color, with white marking on my face that looks like I was doing 90 mph and got hit with paint. It's totally awesome - I like being unique.
I was born in Montana, and my registered name is Bald Tomcat. Thank goodness when I came to live with my mom, Loralee, she decided to give me the cool name T.C., which everyone here thinks stands for "Too Cute." I've traveled around a bit, pursuing different interests such as Western Pleasure, English Pleasure, and Trail. The showing thing was pretty fun, being the social dude that I am...but I have a little problem with my front feet, and it was decided that I needed to like totally change my scene. So, I came to Connections, and with my attitude of lovin' life, they knew I was the perfect guy they were looking for. I never see anyone as a stranger...why, I'll walk up and just talk to anybody.
I've made a lot of new friends here, and working at a therapeutic program has been a real trip, but my foot problem has gotten very bad and necessitated my retirement.
IN MEMORY
Miss Jessie 10/10/1981 - 12/12/2007
Our dear, sweet Miss Jessie was the founding Connections horse. She is sorely missed by all who knew her. Miss Jessie helped so many people - physically & mentally. She was a wonderful teacher.
This was her bio:
Hi. I'm Jessie. I'm a Scorpio. I'm a registered black, bay and white paint who has been a working mother of three (two daughters and a son) with a high-powered career in the show ring for many years. After retirement, I decided to devote my life to Connections Equine Therapy Program. I enjoy having something to do in my retirement years, and I need your assistance to help continue my work for this program. I look forward to meeting you. I love working with all clients, but my expertise and love is working with children and very fragile clients who are fearful and have difficulty expressing/communicating directions to me. I understand them.
Tinker 04/30/1978 - 05/15/2009
We will miss our old (31 years) guy and give thanks for his long, sweet, and productive life.
This was his bio:
Hi. I'm Tinker. I'm a Taurus. I'm a 30-year-old sorrel gelding with a flaxen mane and tail. I am of racing quarter horse breeding. My resume is quite versatile. I've worked on a ranch, barrel raced, been in parades, and was a pony horse at the racetrack where my job was to help the horses I was leading stay calm while going to the starting gate. This was quite a challenge for me since I have a tendency to be quite easily stressed. I had to do a lot of personal work on myself to be successful at this job (Type A, you know). Boy, was that an eye-opener! I decided you're never too old to learn something new. I am very happy to share my calm wisdom and be a teacher to my clients. I'm very good at building confidence. I would like your help to continue helping the clients at Connections.
