The Hearts Landing Herd


FLINT is Funny

Flint came to Donna through a friend who just knew he had a “good mind”, and that he does. Although he may seem aloof, he really wants love and scratching. Nothing seems to bother him. He is BOLD and that is both great and an opportunity for more bonding and training. Flint is a silly 12 years young Tennessee Walking horse. His color is grey or “flea bitten”. His gate (the way he walks) is very different than a standard horse and is very easy to ride. He loves to be bathed, painted on and cared for. He is the self proclaimed guardian of the minis...or maybe he just thinks he's a mini.

TEX the Teacher

Tex arrived to HLR in early 2018 ago from a Kill Pen in, you guessed it....Texas. He could be described as non-compliant when he arrived, and in the shape he came in, who could really blame him? While he still likes to call the shots, he has become a great teacher of Being Present and Meaning What You Say.  He will call out those who are half-hearted, who lack commitment to following through, or those pretending to have confidence. He wants to know you mean what you say, and his watchful eye stands ready to share wisdom and insight. He also really loves wearing hats...even if that means a squid hat, backwards baseball hat, or Santa's very own hat.

​Rowdy is Relatable
​Rowdy came to Hearts Landing Ranch in the Spring of 2018 ago after being in a Kill Pen TWICE by the age of four. Can you imagine?! His personality fits his name, and he came with no manners, respect, or understanding of relationship.  And can you guess why Rowdy is often the favorite of teens that come to the ranch for Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy? They see themselves in his rebellious behavior. He has created breakthroughs for parents and youngsters alike by demonstrating need for boundaries, and how to work through behavior.
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​Molly is Magnetic

This glamorous girl came to HLR in the spring of 2018 from a Kill Pen in Oklahoma, and now uses her sweet face and highly sensitive nature to help facilitate growth and healing during Equine- Assisted Psychotherapy Sessions. When she first arrived, she was terrified to let anyone touch her legs, but now is a go-to for teaching horsemanship and how to have a soft touch. She has also helped with some major breakthroughs for those with eating disorders as she was severely emaciated when she came to us. This opened up conversations for those with eating disorders, who were outraged that someone could do that to an animal but couldn't see what they were doing to themselves.
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​Champion is Courageous

Champion arrived at HLR in the spring of 2018, out of a slaughterhouse kill pen in Texas. He distrusted people and would stay as far away as possible. We saw he had many scars. Upon handling, it was evident he had been trained, but by a heavy hand, as pressure or confined spaces caused him to panic.  Through his time here, he has helped many people work through trauma from abuse and learn how to trust again as well as be courageous. He also is the resident ham... always making faces (both being silly and continually having to work on releasing his own anxiousness and held trauma). Champion is a beloved member of the team and does great work creating change and bringing healing.

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SPARKY is...well, Sparky!

When we rescued Sparky one stormy night, we thought "he" was a "she." Visibility was terrible, so with a quick glance we thought we had a boy. He was named Daisy. The next morning, much to our surprise, we saw Daisy was a gelding. We had no idea how well his new name Sparky would fit his feisty, independent personality; however, we soon learned he had issues to rehabilitate. Our volunteers consistently work with him on socializing and training him how pull a cart, a.k.a "drive."
The Oreo Brothers: Rascal and Lego
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Ever since we adopted the Oreo brothers into our family, they have been a delight! We have trouble telling them apart since they're both black and white and cute as a button. They were already trained to pull carts; however,  they had some physical issues. Rascal, the older brother, was 60 pounds underweight and has some arthritis. Lego was severely beaten and had "foundered" overfeeding on fresh grass. This made his hoof walls separate (think pain!). With dental care, a new feeding program, and lots of love... they have overcome these setbacks and run with the rest of the herd. They especially LOVE to play with their big brother Flint. They both drive really well and have no foot sensitivity with their new "tennis shoes" thanks to a generous donation. 
  Mid-Knight is Magnificent

​As a 5-year-old, Mid-Knight was "retired" from being a plow horse in Iowa so he could come serve veterans at Hearts Landing Ranch. He was bright and accommodating enough that he had been used to teach other young horses how to plow, but his trainer thought he needed to be a part of our program. Mid-Knight is a Percheron. His breed was used for war horses in Europe, but he provides a BIG calming presence, even sometimes to those that are nervous around our minis. Weighing over 2,000lbs, Mid-Knight will help veterans of all sizes in our future sidewalking program for PTSD.