MVHR Program Horses
At the MVHR Ranch in McCoy we have 50 or more horses on site at any given time. The majority of those, about 30 to 35 horses, are the MVHR Recue Herd, on their Journey of Hope from recovery to adoption.
The rest of the herd is made up of Boarders, privately owned horses (almost all of whom were adopted from MVHR) who have stayed on at the ranch with their owners covering their expenses, including paying monthly board to MVHR.
But the cool thing is that of the boarded horses, almost all are also part of MVHR’s Program Herd: horses that help teach in MVHR’s educational programs like day camps, lessons, school groups and pony rides for events like Hay Day. The Program Herd helps MVHR have a number of horses available who are safe and healthy to help with the education and outreach that is part of our mission. These horses are skilled and trained at working around novice horse people and small children. We are often asked “Who are the other horses?” So we’d like to introduce you them…..
Many of our Program Horses have been at the ranch for years, helping with the hundreds of programs we provide. Some might even say they are “famous” in the community, as we often hear when we are in town about someone’s favorite horse like Jack or Grace!
These Program Horses are a critical part of MVHR’s work and mission to educate the community about horses, so we wanted to make sure they get the recognition they deserve here, as well as help you all get to know this essential part of the MVHR Herd!
JACK
This handsome Quarter Horse gelding is probably getting close to thirty years old. He has spent his life as a trail and pleasure horse all over Colorado, and now enjoys a semi-retirement helping with programs at MVHR. His favorite activity is falling asleep with his chin on the hitch rail, while be groomed and dressed up for Glamour Camp!
CUTTER
Cutter was a roping horse and an MVHR intake back in 2010 when his family experienced a medical crisis. He was quickly adopted as a trail horse by a local family, and has since traveled many miles of the back country of Colorado. He even carried Michael Martin Murphey one summer, and was serenaded with “Wildfire” as he navigated the trails. You would never have guessed it years ago, and Cutter would never admit it, but he has come to love having his mane braided after cruising through the obstacles with our summer campers.
GRACE
Grace is a grey free bitten gray mare and was an intake at MVHR in 2013 at 20 years old. She was put under saddle for the Equine Comeback Challenge in 2014. She was adopted shortly there after and for 10 years leisurely rode English Dressage. Now at 31, Grace is semi retired, and lives at MVHR to be part of programs, as her kind and gentle soul lends itself really well to the littles kids but also for Liberty work. She is a mini horse heroes teacher and little horse friends lesson horse, and a favorite in day camp, especially Glamour as she secretly wishes she was a Unicorn with her favorite color being pink and glitter looks like it is meant to be on her white coat.
SASSY
Sassy was an intake at MVHR in June 2017, after her owners who got her to be their kids pony, were ready to put her down because she was “untrainable”. Within three days we were able to saddle and ride her. Sassy is a 24 year old, registered American Shetland Pony and was adopted in July 2017. After some time with a wonderful family in Edwards, she moved back to the ranch as a boarder. Since then Sassy has become a great program horse for older children and adults, enjoying grooming and leading. She teaches lunging skills in our HOPE Liberty Camp and is a Campion on the obstacle course. We think she secretly wants to be a Performing Arts Horse, as she takes pride standing on the red block like a Circus Horse.
CLEO
This beautiful palomino has many ribbons and trophies on her wall, being a 4-H show horse for many years, and even attending State Fair back in her competition days. As her own children outgrew her, Cleo came to help children at MVHR learn about horses. She now walks slowly with the smallest and most nervous of novice horse handlers to help them learn about leading in the round pen.
GEORGE
George was an intake at MVHR in June 2016, after suffering severe neglect. Shortly after arriving he was adopted and lived for many years at the Cordillera Equestrian Center. He enjoyed many rides with his owner on the trail. George returned as a boarder to MVHR as his owner grew older and was no longer riding much. He is a gentle, energetic guy and immediately enjoyed spending time with people in programs. He participates in our day camps, as he is a great teacher of Liberty and Ground work, enjoys ground tie grooms and as many pets as he can get. He also is used for our riding lessons and adults connection programs, as he truly is amazing at connecting, especially with those with special needs.
RACEY
Racey was an MVHR intake in October 2015, along with Stormy, both arriving with severely neglected hoofs. Their hoofs were so overgrown that they could not walk and MVHR was their last chance to see if it could be corrected. Many sedations, many trims and hoof adjustments later, both recovered well. These miniature horses are how MVHR’s Mini Horse Heroes originated! Racey has since been adopted by a little girl of her own, but has stayed on as a boarder at MVHR, where she takes her responsibility for continuing the program that she founded, MVHR’s Mini Horse Heroes, very seriously!
TORLEN
Torlen is a retired English pleasure horse in his mid twenties. He is boarded at the ranch to live in semi-retirement life at MVHR, as both he and his owner have gotten older. He loves attention from people, especially children and participates in our HOPE Liberty Day Camps as he is a great teacher of lunging and liberty work.
GREG
You’ve probably seen this guy around! Maybe in the rodeo arena?! Greg came to Eagle as a pick up horse for the annual Eagle County Fair and Rodeo back in 2014. After roping bulls and picking up cowboys all weekend, he foundered badly, and could not stand, let alone get on to a trailer to head back to Texas when the rodeo was over. Wanting him to have a chance at recovery, his cowboy left him with a local family who took on his care. A sweet boy and valiant patient, Greg has returned to relative comfort after many years of treatment and ongoing management of his many lower leg issues. He now loves being doted on by all of the visitors to MVHR, and is about as quiet and gentle as they come. But when he’s feeling up for it he still makes occasional appearances at local rodeos and gymkhanas - where he still LOVES to run fast and hear the roar of a crowd!