PONY PALOOZA EQUINE EDUCATION
MEET THE HORSES
Tex
Polar Vortex
Ms. Carrie's beloved show horse, Tex, also doubles as a lesson horse for our tiniest kiddos to our most advanced riders. Often compared to a cruise ship, Tex is the largest horse we have in the barn. Tex teaches our riders anything from dressage, to canter crossrails, to cantering on the lunge line.
Taz
Lil Bit Phenomenal
Tex's younger half brother, Taz, is a 7 year old Appaloosa gelding. Despite being one of our youngest lesson horses, Taz is easily one of our laziest. Taz loves the low level life of teaching beginners to walk, trot, and steer, but will happily step up to the 2'3" or 2'6" hunters with the riders he adores.
Katie
Katie's Lucky Charm
A Pony Palooza staple, Katie has been with the program for many years. She is a 16 year old American Quarter Horse who is as sweet as she is gorgeous. Katie is our go-to ride for our beginners learning to walk, trot, and canter, but is no stranger to the higher level Hunter and Jumper rings!
Twinkle
Midnight Twinkle
Another Pony Palooza legend, Twinkle has been with Ms. Carrie for well over two decades. Starting as Ms. Carrie's personal pony many years ago, Twinkle is now our oldest lesson horse at an incredible 31 years old. Although Twinkle is on her way to a well deserved retirement, she can still be seen in the arena teaching our smaller riders the basics.
Elmo
Mr. Flashy Lena
Elmo, an 18 year old 14.3 American Quarter Horse, is a big barn favorite. Elmo guides our students with anything from steering at the walk, to taking their first trot steps, to jumping their first fence, to practicing Training Level dressage movements. A truly all-around guy!
Cricket
Splash of Color
As gorgeous as she is wide, Cricket is easily our most recognized horse at off-site events. As a 17Â year old Haflinger/Paint cross, Cricket is the perfect mix of sensibility and spunk. Cricket excels in everything jumping, but is especially fond of cross country and hunter pace like events. Cricket primarily teaches our intermediate to advanced students, but doesn't mind plodding around with beginners from time to time, too.
Honey
Honey Bunches of Oats
Honey Bunches is our hunter pony extraordinaire. Her rocking horse canter and love to jump make her the perfect candidate to teach our students both how to canter, and ideal jumping technique. Honey's pony-tude ensures that you have a relationship with her before asking her to do anything, but scratch her back and she will certainly scratch yours!
Hendricks
Hendricks/Party Pony
Hendricks, one of our rescue horses from Heart of Phoenix, is the happiest horse you will ever meet. As an 8Â year old medium-sized paint pony, his desire to please is second to none. Hendricks prefers the fast life, and often tries to skip walk breaks to get back to trotting, cantering, and jumping. You can always count on Hendricks to make you smile!
Cheyenne
Cheyenne
Cheyenne is a 16 year old beautiful black and white paint mare. Cheyenne has worn many hats over her past few years here as a lesson horse, but has recently settled into her role of being a more advanced ride. Cheyenne requests certain levels of support while being ridden, and has been instrumental in helping us teach our advanced students how to help your horse carry themselves and use their body correctly. Cheyenne is as sweet as she is pretty, and loves to give kisses and cuddles.
Willow
Willow
Willow is an 11 year old Medicine Hat Paint mare. At 14.2 hands, Willow is a great size for all ages and sizes of riders. While Willow has a consistently beautiful jump, she's also known to go slow and steady and teach our beginner riders the basics. One of Willow's favorite things as a primarily white pony is to roll around and get nice and dirty in the pasture and in her stall!
Bullseye
Run Like the Wind Bullseye
One of our smaller lesson ponies, Bullseye, is a 10 year old crossbred pony. Don't let his size fool you- this guy is full of spunk. Bullseye will make you work harder for his love and cooperation than any other horse in the barn, but will go above and beyond for you once you earn it. His pony-tude will keep you on your toes and laughing the whole time!
Penny
Penny for your Thoughts
Penny is another rescue horse from Heart of Phoenix. As a large pony mare of only 9 years old, Penny has been through a lot in her short life. Because of this, she requires a confident rider to help her feel more confident. Once you have a relationship with her, Penny will do anything for you-Â especially JUMP! Fast and high is how she wants to go!
Ransom
Spot My Art
Ransom is a 7 year old Appaloosa gelding. His fancy movements and handsome looks make him an ideal candidate for dressage, which Ms. Carrie has successfully shown him in. Although he has primarily been ridden by instructors so far, he has been seen trying his hand at some lessons for our advanced students as well.
Dolce
Cinnamon Dolce
Dolce is a 13 year old gorgeous red dun mare. As one of our newer horses, she has integrated herself into the program beautifully, doing anything from walk/trot beginner lessons to jumping full courses. Dolce is a favorite of many of our intermediate-advanced riders.
Ice
Black Ice
Ice came from a barn in upstate New York in the spring of 2024. As a 6 year old pony gelding, he is one of our youngest lesson horses. Don't be fooled by his young age though, Ice has an excellent head on his shoulders. Ice is sweet and patient, and tries very hard to please!
Hopper
Position/Role
Hopper came from the same barn as Ice in upstate New York, in the spring of 2024. At his young age of 6, Hopper is a bit of an old soul. If he's not in a lesson or playing with his buddies in the field, Hopper can be found laying completely flat in his stall taking the nap of a lifetime.
Peanut
Peanutters
Peanut is our in-house Hoover vacuum. As a mini mare in her mid-twenties, Peanut has earned the right to do, basically, whatever she wants. Peanut can often be seen cleaning up hay throughout the barn, helping herself to other horses' grain in their empty stalls (if she can reach), or begging for cookies. When she is contained to a stall or field, she does so with her buddy Charlie.
Charlie
Position/Role
Charlie is a 13 year old oversized mini horse that is almost as wide as he is tall. Charlie is the perfect size for our young riders learning the basics, but can be seen being put to work by some of our more advanced students as well. Charlie enjoys the slow life, which makes him a great fit to do leadline with Ms. Carrie's daughter, Makenzi.
Otis
Position/Role
Otis (new name pending) is our newest lesson pony here on the farm. At 6 years old and just 43 inches tall, Otis is young, short, and spicy. We will update his bio (and his name!) as we get to know this adorable little pony.
Lexi
Lexington
Lexi is a 16 year old Quarter Horse owned by our amazing veterinarian, Dr. Sam. Lexi has been trying her hand as a lesson horse for our intermediate-advanced riders. Lexi excels at teaching riders how to keep a horse slow and steady and develop a working partnership.
Channing
Midnight Macho
Ms. Casey's main man Channing or "Channy" for short, is a 23 year old, 16 hand American Saddlebred. But don't let his age and size fool you! Channy is a hit with our younger riders and advanced beginners alike. Channy loves to teach and soaks up all of the attention you can give.
George
Babe's Final Howl
Owned by one of our boarders, Jessie, George is a 24 year old, 15.2 hand American Paint Horse. When he decides that he doesn't want to be retired, George picks up a few lessons here and there for our advanced students.  When he's not being ridden, you can find him either hanging with his bestie Channy or licking his salt block.