Bay Holsteiner gelding born in 2000. He stands 16.1hh.

Donated to the program by Kristen Baran. Sponsored by the Baran Family Foundation.

Arrived at CARD in July 2013

Casey comes to CARD after an illustrious career in the Hunter Show ring. He was born in Germany and has traveled all over Canada and the USA. His broad back and strong forward/ backward movement are ideal for riders with range of motion and sensory issues. This gorgeous and kind gelding flew through his training period, easily adjusting to all the new props and activities which are part of the CARD program.

Casey took a little longer to get used to being turned out with other boys, and it took Marshall a few weeks to teach him the rules of the Paddock 3 Posse. Casey enjoyed many days of turnout with his ‘posse’ . This past winter, he made the move to Paddock 1B, where he joined up with Scooter. These two handsome boys are very happy hanging out together!

Throughout his training, Casey found all of our class props to be quite amusing and he enjoyed thoroughly investigating them all with his mouth in case they were food in disguise!

Affectionate and always up for a bubble bath and some pampering, Casey is a wonderful  member of the CARD team.

Flea Bitten Grey Thoroughbred mare born 2015. She stands 15.1 hh

Arrived at CARD in June 2023

The lovely Idgie is a former racehorse!  Since racing, she has been privately owned and ridden by her donor and their family.  Despite being a breed known for energy and athleticism, Idgie enjoys the slower things in life and is more into cuddling than cardio! This makes her a great fit for CARD’s slower pace.

Idgie is wonderfully kind and sweet-natured, and she has been unflappable through all her training.  You’d think this rock-solidity would make for a dull or unresponsive Idgie, but you’d be wrong.  She is an excellent listener and able to respond to subtle cues without getting frazzled by any ‘mistakes’.

Idgie has a narrow frame with smooth forward and back movements. She will be a good match for riders in need of movement input that isn’t overwhelming and will be a very content addition to the on-lead classes.

We are very excited to welcome this lovely mare to the team, and her donors are thrilled for her to have found a “job” that suits her so well.

Dun Fjord Cross gelding born in 2002. He stands 15.2hh.

Donated by the IODE. Sponsored by the IODE Rouge Valley Chapter.

Arrived at CARD in November 2009

Marshall quickly dug his way into everyone’s hearts with his endearing antics and his (initial) love of being cuddled. He’s a big boy now and not quite so interested in being warm and fuzzy now that he has the Paddock 3 Posse for friends.

Marshall’s broad base and smooth, steady movement make him ideal for clients with balance or sensory issues and for exploring their environment. His early niche was in the on lead classes, where he took comfort in the presence and direction of his leader. Now that he’s figured this therapy horse thing out, he’s set his sights on solidifying a place in the horsemanship classes, teaching riders to trot and to walk off lead.

Marshall has a secret identity as a Fraggle, with his floppy forelock and boyish hijinks. He is the first horse to start his group running and snorting and usually the last one to settle down. A proud member of the Paddock 3 Posse, Marshall splits his time bossing around Lex and playing with Muskoka.

Black Canadian gelding born in 2001 who looks bigger than his 16.1 hands.

On loan to CARD by his owner, Scot Stewart

Arrived at CARD in April 2012

Do you speak French? Muskoka does!! Bred, raised and trained until the age of 3 in Quebec, Muskoka made the long journey to Ontario in the middle of a snowstorm! All of Muskoka’s original voice commands were learned in French, and his dad, Scot, has kept many of them up while also teaching Muskoka English voices aids.

Muskoka comes from a trail riding background with a base in natural horsemanship. Originally very roly-poly in shape when he came to CARD, Muskoka steadily increased his fitness and he can now participate in a trot class without puffing like a steam engine by the end.

Muskoka has a wide base and lateral rotational movement, but with a loooooong step, similar to Casey’s swing. His body type makes him a very versatile therapy mount, and his incredible movement input remains consistent, even when he’s walking slowly. This is unique because many horses’ have a change in their movement when working at slower paces.

Muskoka has been excelling in on the lead classes with both children and adults, where his patient and steady personality, along with his wonderful movement benefit riders with low tone or high sensory-input needs. In the past two years, he’s joined some off the lead trot classes, due to his steady progress in fitness and understanding of his job. Muskoka is a very cooperative ‘dude’ but he definitely knows who his special people are and can often be heard giving a low and throaty whicker when they pass by.

Muskoka is one of the quieter members of the Paddock 3 Posse and generally the voice of reason; he won’t start trouble but he won’t put up with his buddies causing it either! He enjoys hanging out with Marshall and Lex.

Piebald (black and white) Overo Paint/Draft cross gelding born in 2002. He stands 15hh.

Donated By Ann Clifford. Sponsored by the Osin Family Foundation

The CARD herd is remaining colourful!

Our second painted herd member is used to being fussed over, and enjoyed many liberty games and exercises with his donor. A thinker and puzzle-solver by nature, Picasso approached each phase of his CARD training with a serious and focused demeanor, using his natural curiosity to figure things out.

Outside, Picasso became firm friends with Muskoka when opportunity permits. True to his two-toned colouring, Picasso is happiest when paired up- which he does most days by splitting his time between the various members of the Paddock 3 Posse. When working, he ‘pairs up’ with his handler, looking to them for guidance and validation.

A giver by nature, Picasso puts 110% into all his handlers ask of him. With his kind and steady nature and his amazing movement and patience, we are hoping he’s a successor to the mighty Jesse, whom he greatly resembles in appearance!

Arrived at CARD in August 2018

Bay Quarter Horse/Percheron/Thoroughbred gelding born in 1996. He stands 15.2 hh.

Donated to the program by Sharon Willemze. Sponsored by the Baran Family Foundation

Arrived at CARD in August 2007

Ronan’s very active movement and willing attitude make him a key player in the children’s classes. His love of being the centre of attention means he’s never overwhelmed by a crowd of people around him. Riders with balance or confidence issues find his friendly nature and slightly goofy personality very reassuring.

Super narrow, Ronan is well suited to riders with tight hips and legs, and those who have a high need for movement input. Though he has a reputation in the barn for being the first horse to spook at things, Ronan is rock solid in class, whether his rider is wiggling madly about or having a very vocal outburst.

While Ronan generally prefers other geldings who enjoy rough and tumble play, he’s learning the value of quiet time outside. Ronan does have a secret: as tough and brave as he is in class, Ronan still finds bath time scary- such a boy!

Bay quarter horse cross gelding, born in 2005. He stands 15hh.

Purchased for the program by the IODE Bridlewood Chapter.

Arrived at CARD in July 2013

Privately owned before coming to CARD, Scooter has a narrow build and smooth forward and backward movement. He is excellent at adjusting the speed of his walk, making him an ideal candidate for riders with varying sensory input needs. Scooter’s gentle and affectionate personality and smaller build help him excel in children and small adult classes.

Scooter left his harem in Paddock 2 behind to take over ruling the big boys in Paddock 1B and while he enjoyed his newly elevated place in the hierarchy, we did see some longing glances at his former bestie, Capri, during the first week he moved. Fortunately, within a few weeks, Capri also made the move to Paddock 1B, and Scooter’s romantic heart was complete once more! Winter of 2018 saw some new paddock arrangements though, and Scooter and Casey (our two “Peter Pan, never grow up boys”) are now sharing Paddock 1B quite contentedly.

With a natural flair for the dramatic, (Boot Scootin’ Boogie), Scooter gives his all to everything he does; the staff makes sure that the ‘all’ he brings to class is positive and respectful. Fortunately, he loves being loved and a little correction followed by some affection are the keys to his saucy heart!

Bay and white Tobiano Paint mare born in 2006. She stands 13.1 hh.

Donated by Kate Chapman.

Arrived at CARD in December 2015

The smallest CARD horse, Splash has a background as a show horse which makes her well-suited to the CARD program. This little lady did extensive hunter showing on the Trillium circuit with her previous owner which makes her great for riders starting into horsemanship, or riders in need of quick, active movement. Our petite princess has active but smooth gaits, making her a top choice for the riders with low tone or short attention spans because her version of “rock n’ roll” gets muscles and minds working!!

Splash is kind and loves being groomed and fussed with, especially by familiar friends! She can be a little wary when meeting new people but she warms up quickly. The barn volunteers who’ve been asked to give her attention definitely noticed when she decided to add them to ‘her’ group of groupies!

Splash’s exceptional grooming manners continue under saddle, where she is attentive and ready to work. Like Capri and Lex, Splash is a bit of a ‘work horse’ and she needed extra time learning that sometimes ‘work’ means chilling out while your rider is doing something with a side walker. With her children’s showing background, Splash is very light and respectful to the aids and she can be a good fit for the smaller CARD riders working on honing riding skills. Under saddle she’s working on learning to relax and breathe because she’s a bit of an over-achiever and always wants to get things right the first time!

Outside, Splash prefers to give Tia and Capri some space. In the barn though, her best friend is Scot whom she trusts to let her know scary new things are okay.

9 yr.old bay Thoroughbred mare, born in 2013. She stands 14.3hh.

On loan from Theresa Gilligan
Arrived at CARD November 2021

Sweet and people oriented, Tia is a racehorse that never raced!
She made her way to her current owner and became a farm favourite, where she lived outdoors in a small herd, with occasional stints in beginner classes for camps. At CARD, Tia is enjoying stalled-life again, and transitioned well to being an “indoor” horse once more. She loves watching all the barn happenings, having people to chat with and her spiffy wardrobe of toasty warm blankets. We’d like her to stop sassing Capri and getting those blankets torn up!

During her training, Tia had no issue with the class props and she was completely on board for any work that involved halting or slow walk! She excels in lead work, where she takes her comfort and guidance from her leader. Her independent work is coming along nicely, rebuilding muscle tone and suppleness that will help her move well for her riders during class work.

After a bit of a rocky intro to the beauties of Paddock 1A, Tia established her place in the group and is often found parked near Capri, who is delighted to finally have a friend! (a friend with tempting blankets to “re-design”….).Splash has overcome her initial pique about another petite mare joining the herd and things are lovely and calm in the paddocks once more.

We have hopes Tia will be a successor to the fabulous and well-loved Jet, given all the great attributes she’s demonstrated so far!