My name is Lexie

I'm a registered APHA senior mare standing around 15hh with age appropriate health issues. I was a show horse for much of my life but fell on hard times and needed a helping hand. I was brought to Walker Acres nearly two years ago. Before I knew it my new mom had specialists coming in from all over to try to help me feel better. It was a long journey and sometimes hard & while I'm never going to be perfect, I do get around much better. I love kids! Bath time and water play are some of my very favorite things to do. I am not destructive and I'm happy to come in any time I'm called. I'm usually a perfect lady. I take my yucky wormer without a fuss. I wear front shoes and I try very hard to be still so the Ferrier can do his job. I don't like spring shots but I know the prick will be over in a second and I get a treat after so it's worth it. I'm current on all my necessary papers. I'm very brave too! I prefer the company of other horses but if I have my mom, I'm usually okay.

Today at Walker Acres I am part of a semi-retirement work plan that helps me stay active. I guess the other horses would call my job "easy" but they don't have the same health issues. During the summer I carry youths through the summer camp sprinklers and my mom sometimes puts me in a couple times a week class to help me stretch my old bones and work on my muscle tone. I'm in my early 20s so it's hard but I manage. My mom tells me everyday that she will find me a soft pasture to call my own where perhaps I will have my own kid to brush me and kiss my nose. I can carry light children but my mom says I'm not "sound enough" to do what the other horses can do. She sometimes cries when she is telling me about how wonderful my future will be and hugs my neck. I like hugs. I'm ready to meet my new family & be someone's companion. If you or someone you know would like to adopt me, message  HERE!

*adoption fees may apply

My name is Woody

I'm a registered Hafflinger standing at 14.1 hh. My roots stretch all the way back to Ohio and before I called Walker Acres home, I was being trained in biomechanics as a Dressage prospect. I am not really a fan of baths but belly scratches are definitely one of my top favorites. I'm still new to being undersaddle and carry some anxiety with me when I'm schooling. My new mom tells me that one correct step will turn into two and just build from there. I'm starting to believe her.

I have called Walker Acres home since Autumn 2020 and have learned how to accept rider hand pressure and aids. I'm still figuring out how to give to pressure on both my sides and my mouth but every day it gets a little easier. Something happened to me before coming to W.A and it still haunts me when I'm being ridden. When I feel nervous I sometimes try to run away from my feelings but my mom and her advanced students are brave and help me find my courage every time I feel out of control. 

Today I'm under lease with a young rider interested in developing a lifelong  career. She has helped me heal from some of my past trauma and I now enjoy trail rides as a reward for hard work & courage! My favorite kind of training session is one where I am pushed. I am not as fast as the other horses but I can out work them because my breed was built for the Italian farmlands. I like to untie the slip-knot in my lead-line just because I can. My mom calls me naughty because I can slip out of any halter or fly mask she tries to put on me.  I'm currently barefoot because my feet are solid and healthy. I take shots, wormer, and coggins in exchange for treats and belly scratches. I like to nuzzle the Ferrier when he comes to shape my feet. Sometimes I even fall asleep while he is working on me. I am a strong mover so I'm not for the beginner rider and I prefer the confidence of an advanced hand anyway. I'm still learning but I want to be a good boy & that's why my mom says I'm made of the "right stuff". 

I'm not ready for adoption yet but my mom says that some day I will make for a wonderful endurance partner!

My name is Raz

I'm a 15.1 hh registered APHA gelding. I love the water and baths! I'm super food motivated too. I was a fella's trail horse for a bit before coming to W.A in 2021. My new mom calls me "quirky" because I'm particular about funny things. At first I didn't trust her to handle my feet which was hard because my feet weren't in the best of shape. At first,  I was  overwhelmed with being in a new place & couldn't fully remember all my training. My mom gave me time to adjust which helped & after about a month of daily handling, I let her handle my feet without worrying. 

During my initial training at W.A, I was re-introduced to showmanship. I'm really good at it too! I like a rider with soft hands and strong body-language. My TMJ is a little out of alignment so I feel my rider's hands on a different scale and sometimes it's frightening. To protect me at work, my mom puts me in a Hackamore so my riders can make their mistakes without anchoring in my sensitive mouth. I can take a bit though, as long as I'm with an advanced rider.

 I'm the boss of my herd so I require a rider with grit. I often ask questions under saddle too and look for reward. I'm not really into ring work but I live for the trail! I prefer to be the lead but my mom says I have to learn to follow too so I do...reluctantly. Mom says I can extend beautifully which would make me a good English riding horse.  I don't have any naughty habits of note but I do sometimes get jealous when I see other horses getting sprayed off when I'm in the pasture. I am easy to catch and wear front shoes because I have soft front feet. I also take my wormer, spring shots, & coggins without a fuss. I like the attention even though the wormer is yucky. I come when I'm called 99% of the time and like to spend the hot summer days under my shed close to the water. My skin is sensitive to the bugs and it drives me crazy! Mom smothers me in bug repellents & fly control accessories to try to help but I guess I just smell really good. I still appreciate her efforts.

I'm not up for adoption currently but I am taking on new students through the lesson program! Come meet me!

My name is Guy

I'm a grade 15.2hh Morgan Cross gelding with a past in ranch work. I joined the Walker Acres team in 2018 and needed some serious TLC. I was bought with lameness in my left front  but because I showed a willingness to keep trying, my new mom loaded me onto the trailer and I opened the newest chapter to my story. At first I was anxious with kids. I couldn't tell my new mom about what I'd been through but I could show her I harbored negative memories when I had a child on my back. I used to try to plow through the bit, I didn't want to stand still. Halting was particularly hard for me and I had a limp. My mom knew something was wrong and called in the cavalry. Mom says I'm mysterious because I don't give anyone the impression that I had a difficult life once upon a time. It wasn't until 2020 that she finally found an old brand I have on my hip that suggests that I was a "ranch" horse. I have a fear of backing out of trailers and bare extensive scar tissue along my hip and down my gaskin muscle. My tail is slightly out of alignment suggesting that I had a traumatic injury and compensated for a long time with my tail among other things for. I will happily load onto a trailer and walk forward off but I am terrified to back off and my mom promised after the first(and last time we tried)she'd never ask again.

I love to be in water. I often swim & roll in the mud hole in my pasture. I'm not herd bound but trail riding is always more enjoyable with friends. I am fully shod because my feet are soft and sensitive. I tolerate the wormer, shots, and coggins with no complaints. Mom calls me stoic since today, I'm not really reactive. I'm not afraid of gun shot, fire works, engine back fires, fans, deer, or water but the ring sprinkler does peak my curiosity. My hip causes me to be limited in what I can comfortably do so at work, Mom puts me in beginner/intermediate classes that force me to flex my jogging muscles and keep me strong. I'm chronically lame these days, working just enough to keep me healthy. I still have some riding miles left in me though!  Mom says I'm semi-retired because my ability to carry my next rider is my insurance policy that promises me a soft retirement home. I am now a confident babysitter and love kids. I'm slow and steady which makes me good for the beginners. If you or someone you know is interested in adopting me,

 message  HERE! 

*adoption fees may apply

My name is Butterscotch

I'm a 13.2 grade Palomino Quarter-pony mare. I'm little but I make up for it in personality. When I joined the W.A team in Feb. 2020, I was severely underweight. My previous owner loved me dearly but got really sick and couldn't take care of me and my herd-mates any more. She interviewed my new mom for over 2 hours before she ultimately made the decision to let me get on the trailer. I could tell she was sad and at first, I was reluctant to get on the trailer but with some yummy encouragement, I stepped right on and found myself calling Walker Acres my new home. 

I don't like water. I don't like to be sprayed, I don't like bath time. I don't like puddles. You can just bet that if it's wet, I'd rather not. I do however like my face and ears to be scratched. My mom calls my personality "in your pocket" because I choose people over my new herd all day long. Mr. Rocky is my favorite person. Rain and I like to fight over him when he is at the fence or in the pasture. He gives the best face-scrubs. I'm very food motivated and since I knew hunger, mom has to watch me carefully because I will eat everything in front of me(even if I'm full). When I'm working and my mom is snacking, I like to try to steal her crackers but it's usually without success. Still. I try. I like a rider with a very soft hand. In fact, a rider who never touches the reins is ideal. I can move completely off seat, leg, and vocal ques. I was training to be a jumper before I came to W.A. Today I'm more finished in my training but I still have a lot to learn. Mom says I'm good-leaded meaning I naturally pick up the right lead but I'm a push ride. I need my rider to keep me going otherwise, I'm just as happy to stand still. I'm barefoot because I have really strong feet. Mom says I feel like a carousel horse when we ride together; gliding with forward propulsion. The trick to riding with me is to keep strong leg ques because in true mare form, I get frustrated when I get confused and just stop. I am quick to forgive, though. 

I'm not currently up for adoption.  W.A is my home and I like it here! You can come meet me through taking a lesson with me!

My name is Casanova

I'm a 15.1 hh grade Appendix gelding bred in Georgia. Not much is known about my history but my previous home was a cattle ranch where I was introduced to roping! Cows still get me fired up when I see them on the trails. My mom fell in love with me in 2016 shortly after I came up form South Carolina with my previous owner for a youth horse camp over the summer. Mom tells folks that it was love at first sight and that's how I got my name, because I stole her heart. I finally hopped on a trailer in 2019 bound for Walker Acres and spent 2.5 years in training solely with my new mom because I had a lot of unusual quirks. She was worried my energy would frighten the kids and to date, I have been the only W.A horse to "train" for that long before joining the Wonder Pony team in lessons. 

I'm also a water horse, at least up to my neck. I don't like it in my face. At work I'm usually used in intermediate/advanced classes because I am a harder ride. Unlike some of the other horses at W.A who see "danger" and follow their instincts of self preservation, I trust my rider fully. Under saddle, I assume my rider will keep us both safe. Mom likes to call it an "out of body experience" because I don't typically follow my instincts. I'm just along for the ride. I'm a goof too. I like to stand at the water trough beside the fence and splash the summer campers with water when they are playing in the sprinklers. Mud is my favorite fashion accessory. Mom says she thinks it's because I like baths and every time I get muddy she sprays me off but really, I just like to play in it.  I'm the playful one of the herd. I kick my heels up when mom opens the gate to the big pasture and I often like to tug at my herd-mate's halters in an effort to get them riled up so we can run! Running is my favorite! I'm a forward mover at work but because I had more training than the rest of the horses here, I have a few more gears than they do and have been schooling Dressage techniques. I can lead on trails or follow as long as my rider is confident. My mom is my favorite person and I come to her always. I have a ball in the shed I like to play with when none of my friends want to play.  I like hugs too. Mom hugs me all the time and if you get close enough to my neck, I'll sneak a hug on you too!

Come meet me at lessons! 

My name is Rain

I'm a 14.3hh grade Paint mare named after a very popular character born from the Dreamworks Production Sprit. Like the character, I am sassy too! My previous home was with a youth who wanted to go places she felt I couldn't follow. I was working as an English horse but I'm most comfortable working at the Western gaits. My jog is incredible. I came to Walker Acres in 2021 lacking on muscle tone and manners. My new mom went round and round with me at first. She says I think I'm more important than I really am, whatever that means. My new herd mates seemed to agree with her too because I tried to throw my sassy-pants at them too and they quickly corrected me. I'm not sure they know just how lucky they are that I'm here now but I suppose I can forgive that blindness. 

I work mostly with intermediate riders because I'm smart and I know how to get out of work. Mom calls me a push ride but I'm not consistent. I like to switch it up. Keeps things fresh for my riders. Some days I like to work their legs and some days I'm in a forward mood and challenge them to collect me. I don't click with every rider I carry but the one's I do, I try very hard to please. Mr. Rocky is my favorite person here at W.A. Butterscotch is my best friend until he steps into the pasture and then I just hate her. Face scratches are my favorite. I love my face to be brushed. In fact, if that's all my rider wants to brush I'm okay with that. I'm super food motivated too. My mom has me in a work plan that is supposed to help me put on weight slowly through building proper muscle tone. I hate it. I'd much rather stand around and eat but she insists I come in and work. The bucket of grain does brighten the gloomy work aspect though. I have age appropriate arthritis my mom helps me manage through supplementation. She feels that healing is best done from the inside out so she watches all our diets carefully and makes changes as my body shows her what I need. Casanova gets on my nerves. Raz & Guy are boring but Woody is probably the most handsome thing I've ever seen. Butter and I squabble over him too. I tolerate baths. Mom says I'm the most expressive horse here. Apparently, I have an opinion about everything. I'm fully shod which has been a huge relief. I carried a lot of tension when I first came to W.A and as a result, I was grumpy for it, My feet hurt terribly so my mom had a few specialists come evaluate me. Mom finally made the decision to put shoes on me and my mood was improved more than half. Mom thinks that with time, I'll be nearly 100% by Dec. 2021 & I look forward to all the buckets of grain between now and then.  Trails are a nice change in pace for me. I'm not clingy now thanks to my initial training  & I quite like the alone time. I'm the low man on the totem poll so it's nice to get away.  Mom calls me fearless because I am not afraid of traffic, deer, or creeks. I will practically load myself onto the trailer and I'm not destructive though I'm still being trained on the art of patience before classes. 

Come meet me at lessons! 

 I work with all the little kids. I like to make sure everybody is safe and we have fun. I get everyone started; getting them comfortable & where they can control their horse before I move them up to Ms. Julia. I also work with the little "cowboys" getting them started on roping Ferdinand, our wooden steer, and then off horseback. We also rope the goats too!  

I like to use games as my teaching method. They help riders work on balance, posture, control of the horse, & just getting the rider's confidence built. My favorite riding game is a version of Red-light-green-light with a twist. 

Blue Dog is my Australian Heeler that joins me in almost every class I teach. She is friendly and usually greets all the farm guests before joining us in the ring or the trail. 

It is an honor and a blessing to be able to put my 20+ years of training, certifications, and passion to work. By taking the advise of my incredible trainers, I break tradition by "throwing my heart over the fence" with every class, every camp, every construction project,  and every activity we do here at Walker Acres. I remember being the starry-eyed little who wanted to do and know everything about horses. All equestrians begin our careers with a big dreams and an irrational love for horses though most of us spend so much time schooling the grind, we forget why we even began this journey. The W.A program is a reflection of my very best childhood memories spent at Horse Camps and top-notch training from some of the best Horsemen & women. They say when you put your heart into your work, it shows. The W.A facility was built, not bought & I am delighted to share my living dream with you! Through keeping my inner-child at the center of the W.A program, I'm delighted to present a horse-back riding experience that is wrapped in fun and formality.  The horses are more than just a means for keeping the lights on, they are all deeply loved. Our clients are more than just a guest to the farm, they are members of our heart-tribe. I put my whole heart into all that makes up the W.A program & I'm proud to offer a different kind of riding experience that is healing for both horse and rider.