Equestrian Lesson Horses

Meet the Horses

This is the amazing herd of horses that the university currently owns. Every horse (or pony) has been donated to the university with the purpose of teaching the students a vast range of things from the art of dressage, riding over fences, and even some western. These horses are used for classes, riding lessons and summer camps and enthusiastically put their whole hearts into their jobs.

Adopt a Horse Program

If you have a favorite lesson horse or would like to help out the HU Equestrian program then join the “adopt a horse program”.  Choose to sponsor your favorite HU lesson horse and you will receive a picture and monthly email updates about your horse and the EQ program.

Sponsorship money will help support the cost of your horse’s farrier, vet, feed and winter blankets (new purchase or repairs to current one).

"Bailey" Dynamic N Disguise

2004, Bay, Quarter Horse Mare, 14.1 Hands

Bailey is a sweet and sassy little mare that thrives on consistent work.  She enjoys helping students grow in their riding in all disciplines and teaching them all about seat sensitivity. She has done just about every discipline but currently focuses on english flat work and western riding.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Base.

"Base" Base Jumper

2013, Bay, Thoroughbred Gelding, 15.3 Hands

Base has a very sweet and goofy personality and absolutely loves attention. He spent the summer getting back into work after some time off due to an injury, but so far is loving getting back into the swing of things and did great in our dressage classes this Fall semester. Currently, he is working on training/first level dressage and we are hoping to continue his dressage education into some higher levels.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Bindy.

"Bindy" Stellar's Best Babe

2008, Chestnut, Thoroughbred Mare, 15.2 Hands

Bindy is an energetic and sensitive mare with a background in eventing. Prior to joining our herd she had competed through Training level. She loves to jump and teach her riders how to fine tune their aids to be as quiet as possible while still getting great results.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Bluprint.

"Bluprint" ACS Ultimate Bluprint

2010, Black and White Paint Mare, 14.3 Hands

Bluprint has a back ground in western riding and loves to show off her slow and steady jog. When not teaching students about western riding she enjoys working on training and first level dressage or just going out for a nice trail ride. She has a sweet personality and loves teaching all levels of riders.

Currently, Bluprint is recovering from an injury with some time off but we are hoping she makes a full recovery to be back and ready to work at the start of the 2024 school year.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Carmella.

Carmella

2004, Grey, Lipizzaner Mare, 14.2 Hands

Carmella is a sweetheart who is always looking out for her rider’s safety.  She will carry riders working on training and first level dressage as well as beginners learning how to trot and canter.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Charlotte.

"Charlotte" Charlee in Charge

2003, Bay, Canadian Sport Horse Mare, 15.2 Hands

Charlotte is very sweet and puts her heart into the work she does. She loves forming connections with students and working on training level dressage work. When not in the dressage ring she is often found being ridden by students out on our trails or trying her hand at some western gaming.

"Cuba" Cuba Libre

2004, Chestnut, Holsteiner Gelding, 17.0 Hands

Cuba is a sweet and gentle guy that is as honest as can be over fences. In addition to jumping in the arena he enjoys dressage and going out in the fields for some cross country. He tries hard to please and is sure to put a smile on your face after a good ride.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Danika.

"Danika" Double D Danika

2009, Brunblakk, Norwegian Fjord Mare, 14.0 Hands

Danika is one of our cute and uniquely colored ponies we have in the herd. She came to us with an eventing back ground and being shown in Pony Club events. She enjoys jumping both in and out of the arena and also showing off her dressage and western skills.

Houghton equestrian program horse, DC.

"D.C." Dawson’s Creek

2003, Black, Oldenburg Gelding, 16.3 Hands

D.C. is one of our upper level dressage horses that loves showing off his fun dressage movements. He absolutely loves his changes and extended gaits and giving students a great feeling of collected movements.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Digger.

"Digger" Spitfire Gold Digger

2006, Bay, Appendix Gelding, 16.0 Hands

Digger came to us with a background in dressage but has found his passion of jumping with us. He absolutely loves showing off in the stadium ring and out in the cross country field. He is always up for a challenge and loves creating a great partnership with his riders.

Houghton equestrian program horse, DJ.

DJ

2000, Bay, Holsteiner Gelding, 15.1 Hands

DJ loves to jump and is not afraid of a good challenge, even when it comes to height. With a very sweet personality and a "go get 'em" type attitude he has become a favorite among our students for both jumping and eventing.

Durante

2010, Bay, Hanoverian Gelding, 16.1 Hands

Durante has a very sweet personality and enjoys dressage work, trail riding, and even a bit of liberty work. He is a beautiful mover and is schooling First level dressage movements and higher. We are excited to see him continue to develop as a lesson horse and teach a variety of our riders.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Ethan.

"Ethan" Capstone

2009, Chestnut, Thoroughbred Gelding, 16.1 Hands

Ethan is one of our steady lesson horses that came with a lot of experience on the hunter circuit. He challenges his riders to have accurate and the correct timing of aids and  loves jumping and dressage.

Fettuccine

2009, Chestnut Leopard, Appaloosa Gelding, 15.0 Hands

Fettuccine has a goofy and sweet personality and came to us with a trail riding and trail obstacle background. He has been learning the ropes of what being a lesson horse is and is settling in great. He learns very quickly and we hope to continue his education in dressage, western and even a bit of lower level jumping.

"Fletcher" Midnight Fletcher

2012, Bay, Thoroughbred Gelding, 16.0 Hands

Fletcher is a recent addition to our herd with a background in the Hunter ring. He is big smooth gaits and we are excited to have him learn a bit more about dressage and be able to teach students in our dressage and horsemanship 2 classes.

"Flight" Jolly Go Flightly

2008, Bay, Thoroughbred Mare, 16.0 Hands

Flight is a recent addition to our herd and we are excited to have her settle in and develop as a lesson horse. She is a quick learner and has a kind personality. We hope she will be one of our next steady jumping horses and be able to do some lower level dressage.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Fox.

"Fox" Fabregé Fuchs

1998, Chestnut, Trakehner/AQHA Cross Gelding, 15.1 Hands

Although the oldest horse in our herd, Fox doesn't let his age show and still loves his job of teaching students. He is used in a variety of our jump and dressage classes and is definitely a favorite in our herd.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Freya.

Freya

2005, Bay, Belgian Warmblood Mare, 16.2 Hands

Freya is one of our upper level dressage horses that is competing 1st and 2nd level dressage while also schooling some higher level movements. When not in the dressage ring she enjoys occasional jumping and trail riding.

Photo by REA Photography

Houghton equestrian program horse, Handsome.

"Handsome" We Go

2011, Chestnut, Thoroughbred Gelding, 16.3 Hands

Handsome competed through Training level prior to her joining the herd and we are excited to have him settle as a lesson horse and teach our riders over fences. He has big smooth gaits and a great jump and is sure to be a great teacher in our upper level jumping classes. When not jumping he enjoys dressage work and has been doing really well with schooling First level movements.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Harri.

"Harri" Harrisburg

2003, Fleabitten Grey, Thoroughbred Gelding, 16.1 Hands

Harri is a big mover with a goofy personality. He is used in both jumping and dressage classes and is always a favorite for our students to learn on. Whether it be working on training and first level dressage or jumping in the arena, he is happy to work and help teach his riders.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Jimmy.

"Jimmy" Statesman Jubilee

1999, Chestnut, Morgan Gelding, 14.3 Hands

Jimmy is one of our go to lesson horses and has a great work ethic while helping riders of all levels learn to succeed in their riding goals. He enjoys helping students learn through lessons on the lunge, dressage, trail riding, and jumping both in the arena and out on the cross country field.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Johnny.

"Johnny" First Class II

2009, Bay, Warmblood Cross Gelding, 15.3 Hands

Johnny is a sweetheart who captures the heart of anyone who rides him. He enjoys dressage, jumping, and eventing. Being able to work with all levels of riders in a variety of classes makes him one of the favorites in our herd.

Houghton equestrian program horse, LJ.

"LJ" Lil' Jac

2007, Chestnut, Quarter Horse Gelding, 14.1 Hands

LJ is a lease who comes to us during the school year and has a lot of western, team penning, and cow work training. He is a kind and quiet teacher and loves to work hard to please his riders. He also is happy to do some low level dressage and English flat work if needed.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Lucca.

"Lucca" Leucojum

2004, Gray, Dutch Warmblood Gelding, 15.3 Hands

Lucca comes from a show jumping background. He is super fun to jump and loves to teach his riders to help them learn and grow. He also has been doing great in our dressage classes working on First level movements and schooling some upper levels.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Mason.

Mason

2008, Bay, Quarter Horse/Arabian Cross Gelding, 14.3 Hands

Mason is a sweetheart who loves doing a variety of things in our program. Trail riding is his favorite activity, but he also enjoys jumping, western, and lower level dressage.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Mufasa.

"Mufasa" Laurel King Mufasa

2003, Bay, Morgan Gelding, 14.3 Hands

Mufasa is a curious and friendly guy and he loves to try hard and please his riders. He enjoys doing dressage and is enjoys teaching riders Training and First level movements. Over the past couple of years we started putting some western training on him and it has become his favorite thing to work on and teach riders. Having a nice little jog and a lovely lope makes him a favorite.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Mulan.

"Mulan" Better than a Boyfriend

2002, Black and White Paint, Friesian/Paint Cross Mare, 14.1 Hands

Mulan is small but mighty and is a favorite of both students and instructors due to her smooth gaits and sweet personality. She carries both beginners and more advanced dressage riders. Whether she is teaching a new rider or competing training level she is sure to win your heart.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Otto.

"Otto" Knights Dream

2004, Black and White Paint, Friesian/Paint Cross Gelding, 16.0 Hands

Otto is one of our upper level dressage horses and allows our students to compete first and second level dressage and school some third level movements. He has a strong work ethic and is a favorite among the barn for both instructors and students.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Rio.

"Rio" Rio Dinero

2003, Chestnut, Thoroughbred Gelding, 16.1 Hands

Rio is sweet hunter jumper gelding that is being leased to us. He has nice smooth gaits and has been a great addition to our herd to help teach students in our jumping and dressage classes.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Rowan.

Rowan

2013, Chestnut, Andalusian/Pony Cross Mare, 13.2 Hands

Rowan is one of the littlest and cutest ponies in our herd but she isn't afraid to do big things! Coming all the way from Texas as a lease, she has been helping our riders in both dressage, jumping, and has even started a little bit of cross country. She is a people pleaser and will try her heart out to put a smile on her rider's face.

"Ryan" Jeronimo

2013, Chestnut, KWPN Gelding, 16.2 Hands

Ryan is our newest addition to the herd and we are excited to have him teach our students in both dressage and jumping classes. He is schooling 2nd and 3rd level dressage movements and also has experience of jumping up to 4 feet. We are looking forward to him settling into our program and teaching the students.

Houghton equestrian program horse, Willon.

Willon

2008, Bay, Zweibrücker Gelding, 16.1 Hands

Willon enjoys working on training level dressage and jumping big. He teaches riders to have a soft, elastic connection with the bit, and when they are successful he is a lovely mover. Willon has a kind heart and enjoys the many different riders that work with him.

Photos by Abigail Forsberg '22, unless otherwise indicated.