Meet our Healing Herd
Take a minute to meet each of our horses below.
Learn more about how to donate in-kind horse services and supplies, or how to become a 2023-2024 horse sponsor:
Contact Darrion Cotroneo via email or call her directly at 458-329-9226.
Bud
About Bud
Breed: Mustang
Color: Bay Dun
Born: 2000
At Healing Reins since: 2024
Owned By: Chris Perret
Sponsored By Mike and Erin Hagan
Bud is an attentive, sensitive horse, with a quiet disposition and a great work ethic. He wants to form a partnership with those that he works with. Bud is always in tune with the people around him, making him a fantastic ground work horse and a valued member of the Equine Assisted Mental Health and Learning herd.
Blue
About Blue
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Blue Roan
Born: 2000
At Healing Reins since: 2026
Owned By: Alex Polvi
In Need of a Sponsor!
Blue is a wonderful, gentle old man that came to us with his very best friend King. They both had previous lives as pack-horses on a Dude Ranch in Idaho. Blue’s has an extremely calming presence and is known for immediately putting even the most anxious of clients at ease. He has been a wonderful addition to our Healing Herd!
Cap’n Crunch
About Cap’n Crunch
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Chestnut
Born: 2013
At Healing Reins since: 2024
Owned By: Chris Perret
Sponsored by Eloise and Brielle Bowker
Cap is a charismatic guy who is drawn to people and loves attention. He is easy going, wants to please, and gives 100% all the time. Cap’n Crunch loves working with participants of all abilities, but is especially taken with beginners. His patient and calm nature helps those who are new to horsemanship learn and progress.
Chester
About Chester
Breed: Arabian
Color: Bay
Born: 2003
At Healing Reins since: 2023
Owned By: Liz Hanson
Sponsored by Lynn and Arnie Myhra
Chester is a sweet and engaging gelding who loves partnering with people. He’s an all-around guy who has dabbled in a little bit of everything, including trails, teaching lessons, and liberty work. Chester is a fantastic partner in Equine Assisted Mental Health and Learning due to his attentive nature and curious personality.
Gigi
About Gigi
Breed: Rocky Mountain Horse
Color: Black
Born: 2001
At Healing Reins Since: 2023
Owned by: Rachel Preston
Sponsored by: Nuan Crowder
Gigi is a sweet little mare with a heart of gold. Attentive and engaging, she loves working with people and excels at her job. She enjoys spending time with people, something made clear through her polite and responsive attitude. Gigi’s size and quiet disposition makes her a wonderful partner in Equine Assisted Mental Health and Learning services.
Heart
About Heart
Breed: Akhal-Teke Cross
Color: Bay
Born: 2005
At Healing Reins since: 2024
Owned By: Mustangs to the Rescue
Sponsored by Charlie Wintch
Heart has a special way about her that makes everyone feel seen. She’s a quiet, old soul with the ability to hold space for the people around her in a way that is truly remarkable. As a member of the Equine Assisted Mental Health and Learning herd, Heart is enthusiastic about sharing her gift with us and absolutely loves engaging with people.
Hero
About Hero
Sponsored by Tom and Lindy Gilke in Memory of Tom Jorgensen
Hero lives up to his name in the quietest, most dependable way. Unshakably steady, nothing rattles him — loud noises, wobbly riders, large exercise balls, new environments — he takes it all in stride. His calm presence and genuine love of people help participants feel instantly safe, seen, and ready to build connection.
Ike
About Ike
Breed: Paint
Color: Bay Tobiano
Born: 2003
At Healing Reins Since: 2019
Owned by: David and Shery Mays
Sponsored By: Dawn Cofer
Ike is a big guy who looks to his participant for leadership, making him a great horse to learn from. He is steady and quiet and truly wants a partnership with his human team, making him invaluable as a teacher. Before coming to Healing Reins, Ike was a trail horse and, with his big trot and equally big heart, we love having him!
King
About King
Breed: Quarter Horse
Born: 2004
At Healing Reins Since: 2026
Owned by: Alex Polvi
Sponsor Pending!
King came to us along with his very good friend Blue and they both used to be pack-horses at a Dude Ranch in Idaho. King is a tall and handsome guy with a real heart for his people. He is incredibly steady and has been a wonderful addition to our herd!
Maleah
About Maleah
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Buckskin
Born: 2001
At Healing Reins Since: 2012
Owned by: Dorothy Forsyth
Sponsored by an anonymous donor
Maleah’s favorite thing about life is her work: she does it with all of her heart. She can be choosy with her affection but she loves to please and partner with people. Maleah has smooth, steady transitions and long consistent movement, which make her a natural choice for riders who are learning to move from one gait to the next.
QD
About QD
Breed: Paint
Color: Chestnut
Born: 2000
At Healing Reins Since: 2018
Owned by: Healing Reins
Jenn Thomas
QD has tons of experience as an OHSET horse, and she brings her intelligence and self-assurance to her work at Healing Reins. Because of her mellow, unflappable nature and propulsive movement, she’s popular in hippotherapy sessions as well as with anyone who is in need of a supportive and affirming equine partner.
Seymore
About Seymore
Breed: Draft Cross
Color: Paint
Born: 2013
At Healing Reins Since: 2026
Owned by: Kira Kilgore
Sponsored By: Kathy Nichols
Seymore’s background is a bit of a mystery, but from the moment he arrived at Healing Reins, we knew he would be a perfect fit for us! This gentle giant moves through the world with an unhurried sense of calm and an eagerness to please. When he’s not enjoying being a part of lessons, you might find him loving a round-pen session or happily munching grass in his paddock.
Swamper
About Swamper
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Bay Roan
Born: 2002
At Healing Reins Since: 2021
Owned By: Healing Reins
Sponsored By: Stefan and Kari D’Angona
Swamper is confident, curious, and loves people. His been-there-done-that attitude comes from years as a ranch horse and makes him a reliable mount in any situation. The combination of his large build and goofy, mischievous personality makes him popular in mental health and horsemanship services.
TC
About TC
Breed: Appendix Quarter Horse
Color: Bay
Born: 2017
At Healing Reins Since: 2024
Owned By: Healing Reins
Sponsored by Linda and Stan Porter
TC is athletic, curious, and friendly. He loves to go to work and is nothing but kind and polite while working with his humans. TC has some fabulous training in his background, both on the ground and under saddle, making him a wonderful partner for those who are looking to improve their riding and horsemanship skills.
Tessie
About Tessie
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Chesnut
Born: 2002
At Healing Reins Since: 2024
Owned By: Chris Perret
Sponsored by Margaret Goldberg
Tessie is an athletic mare with a diverse and well-rounded background in OHSET, 4H, trail, ranch work, and more. She loves to go to work, taking great care of her participants and ensuring they feel safe in the saddle. Tessie is the type of horse who can meet her participant where they’re at to help them grow their skills with horses.
Wasco
About Wasco
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Chestnut
Born: 2001
At Healing Reins Since: 2023
Owned By: Dottie & Eli Ashley
Sponsored By Dottie & Eli Ashley
Wasco is an old soul. Calm, brave and curious, his experience as a mounted shooting and trail horse has made him a wonderful addition to our herd. Wasco loves to be with people and takes great care of the humans who work with him. He is an excellent partner for people who are new to horsemanship.
Wrigley
About Wrigley
Breed: Percheron/Fjord
Color: brown dun
Born: 2005
At Healing Reins Since: 2025
Owned by:
Sponsored By Mike and Erin Hagan
Meet the wild and wonderful Wrigley! Wrigley came to us from Montana and has plenty of equine assisted services under his girth. He is incredibly friendly and curious and a welcome addition to the Healing Herd.
Yoda
About Yoda
Breed: Percheron
Color: Black
Born: 2000
At Healing Reins Since: 2022
Owned by: Healing Reins
Sponsored By: Paula Vandelindt
With his soulful eyes and regal appearance, Yoda is a sight to behold. He may have a cautious approach to life and is slow to warm up to people, but working with Yoda is the perfect opportunity for people to work on mindfulness and slowing themselves down. He is a stoic horse with a big heart, who wants to do the right thing and give his all.
Zan
About Zan
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Chestnut
Born: 2002
At Healing Reins Since: 2024
Owned by: Healing Reins
Sponsored By: Debra Winters
Zan approaches life with enthusiasm and a desire to be friends with everyone that he meets. He’s had a rough past, but has found his soft landing and second chance at life as an Equine Assisted Mental Health and Learning horse. Zan’s outgoing personality helps him connect with participants and helps to teach them that healing is possible.
Zisel
About Zisel
Breed: Holsteiner
Color: Bay
Born: 2007
At Healing Reins Since: 2026
Owned by:
In Need of a Sponsor
Zisle brings a steady, confident presence to everyone she meets. True to her Holsteiner roots, she’s intelligent, thoughtful, and thrives when she has a clear purpose and a strong partnership. Her grounded energy helps participants feel safe, capable, and empowered, reminding them that real strength can be calm and unwavering.
Do you have a horse that you think would make a good addition to the Healing Reins Herd?
We are always on the lookout for the ideal therapy horse here at Healing Reins. The equine members of our team are hugely important to us and are chosen very carefully. The ideal therapy horse is sound and safe, unflappable, and has a been-there-done-that attitude.
Being a therapy horse at Healing Reins is not an easy job. It is incredibly demanding both physically and emotionally. We take special care to ensure that any horse who joins our team is able to meet the demands of the job. Our herd members have had careers in dressage, high school equestrian team, 4H, trail riding, ranch work, and more. Miles and experience add up to the quiet, assured horses our participants need.
We do not typically buy horses or accept donated horses- when they retire, we want to be able to send horses back to their owner for a nice life of leisure in their golden years.
Each equine considered for our herd must meet the following requirements:
Training and Personality
Be well trained both under saddle and in hand
Have impeccable ground manners
Behaves and handles consistently working with a large number of people
Able to be handled safely and successfully by people with minimal horse experience
Requires minimal maintenance regarding training and schooling
Be comfortable with sudden noises, loud noises, and positional changes
Be free of vices such as biting, kicking, bucking, pulling back, or rearing
Fitness
Currently being ridden multiple times a week
Worked consistently for a minimum of 60 days prior to inquiry date
Be able to carry heavy, unbalanced, and low muscle tone riders
Able to handle working a minimum of 10 1-hour lessons each week
Health and Wellbeing
Be able to pass a pre-purchase exam that includes a flex test, soundness exam at the walk, trot, and canter, and neurological test.
Have no pre-existing conditions that require extensive maintenance
Does not need extensive care for maintaining weight, health, and fitness
Be up to date on vaccinations, dentals, deworming, and farrier work
Be able to live outside with other horses
Preferably over 10 years old
- Must be able to live on pasture
If you think your horse would enjoy being part of the Healing Herd, fill out the form below.
Volunteer at
Healing Reins
It is thanks to our dedicated and hard-working team of volunteers that we are able to provide our participants with the hope and healing they deserve. From preparing for and working in lessons to caring for our beautiful facility, to working behind the scenes doing administrative work, our talented volunteers make our world go round!