Praying Hands Ranch has VERY SPECIAL horses and donkeys. They aren't just tools with which we work, they are the heart and soul of the ranch. They become family. Many of our clients bond with the horse thinking it is THEIR horse. Praying Hands Ranch has a deep respect for the animals that work with our clients. We take great care to ensure they are kept in the best shape possible.
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BaileyBorn: April 2004 Bailey was given her name due to the Irish Cream color she was at birth. If her owner was to name her now, she would call her “Scout”, since she is always on the alert, and interested in what is going on around her. She is a terrific security guard! Bailey loves to play in the water, and enjoys splashing and stirring it with her nose, as well as enthusiastically drawing it in, and spitting it out! Bailey is extremely strong, and has been trained to drive/pull, and has paraded with a team of other draft horses for several years. Her favorite activity is trail rides, and she truly enjoys quiet one on one time with the people in her life. Bailey joined PHR in July 2022 and is already an important member of the team! |
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ChipsBorn: 2009 Chips is a fun living and playful little pony. Ponies are specific breeds of horses and are usually shorter than most horse breeds, typically below 14 hands 2 inches (58 inches) at the withers. Some breeds of horses are shorter than most breeds of ponies such as mini horses and Icelandic Horses. Chips is full grown at 14 hands. Chips moved here from Texas. After a stifle injury, which is the equivalent of a knee injury in humans, he was no longer able to do his previous job, so he came to PHR as a therapy horse. . |
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DancerBorn in: 2004 Dancer came to Praying Hands Ranch in 2006. He was born in Iowa and was purchased by PHR at the Colorado Draft Horse and Mule Sale and has had a permanent home here at PHR. He is a very easy-going horse, which makes him a perfect horse for our program. His unique coloring makes him easy to find in the paddock, which all the volunteers appreciate. Dancer has been at PHR longer any other equine partner! |
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DiamondBorn in: 2005 Diamond came to Praying Hands Ranch in 2018 from Minnesota, where she used to be a barrel racing horse. Diamond is a super sweet girl who loves attention and snuggles. She is loving to everyone, and many of our clients and volunteers fall in love with her many quirks. Diamond sometimes believes that she is a dog and will give you kisses by licking you. |
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DustyBorn in: 2006 Dusty came to Praying Hands Ranch in 2009 from Canada. His mom was a part of the pregnant mare urine industry in which mares are bred repeatedly so their urine can be collected to make the drug Premarin. Dusty is a Draft and Quarter Horse cross. He was one of the favorite horses of Jon Hanson, who inspired the founding of PHR. Dusty is one of our most reliable horses and carry a wide variety of our clients. |
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IvyBorn: June 6, 2006 |
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LillyBorn in: 2004 Lilly is leased to Praying Hands Ranch by board member Antoinette who has owned her since she was 7 years old. Lilly has been trained in western pleasure, trail riding and liberty. Lilly is a sweet, gentle, emotionally sensitive horse who loves to help and join up with humans. She understands being bullied as she tends to be the one in the herd who is bullied. When she makes a friend, with horse or human it is for life! |
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MarleyBorn in: 2014 Marley joined PHR in 2018. We don’t know her history prior to that time. She loves attention, treats, and booty scratches. Despite her young age in comparison to much of the PHR herd, she wants to be the boss in the paddock! Marley enjoys teaching clients to trot and is a favorite among our more independent riders. She is sometimes confused with Diamond, Salsa and Lilly, but you can tell them apart by looking at the markings on their legs! |
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OliverBorn: 2002 Oliver was rescued from a neglect situation in Durango and placed for adoption by the Dumb Friends League. PHR adopted Oliver in June 2022 along with his best friend Willow. Oliver was shaggy and nervous when he first arrived but was very willing to learn and became comfortable with all the new things here after only one or two exposures! He has already become an important member of our equine team and proudly carries his riders in the arena. He is a favorite of many sidewalkers because he is such a comfortable height and walks at a great pace. |
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PreacherBorn: April 1, 2009
Breed: Quarter Horse
Color: Seal Brown/Black Star, Strip, Snip on RH Pastern, LF Pastern
Preacher was born on April Fool’s Day. At the time, his family was watching the Clint Eastwood movie, Pale Rider, and he was named after the main character-Preacher! Preacher moved here from Texas, however an injury to his deep flexor tendon and navicular bone ended his competitive career. His owner knew he still wanted a job, and he came to PHR in 2019. He quickly became a PHR favorite because of his sweet demeanor and handsome appearance. Preacher's favorite tickle spot is on his chest between his front legs. |
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RainyBorn: 2011
Color/Markings: Paint
Rainy was born in South Dakota but shortly after found herself on the Pineridge Reservation. Due to a very hot summer causing a lack of grazing Rainy was very emaciated and needed a new home. Dawn, her old owner, rescued her from the reservation on April 6th, 2018, and brought her to Colorado. Just a few days later, on April 13, 2018, Rainy unexpectantly foaled a colt. After foaling she gained weight, *but it became obvious that she had a right hind hock injury. Rainy went to Littleton Equine and the damaged hock was repaired by clipping the ligament to the lowest portion of the hock, and drilling holes in the damaged joint to calcify and immobilize it. After a year of recovery, she was able to be ridden again. Rainy came to PHR in 2021 to become a therapeutic riding horse. She is a very calm tempered horse and loves any treats! Rainy's best friend is Rosalie, so you will often see the two eating out of the same hay trough.
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RoosterBorn: 2012
Color: Sorrel
Rooster was a beloved trail horse and when he retired from that job his mom, a former volunteer at PHR knew that he would love a new job as a therapy horse. Rooster joined PHR in 2019. Rooster has a notch in his left ear from an injury which is perfect for his silly 2-year-old personality! He also has a very distinctive fuzzy mane and enjoys having his poll rubbed. He is known for nibbling on people in his search for treats!
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RosalieBorn in: 2005 Rosalie joined Praying Hands Ranch in 2021 when her owner, Jewels, became an instructor here. Jewels has owned Rosalie since 2009. Rosalie was bred to be a reining and cow horse, and her dad was Hollywood Dunit Good who won Worlds for Reining. Rosalie did cow sorting for about 5 years and won competitions with Jewels as her rider. Rosalie craves attention and gives back massages if you scratch right below her withers. She loves her job as a therapeutic riding horse and makes special connections with many of her riders. |
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RustyBorn: 2002 Rusty is an Appaloosa gelding who has lived and worked at Fairmount stables as a lesson horse in Golden his whole life. His favorite place to be is carrying kids on trails. He is a young horse with a lot of patience. He enjoys talking, especially to himself in the mirror. Rusty joined PHR in September 2022 and has already won the hearts of many because of his friendly and affectionate personality! |
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SalsaBorn: 2005 Salsa was a family horse at a neighboring property. Her riders grew up and her owner thought she would enjoy life as a therapy horse. After a stay at For the Love of Aria to be treated for laminitis, she joined the herd at PHR in January of 2022. She is famous for her ability to open gates and stall doors! |
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SenecaBorn: April 28, 2007 Lady Seneca joined the herd at PHR in July 2022. Her mother was a dapple-grey Percheron, and her father a black Percheron from North Dakota. Her mother’s name is Lady Ruby Seka, and Lady Seneca was named after the American Indian Seneca Nation, which means “People of the Great Hill”. Seneca is 18H high, and very powerfully built. She is a complete extrovert, and loves being in the middle of any activity. She loves to pull and parade, and especially loves to “meet and greet” people, after events. She is very curious and is eager to “help” you with whatever you may be doing. Her other favorite hobby is eating! (Oh, and please don’t tell Seneca she is a horse, she thinks she is a person). |
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WillowBorn: 2004 PHR adopted Willow from the Dumb Friends League in June 2022. Willow was rescued from a ranch in Durango where she and her friends were being neglected. When Willow arrived, she was skittish and shaggy but with some grooming, improved nutrition and love she underwent a glow-up! Willow loves to have her poll scratched and now walks up to visitors asking for affection. Because she has white skin around her eyes, she must wear a mask to protect her eyes from the sun. She is best friends with Oliver. |
