Horses at Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center

Fancy Pants—better known as “Fancy”—is a sweet little Welsh pony with a big personality. In her younger years, she shined as a hunter/jumper show pony and even modeled for magazines and publications! Though her jumping days are behind her due to an old injury, Fancy hasn’t slowed down when it comes to making an impact in the arena.

She adores working with her “little people” and has a special gift for connecting with her riders. Fancy doesn’t mind the toys in the arena and is always willing to try just about anything that’s asked of her. Around the barn, she’s known for her adorable looks and her princess-like personality, often greeting visitors as if she were the star of the show.

Today, Fancy loves giving riding lessons and continues to be an important part of her riders’ lives, proving that she’s every bit as special now as she was in the spotlight.

Luna is a 14-year-old American Quarter Horse (AQHA) mare who brings both beauty and talent to the LTRC herd. Before coming to Lothlorien, she was a personal horse who enjoyed showing, reining training, and trail riding. She later spent time as a lesson horse in Alfred University’s equestrian program, where she was greatly loved by her riders.

With two years of professional reining training under her belt, Luna is eager to please and shows off her skills with grace. She’s also known for her wonderful ground manners and her incredibly sweet personality.

Luna loves being pampered and fussed over by everyone at Lothlorien, and she’s quickly become a barn favorite thanks to her gentle nature and big heart.

Paint is an American Paint Horse (APHA) gelding with a wealth of experience and a calm, steady presence. Earlier in his career, he spent many years as a 4-H show horse and later as both a kid’s show and lesson horse. Now, he brings that solid foundation to LTRC, where he enjoys giving rides to students of all ages each week.

Known as a true gentleman, Paint is strong, laid-back, and gentle, making him a comfortable and reliable partner in the arena. While he’s easy to ride, he does appreciate a confident leader, someone who gives him clear direction without micromanaging.

With his steady build and adaptable nature, Paint is the perfect size to suit a wide range of riders, from children to adults. We’re grateful to have such a seasoned and dependable horse as part of our herd.

Sonny is a mid-teen Haflinger gelding (also known as Avelignese) who came to LTRC from a trail riding camp. Because of his background, he has a natural tendency to “follow the leader,” though his steady nature and reliability have made him one of the most frequently used horses in our program.

With his stocky build, Sonny is suitable for a wide range of riders, and his hard-working attitude and strong will make him a dependable partner in lessons. He’s also known for his distinctive mustache, which adds to his gentlemanly appearance!

Friendly and social, Sonny loves attention and can often be found hanging his head over his stall door in hopes of a scratch or a snack from anyone passing by. He’s truly a barn favorite for both riders and volunteers.

Jimmy is a Morgan gelding with a heart of gold and a knack for making everyone smile. For many years, he was a beloved lesson horse in the Houghton University Equestrian Program, where he taught students everything from cross country and dressage to therapeutic riding and pony games at camp. Truly an all-around gentleman, Jimmy has experience working with riders of every level, from beginners to advanced jumpers.

When it came time for Jimmy to retire from the demands of a collegiate program, we were thrilled to welcome him to LTRC, where he now enjoys continuing his work at a slower pace. He has quickly become a favorite in our herd with his steady presence and kind personality.

Jimmy also goes by many nicknames; James, Jimmers, or Jim Bob, so if you hear one of those around the barn, you’ll know exactly who we’re talking about!

Dixie is a beautiful mare with a big personality and an even bigger heart. She has been here for a few years and quickly become a barn favorite at LTRC, thanks to her size, kind nature, and ability to adapt to a wide variety of riders. Calm and quiet in lessons, Dixie is responsive to her rider’s aids while still patient with the inevitable miscommunications that come with learning.

As one of our younger and more physically fit horses, Dixie is able to provide a fulfilling ride for more experienced riders while also being an excellent teacher for newer riders working toward independence. She is specially trained to work with our wheelchair lift, making her an invaluable part of our inclusive program.

Dixie loves attention, peppermints, and connecting with her riders, and she never fails to draw people in with her sweet, gentle personality.

Bluprint is a 15-year-old American Paint Horse Association (APHA) mare who brings a unique and versatile background to the LTRC herd. Originally from Washington State, she was first trained in mounted riflery before transitioning into life as a riding horse.

She later spent four years at Houghton College, where she gained experience in western riding, trail work, and even first-level dressage. Bluprint is known for her sweet personality and easygoing nature—she takes everything in stride and is truly “cool with just about anything.”

We’re thrilled to have Bluprint join our program and look forward to our riders getting to know her!