Meet Our Horses
Victory
Victory is a beautiful Palomino gelding who arrived at Hoppin’ Horse Farm in 2013, thin and malnourished with little to no training. Today, he is an essential part of our therapy programs, having the knack for knowing a rider’s ability. He rules his herd, is a favorite with kids and loves neck hugs. He would love for someone to sponsor his annual care.
Scout
Scout is a wonderful buttermilk buskin who was donated by Ann Barker after she adopted him from a local rescue. He was barely 2 years old and malnourished, but after 4 years at Wild Hearts, he has become a beautiful steed and is the first to greet you at the gate. He is very curious and loves working with our special-needs clients.
Shiloh
Shiloh has a heart of gold born from situations unknown. He came to us underweight and untrusting. His body has blossomed, while his heart and mind are ready to be tapped. While it is obvious that he suffers from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder, it provides a foundation for him to truly understand our Veteran population. His kind and willing spirit is a breath of fresh air for those who have the honor of working with him. Shiloh is approximately 14.5 hands and about 11 years old.
Clara
Clara is a beautiful black and white Tennessee Walking horse. Clara was rescued with Shiloh from a neglectful home in the winter of 2014. She was covered in lice and severely underweight. So severe was the starvation in her herd that one of her pasture mates did not make it after being rescued. Two years of quality care and kind, considerate horsemanship helped this beautiful mare become the wonderful therapy assistant she is today.
Thunder
Thunder is gray Percheron who came to us at age 11 from a loving environment but with minimal training. His mother was carrying him, as part of the PMU movement, when she was adopted by a wonderful woman named Robin. He stayed with his mother for six years before she passed. Standing at 18 hands and sounding like rolling Thunder when he gallops, Thunder is now 14 years old and loves working with our clients!
Ariel
Ariel was donated to us by a local Clemson student in 2016, who still finds time for an occasional visit. Ariel is a beautiful 10-year old Appendix chestnut mare and stands at 16/1 hands. She has become an integral part of our therapy programs and is partially sponsored by one of our Board Members, JeanEllen and Richard Zavertnik.
Cliff
Our resident miniature donkey, Cliff, was born at The Cliffs in northern Oconee county. He’s approximately 10 years old and was purchased for us by one of our volunteers who also sponsors his annual health care. He has been a wonderful addition to our equine staff and has quite the personality, braying when we need to be reminded that it’s time for him to go graze! Cliff was donated by and is partially sponsored by Lori and John McGregor.
Cinnamon
Sweet little Cinnamon is a 12-year old miniature pony who was donated to our program by a local physician. She carries our smaller clients helping them feel confident and reassured, while also connecting with our adults who just want to form a bond. She serves as our ambassador for anything from school visits, to parades, to assisted care facility visits. She is looking for someone to sponsor her annual care.
Kit
Kit is our resident “Black Beauty”, a Morgan/Percheron cross and is16 years old. She was donated by a lovely family who had to move but continues to sponsor her annual care. She loves soft, quiet work and is very quick to let you know when she wants something. She can always be found near her mother, Scoutie. Kit was donated by and is partially sponsored by Audra and Clint Fast.
Scoutie
Scoutie is a wonderful 23-year old Morgan/Percheron cross and is Kit’s mother. She was also donated by the same lovely family who continues to sponsor her. She enjoys working with special needs. Scoutie and Kit share a life-long bond and can be found near each other most of the time. Scoutie was donated by and is partially sponsored by Audra and Clint Fast.
Roscoe
Roscoe is an incredible Walking Paint-Aloosa gelding who was a rescued in 2014 and is estimated to be about 20 years old. This is his first year as a therapy horse. He loves people and showing off his big, beautiful trot. His best friends are Victory and Clara. Roscoe needs someone to sponsor the cost of his annual care. Roscoe is loved by and partially sponsored by Sandy Kumm.
Fiona
Fiona is a 10-year old sassy Haflinger with some strong opinions. She truly enjoys the people she chooses and will because of that, she is a great partner for her special-needs clients. She is lead mare in her pasture, ensuring everyone knows their place.
Blue
Blue is a 17-year old Percheron draft horse who was donated by Kelly Duffy. His first career was pulling carriages for weddings and now truly appreciates his retirement job of working with special needs people. When he’s not working with someone, you can find him standing at the fence staring at sessions in progress. Delsey Brown loves Blue and partially sponsors his care.
Sven
Sven is a fun-loving, goofy 6-year old Gypsy Vanner, whose nickname is the “gremlin” because he is a busy-body and gets into everything,needing to know what is going on all of the time. He enjoys working with small groups of students and helping people find their patience virtue. He too needs a sponsor to help with his annual care.
Daisy
Daisy is a 19-year old Palomino Quarter Horse with years of wisdom under her belt. She was donated by Paige Burrows, who continues to sponsor her care. Daisy is somewhat particular about her people and seems to enjoy working with kids the most. Daisy was donated by and is partially sponsored by Paige Burrows.
Brena
Brena is a stunning American Paint Horse who was recently donated to Wild Hearts to begin as an official therapy horse. She is 21 years young and in the prime of her spoiled life. She has an easy-going personality, the cutest ears you’ve ever seen, and a strong desire to connect with humans. Brena is partially sponsored by Clemson Sunrise Rotary.
Ben
Ben is Belgian draft horse gelding in his early 20’s. He is a big love bug and has become a client favorite! He spent most of his adult life as a carriage horse in Savannah, GA then became a pony club horse for a 13 year old boy until he went off to college. Eliot Meikle and Lindsay Buck purchased Ben and rode for a few years before Eliot’s job took him out of country. That is when Ben found his way to Wild Hearts. Thank you to Eliot who continues to visit Ben when he can and sponsor his care.
Mac
Mac was our Belgian draft horse. He came to the farm with Victory and Roscoe as one of the first three horses we acquired in 2013. Like most of our horses, Mac was a rescue. At the time, he was approximately 22-23 years old and was rumored to have been a carriage horse in Charleston. But a rescued horse’s past is normally a secret only the horse truly knows, and lucky for us most horses are quick to leave a sad history behind. His body condition was terrible when he arrived and we honestly didn’t know if he would make it two more weeks. But with lots of love and over 300 acres of pasture to roam freely on he made a quick and strong recovery. He was an integral part of our early programs, helping people to understand that horses can be kind and sweet. Mac crossed over the rainbow bridge in July of 2017, having had four blissful years at Hoppin’ Horse Farm and Wild Hearts. We miss him sorely.