Please help us provide programs for the children!
The Horses of SpiritHorse
Many mature, retired show ponies and horses allow us to serve children at our facility located in Corinth, TX.
As of 2009, Amigo is a 16 year old Thoroughbred. He is Charles’ retired hunter/jumper. Currently he lives here at SpiritHorse happily loving on the children from his stall.
As of 2011, Amor is a 9 year old Thoroughbred Warmblood mix. She is currently in training to give driving lessons. She is full of spunk, and we are working with her to channel that spunk in a productive manner.
Princess Buttercup is a 14 year old Haflinger 14h2 pony who competed successfully in the pony hunter division. She is our best driving pony as a single or as the off-side pair where she helps train our ponies to drive. She is indeed a wonderful pony!
As of 2011, Candy is a 25 year old retired show pony who has shown all over Texas. She will always willingly give a lesson to the children of SpiritHorse.
As of 2011, Eeyore is a 15 year old Appaloosa pony mix. He is the perfect therapy horse, uniquely marked, sweet and trusting.
As of 2011, Fancy is a 23 year old Quarter horse. She is eager to please, observant of the children, and energetic with a gentle temperament.
Szeplak Fanni is a 13 year old Hungarian Warmblood just imported from Hungary by Charles Fletcher, SpiritHorse CEO. She has 9 years driving experience with four time world champion in four-in-hand Sandor Fulop. Charles drove Fanni over 80 miles during his training with Sandor in Kecskmet, Hungary in the summer of 2009. She is a wonderful, quiet horse who is now our lead horse in our driving program. She goes so quietly as a single, pair, or four-in-hand. She is helping us start horse and ponies in driving as pairs. We train our equines to drive as it improves obedience and work ethic.
As of 2011, Gracie is a 25 year old grey half Arab/half Welsh She is a former top hunter show pony. She is what the hunter industry calls a "packer" because she will pack kids around and forgive all of their mistakes. She is the sweetest pony we have ever seen and fits the description of a loving mother.
As of 2011, Holly is a 26 year old QuarterHorse/half Haflinger. She is a great driving and riding pony. One of our sweetest!
As of 2011, Houston is an 13 year old Quarter horse gelding who has had an excellent career in showing in the hunter division. He is very friendly, loves people and really, really loves carrots.
As of 2011, Magic is a 19 year old Thoroughbred. She belongs to Charles and used to be a hunter/jumper. Now she is retired and living at SpiritHorse. She is very loving and calm.
As of 2011, Merrilegs is an 13 year old miniature. He happily carries our smallest riders while doing a dance for them in the cross-ties.
As of 2011, Oliver is a 22 year old Quarter horse gelding. He is a retired show horse. His color is "flea-bitten grey" because he is grey with tiny brown spots. Oliver has a very smooth trot making it easy for our riders to stay in their saddles. He is a very patient horse who works well with the therapy setting here at SpiritHorse.
As of 2011, Pebbles is an 13 year old Welsh pony. She loves attention and children loving on her.
As of 2011, Peter Pan is a 12 year old Welsh pony gelding who has been a winning show hunter pony for years. He loves his new job because he is now serving the most wonderful children in the world. He is very affectionate and shows it by licking your hand.
As of 2011, Pocket is an 13 year old miniature horse who serves our smallest children. He carried a small child with cerebral palsy until he sadly outgrew Pocket. He loves his work and SpiritHorse is so lucky to have him.
As of 2011, Pooh Bear is an 20 year old retired show pony. He is willing to do anything asked of him and has a gentle, loving nature.
As of 2011, Rossini is a 14 year old Hanoverian, imported from Germany. Rossini competed successfully internationally at 2nd level dressage. He is the best mover that Charles has ever seen. Our riders are so lucky to have the opportunity to learn to ride on this horse!
As of 2011, Simba is a 15 year old Haflinger. Before coming to SpiritHorse, he competed in the hunter division. Since arriving, he has begun giving lessons to children and seems to really enjoy his new life.
Snickers is a 14 year old imported Irish Sport Pony that has been very successful in the hunter pony divisions at major shows. She is very quiet and very willing.
As of 2011, Socks is an 13 year old Welsh pony. At 13 hands 1 inch, his chestnut coloring, flax mane and tail, and four white socks (hence his name) have made him one of our most attractive ponies. Socks has taken driving lessons from Charles and learned to lead a carriage. He is one of our friendliest horses here at SpiritHorse.
As of 2011, Sonny is a 18 year old Palomino gelding who had the important job of carrying the flag with a child rider in the Mesquite Rodeo. He is a famous guy and loves his work.
As of 2011, Spirit is a 23 year old retired show pony. She waits at the gate to go to work and takes her job seriously. She is energetic and does not act her age!
As of 2011, Starlight is a 11 year old Paint. She is currently in training to give lessons, and may be giving some this session. She came from an abusive atmosphere, and she greatly appreciates being at her new home where she can be a horse. She is responding to all of the love she gets here.
As of 2011, Tigger is a 14 year old red Roan pony who had previously been ridden western. He has a spunky personality and enjoys running up and down the trails.
As of 2011, Tim Tam is a 23 year old Grade horse. He used to be a barrel horse. When giving lessons with the children he’s a saint and does anything asked of him.
As of 2011, Whistle is a 14 year old Quarter horse who has been trained for reining. She is a very quiet bay and a favorite of many SpiritHorse riders. She has an extremely bouncy trot that the autistic children really love.
Zen is a 20 year old Fresian. These wonderful horses were used to carry the knights in the middle ages who were wearing heavy armor. They are very gentle and can carry much weight. Zen has a history of dressage as well as carriage driving competition. He is our largest horse, weighing 1,800 pounds. He is already loved by the entire SpiritHorse International staff and all of the clients he has been assigned to. He loves his new job!
As of 2011, Ziggy is an 13 year old Welsh pony. He is great for driving, sweet and even tempered, and willing to work.
As of 2011, Zoe is a 14 year old Hanovarian imported from Germany. She is in training to learn how to be a good therapy horse. She enjoys her freedom and is coming along nicely in her training.
In Loving Memory
On March 31, 2009, we lost our dear pony Snowflake to natural causes at age 32. A beloved member of the SpiritHorse family since the very beginning, Snowflake happily served hundreds of children and will be sorely missed. Ponies like Snowflake are nothing short of angels, and we are blessed to have known her for so long. Snowflake was laid to rest underneath the mulberry tree in the back pasture.
In providing a home to old, retired show ponies and faithful horses, we are always prepared for the inevitable passage of these ‘therapists’ earning their wings in heaven. We would like to honor these SpiritHorse family members.
- Big Brown
- Ella
- Fudge
- Hershey
- JellyBean
- Kobi
- Lollipop
- Macaroni
- Mickey Mouse
- Pajamas
- Peppermint
- Peaches
- Prince
- Raider
- Snowflake
- Sterling
Retired horses/ponies
- Apple
- Braveheart
- Valentino
The Rainbow Bridge
inspired by a Norse legend
By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.
© 1998 Steve and Diane Bodofsky. All Rights Reserved.
