The Herd
Chessie
Foaled and raised on a farm in Queen Anne County in 2004. She grew up as “Sharpie” a jet black Tennessee Walker.
SHe was gifted to the ranch as a companion to Dixie back in 2019. Since the first day she came to the farm (when this photo was taken) she has shown herself to be the most loveable horse you will ever get to be around.
Chessie has spent quite a bit of time in shows, so she is a very talented horse and still she loves beginner riders and is super patient with clients new to horses. While she has started to deal with some chronic aches and pains, she is plenty active, and loves treats and spending time with her little man Smokey.
Her sponsor is:
Smokey
Smokey is a small Shetland Pony, foaled in 2006. Smokey was rescued from the auction circuit and was brought to the ranch in 2023.
He is the most gentle guy in the herd by far. Little ones love to ride, love on, and groom Smokey – and he loves it as well. We take Smokey with us into schools and anywhere else people are who want to experience the love of a great horse partner.
He has been adopted by Chessie and she is very protective of this little guy. Even still, he isn’t shy about holding his own around the larger horses.
Smokey is sponsored by:
Frank
His full name is Francoharrington. He was foaled in New Zealand in 11/20/2009 and soon found his way to the Delaware race community, then onto an amish farm. He had a front leg injury that would lead to him being placed into the horse auction. He was shipped around for several months before he caught our eye.
He came to Rising Hope in 2023 and he has been the herd boss ever since.
His size makes him a little intimidating, but once you get to know him you quickly realize that he is a very able and willing partner.
Frank’s sponsor is:
Red
His real name is Infrared, but it’s too hard to say at fast speeds… which is what he likes. So they just call me Red. He is a Standardbred, foaled on 3/11/2010 in Ohio and found his way to the ranch after spending a few years in carriage racing then working on amish farms in Pennsylvania.
He was rescued from the slaughter auction in 2023 and has been part of the ranch since. Red is the personality of the ranch for sure. He is energetic, curious, and has a bunch of funny faces to share.
His best buddy is Frank and the two of them do everything together.
Red is sponsored by:
Leo
Leo was foaled in Centreville back on 5/2/2006. He is registered as “Family Grudges” and began life in carriage racing then “retired” onto an amish farm. When he came to the ranch, we gave him the name Leo, as the lion of the ranch; brave and independent.
Like the other Standardbed’s on the ranch, Leo was rescured from a slaughter auction in 2024. He has some ligament damage that limits his activity to walks around the farm, but his easy going personality makes this a great past time for novice riders.
He’s new to the ranch, so he hasn’t had a chance to develop any relationships with the rest of the herd other than Hope who he was quarantined with for several weeks.
Leo is sponsored by:
Hope
Hope’s original name was Jetset Dana. She was foaled on 4/25/2012 in Ontario Canada. She spent years as a successful carriage race horse but an injury led her to being placed into the auction circuit.
While her racing injury limits her ability to win prize money, she is plenty able to win the hearts of our clients. She has a very sweet personality and is very patient with anyone spending time with her.
She arrived to the ranch with Leo in 2024. We haven’t seen her interact with the other horses beyond Leo, but rest assured she has proven the ability to more than take care of herself.
Hope’s sponsor is:
Dixie
Dixie was our first horse on the ranch.
We brought her home as a 2 year old filly in 2002 from Alabama. She was a Dunn Quarterhorse. She was quite the show horse who won many ribbons in western riding.
She died in 2023 and is burried on the ranch.
Reno
Reno was a mustang from the Bureau of Land Management who came to the ranch in 2007
While a little rough to ride, he was a very dependable horse who loved his girl Dixie.
Reno died in 2019.