Donation Derby
July 1st – August 15th, 2026
Get ready for the fan-favorite fundraiser of the year!
Last year in 2025, you blew us away by raising a record-smashing $12,893 to support our herd. After a literal down-to-the-wire photo finish, Team Sweet Pea took home the championship crown. This year, the stakes are higher, and the pasture-talk has already begun! Will Sweet Pea be able to defend his title??
For six action-packed weeks, the Healing with Horses Ranch herd will “race” with your help to see which equine can raise the most money for horse care. Every single dollar counts as a vital “bet” for your favorite therapy horse, which goes directly toward their veterinary care, feed, farrier visits, and everything else they need to stay happy & healthy.
The starting gates open July 1st! In the meantime, research your champion(s), and get ready to help us shatter last year’s record. Follow along for the quickest updates on social media. Who will you be betting on this summer?
Choose Your Team
Apple
Name Apple
Breed Haflinger mare
Born March 1st, 2006 (Pisces)
Joined the herd Donated by Christine Steffen in July 2018
Likes Performing party tricks, getting treats (but sugar free only!)
Dislikes Hot weather
Most likely to… Pick up a dropped brush and hand it to you!
Thanks to the attentive dedication of our staff & volunteers, Apple is a recent survivor of founder/chronic laminitis, which is an incredibly difficult disease to recover from!
Avalon
Name Sweet Avalon
Breed American Warmblood mare
Born 2001
Joined the herd Donated by Monte Land in July 2012 (Longest of the current herd!)
Likes Big hugs, jumping little cross-rails
Dislikes Thunderstorms
Most likely to… Be mistaken as missing from her field because she’s hanging out in the trees by the creek!
This brave girl came to the Ranch after surviving the Bastrop Fires of 2011. Avalon was our Horse of the Year in 2018. Fun fact: she did not pass her original therapy horse test at another local therapeutic riding center due to the way she behaved in the barn at meal times… well, thanks to problem-solving, we learned that she just prefers eating in an open area like a pasture, likely due to lingering trauma from escaping the forest fire.
Bailey
Name Bailey’s Irish Surprise “Bailey”
Breed registered Gypsy Vanner/Irish Cob
Born June 15th, 2008 (Gemini)
Joined the herd April 2018
Likes Scratches EVERYWHERE! She’s an itchy girl!
Dislikes Being told what to do (she is very independent), her canine brother Levi chasing her
Most likely to… Follow you around like a puppy dog!
Bailey is our founder Patty’s personal horse who lives on site at the Ranch. She is a former broodmare from Lexlin Gypsy Ranch in Tennessee. Though she has since retired from her role as a therapy horse back in 2023, Healing with Horses Ranch is proudly an equine sanctuary, which ensures that all of our equine staff members have a home for life whether they are actively involved in programming or not. You will often see Bailey in view over the fence absolutely loving her current role of being a gorgeous lawn ornament!
Belle
Name Belarus S Fire “Belle”
Breed Hanoverian x Arabian mare
Born May 22nd, 1999 (Gemini)
Joined the herd Donated by Marie Tribur in April 2018
Likes Acupuncture, playing the mother role with her herd
Dislikes Being alone, unclear instructions
Most likely to… Whinny in your ear as loud as she can
This flashy, sassy girl was a three-day eventer (cross-country jumping, show jumping, & dressage) before coming to the Ranch. You can tell Belle apart from our other chestnut horses from the white bell-shaped spot on her left hindquarter. Belle was voted our Horse of the Year in 2022. She primarily works with our equine-assisted learning & psychotherapy clients.
Bo
Name Bo (formerly Rocky)
Breed Tennessee Walking Horse gelding
Born November 23rd, 2000 (Sagittarius)
Joined the herd Donated by the Beale family in December 2014
Likes Hanging out with people
Dislikes Leaving Belle‘s side
Most likely to… Come when you call him
Bo has a neurological condition that isn’t painful to him, but leaves him unable to be ridden anymore for safety reasons. Thus, he primarily works with our equine-assisted learning & psychotherapy client sessions which are facilitated on the ground.
Bubbles
Name Mister Bubbles
Breed Unknown cremello gelding (maybe Welsh pony!)
Born Unknown
Joined the herd April 2026 (Owned by Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor staff member Lola Watson)
Likes Having a job, staying busy, and being curious
Dislikes Confrontations, dogs
Most likely to… Never miss a sunscreen application
Mister Bubbles, officially, or known by one of his many monikers “Bubbles”, “Mr B”, or “Bubs” lives here on site, but is not officially in programming (yet!). Bubbles is a true mystery pony with unknown origins! We do not know his age or breeding, only that he is a certified sweetheart. He has high hopes of applying to our programs to be a therapy pony someday.
Calloway
Name My Texas Chrome “Calloway”
Breed Thoroughbred (OTTB)
Born March 5th, 2014 (Pisces)
Joined the herd Leased from Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor staff member Alexa Ball since 2023
Likes Having his nose scratched on the inside
Dislikes When too many people are looking at him
Most likely to… Accidentally hurt himself by tripping over his own feet
Calloway came to the Ranch as a former race horse! Though his racing days weren’t very winning, he’s sure won our hearts as a therapy horse, which he prefers much better anyway.
Casper
Name Casper
Breed Quarter Horse x Hanoverian gelding
Born 2010
Joined the herd Donated by the Haynes family in November 2023
Likes Being pampered, rolling in the mud, playing with Dusty
Dislikes Walking down the gravel driveway
Most likely to… Fall asleep on your shoulder
Casper was voted Horse of the Year in 2024, after only being a therapy horse for 1 year. He had surgery in the summer of 2025 to address chronic lameness, and has since been enjoying his new position as a “groundwork only” horse while he recovers. His beautiful white coat is as soft as a bunny, and he prefers to keep it dirt brown by rolling in the mud every chance he gets.
Charlie Brown
Name Charlie Brown
Breed American Paint Horse x Clydesdale gelding
Born June 19th, 2002 (Gemini)
Joined the herd Donated by Leslie McCullough in August 2021
Likes Connecting with students, hearing instructions out loud
Dislikes Being startled by wildlife
Most likely to… Lick all the sweat off your arm
Fun fact: Charlie has one blue eye & one brown eye, also known as heterochromia! His former owner helped PATH International write some of their training processes, so photos of Charlie are featured in several of their publications.
Dash
Name Dashing to Starlight “Dash”
Breed registered AQHA Foundation Quarter Horse gelding
Born April 13th, 2008 (Aries)
Joined the herd Donated by the City of Austin Mounted Police Department in 2023
Likes Chiropractors, belly scratches
Dislikes Quick movements
Most likely to… Patiently wait as long as it takes until you’re ready
Dash retired from the mounted patrol because he was not a fan of being out on 6th Street every weekend (can you blame him!?) He definitely prefers the calm environment of a therapy barn, and is his happiest when his rider tells him out loud what to do! For example, he’d rather you ask him to trot with your words than by squeezing your legs. He’s also currently working on learning “left” and “right” commands with our Equine Coordinator.
Dusty
Name Dusty
Breed Appaloosa gelding
Born 2008
Joined the herd Donated by Ashley Johnson in March 2023
Likes Belly scratches, playing with his best buddy Casper
Dislikes Working too hard, waiting for dinner
Most likely to… Kick the stall walls when he’s bored or wants attention
You can’t miss his gorgeous spotted snowcap coloring that quite literally looks like a dusting of powdered sugar.
Earl
Name Earl Grey
Breed Mule (mammoth donkey x draft horse cross)
Born 2015
Joined the herd Leased from our Program Director, Arianna Roman, since 2023
Likes Routines, attention (especially the “center of” variety)
Dislikes Pool noodles, micromanagement, fences
Most likely to… Steal your hat right off your head when you’re not looking!
Earl towers over most average-sized mules thanks to the purposeful breeding of his extra large parents. Though he previously lived in the snowy climate of Minnesota, he has adapted quite well to the hot Texan summers. You may catch him hanging his head over the fence for scratches or wanting to be right in the middle of whatever is going on around him. He has a fun, goofy personality that is sure to make you smile.
Gold
Name Invictus Gold
Breed registered APHA solid Paint gelding
Born March 9th, 2016 (Pisces)
Joined the herd Donated by the Frost family in 2023
Likes Trail rides with his human & horse friends
Dislikes Sharing hay
Most likely to… Treat every trail ride like a red carpet appearance… just in case!
Gold is our youngest herd member! He competed as a young stallion in Halter classes for the first part of his life, and his winning looks produced a couple babies who are out in the world somewhere. Halter is a type of horse show class where horses are shown “in hand,” meaning that they are led, not ridden, and are judged on their conformation & suitability as breeding stock. A solid Paint horse is one that meets the APHA registration requirements by bloodline but does not display typical white markings on their coat. In Gold’s case, both his parents were registered with APHA, so he shows how it is possible for Paint horses to carry white-spotting genetics but not display them in a visual way!
Hercules
Name Hercules
Breed Belgian Draft Horse gelding
Born 2007
Joined the herd Donated by Barbara Allen in October 2021
Likes Naps after breakfast
Dislikes Having his scheduled nap time interrupted
Most likely to… Stand under the fan instead of work
Hercules came to the Ranch after several career changes including being a vaulting horse, and serving on the San Antonio Mounted Police Department. He is our tallest herd member who is a pro at teaching confidence.
Oreo
Name Monastery Overture “Oreo”
Breed Miniature Horse mare
Born May 29th, 2008 (Gemini)
Joined the herd Donated by Anne Rule on Christmas Eve 2012! (Second by only a few months to Avalon as being with us the longest)
Likes Visiting new places
Dislikes When people reach over her back to brush her other side instead of walking around
Most likely to… Be seen downtown in sparkly boots! No, really.
Oreo is our smallest equine with one of the biggest personalities. She is the alpha boss of her pasture and often the face of the Ranch at community outings. Oreo’s registered name comes from being bred & raised by a sisterhood of nuns in Brenham, Texas at the former Monastery of St. Clare.
Peach
Name Peach (formerly Kate)
Breed Haflinger mare
Born 2010
Joined the herd Donated by Karla Moyer in November 2017
Likes RUNNING AROUND! ENERGY! EXCITEMENT! Green grass (especially on the other side of a fence)
Dislikes Fences, being told to slow down
Most likely to… Break a fence in her way (fences fear her), accidentally swallow a rubber duck just in case it’s a snack (true story)
Fun fact: Peach was originally trained to pull carts, and had not actually been ridden much when she first came to the Ranch. She was voted our Horse of the Year in 2019.
Rosemary
Name Rosemary
Breed Quarter Pony mare
Born 2003
Joined the herd Donated by Silvia Speyer in July 2021
Likes Putting her face in the garden hose when it’s hot outside
Dislikes The sound that comes from the giant power lines when it’s humid outside
Most likely to… Let you know if you’re brushing too fast
Rosemary is also known around the Ranch as “Rose” or “Rosie”. She came to us from local barn White Fences after retiring from a career in show jumping. Fun fact: Rosemary is a mother! She previously carried a half-Fresian baby named Rosebud, who still lives nearby in the central Texas area.
Stu
Name Stu
Breed Paint Pony gelding
Born 2003
Joined the herd Donated by Hannah Atwood in March 2022
Likes Avalon
Dislikes Everyone else, being touched
Most likely to… Follow you around an obstacle course with no lead rope
Stu previously worked as a trail horse at the Hyatt Regency Resort in Bastrop before coming to the Ranch! He brags the title of our most sure-footed horse who never trips over anything. Stu is extremely sensitive to energy, and thus is a fantastic teacher of boundary setting, patience, and finding your center.
Sweet Pea
Name Sweet Pea
Breed Donkey john (not to be confused with our Executive Director John)
Born 2006
Joined the herd Donated by Kiera Quiring in June 2016
Likes Scratches between his ears, socializing in the community
Dislikes Baths, flies
Most likely to… Sing the song of his people when experiencing feelings of FOMO
When Sweet Pea first arrived at the Ranch, he experienced a sesamoid (in the “ankle” area) bone fracture & wore a cast up to his knee during his recovery. He worked his way back to health to become our “Horse” of the Year in 2021.
Tucker
Name Fast Jackson “Tucker”
Breed AQHA registered Quarter Horse
Born April 5th, 2010 (Aries)
Joined the herd Leased from Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor staff member Katie Mikulcik since February 2026
Likes Playing with Earl
Dislikes Too many girth adjustments
Most likely to… Notice if you’re nervous
Tucker was previously a race horse, a barrel racing horse, and then a hunter jumper before coming to the Ranch. He’s our newest herd member who is so far smashing his next career as a therapy horse!
Can’t pick? Support Team Barn Cats!
Magpie
Minnow
