Sponsor a Horse

Bjorn

Before coming to Utah, Bjorn was a lesson horse up in Wisconsin where he had extensive training and a variety of riders which helped him in becoming a therapy horse. Bjorn is not your typical fjord, he stands a stout 15.1 hands, has withers and like all the fjords on the ranch loves attention and his food. Bjorn has made a great addition to our herd here at the ranch.

Sponsor Bjorn

Brego

Brego is our gentle giant. Standing close to 16 hands, his previous career was the headless horseman’s horse for the local Sleepy Hollow adventure. His training to follow a wagon full of screaming guests at night while riding through the woods proved to be just what we where looking for in a therapy horse.

Sponsor Brego

Captain

Captain comes to us from an Amish community in northwest Missouri where he was trained to pull carts. He has proved to be a very versatile horse, excelling in his work in all our equine assisted activities and therapies. Captain was voted by staff and participants as the Equine of the Year of the National Ability Center for 2012.

Sponsor Captain

Clyde

One of the newest members to the herd, Clyde is a tall 16.2 Clydesdale-Quarter horse cross - he is as gentle as he is big. Clyde, while young, has shown us that he has the potential to be a valuable member of the herd with the ability to provide riding experience for our taller and larger riders.

Sponsor Clyde

Dodge

Dodge’s owner spent a lot of time training Dodge to become a member of our equine team from having his kids and wife act as side walkers and leaders for her, to making a mounting ramp and even having his kids crawling all over her and just being down right noisy and busy around her. Dodge has settled into our equine staff quite well and has even taken it upon herself to welcome Mina one of our new fjords into her corral and be her feeding buddy.

Sponsor Dodge

Joey

Joey, Patches' younger brother, is a curious sort and can be a bit spoiled. Joey has a hard time understanding why he’s not always the center of attention. With his unique whinny, he will call out to us if he’s left in the pasture while his pasture mates are out working. So, as you can imagine, when it’s time for Joey to go to work he tries to put his game face on and tries ever so hard to be a good therapy horse, just like his sister Patches.

Sponsor Joey

Mina

Mina another new member of the National Ability Centers equine staff comes to us by way of Rock Creek, British Columbia. Mina born and trained in the lower Canadian Rockies spent the early part of her training hanging out on the mountain, then some under saddle work by Orville Unruh. While Mina is still young, she seems to have all the right stuff to become a valued member of our equine staff. The staff would like to thank the Frances Burton Foundation for providing the funds to purchase Mina, and Anita and Orville Unruh for bringing her down to us.

Sponsor Mina

Patches

Patches, along with her brother Joey, came to the National Ability Center from Colorado where they worked together in a Therapy Program. Patches has an extensive driving background and is very comfortable working in many different situations. She has settled very well into her new life at the National Ability Center, which includes Equine Assisted Learning sessions and Discovery Camps.

Sponsor Patches

Rebekka Dil

We also have a movie star on the ranch. Our beautiful Rebbeka Dill is one of the Fjords in the movie, ‘The Thirteenth Warrior’. Being on the movie set provided a solid foundation for Dill to become a star as a therapy horse. Having to patiently wait on the set for periods of time to perform her scenes has been very beneficial for her role in our programs. Dill basically stepped off the trailer and right into lessons.

Sponsor Rebekka Dil

Rjuka

Raised on the ranch since she was a yearling, she is the only horse in the program to have had all her training by the Equestrian staff. During her training, the staff realized there is not much that bothers Rjuka, she always seems to maintain a rock steady attitude. We are certain Rjuka will be a member of the National Ability Center's equine staff for a very long time.

Sponsor Rjuka

Sonny

Sonny started as one of the trail string but quickly showed promise of becoming one of those special kind of therapy horses. The kind that come along every so often that have the innate ability to understand the needs of its rider and respond accordingly. After starting his summer job here, it did not take long to figure that out. Now, Sonny has a new career as a therapy horse.

Sponsor Sonny

Sparky

Sparky, another one of our Haflinger Crosses, comes to us from the Amish community in Missouri, where he first learned to pull then ride. Sparky is a young, new horse that should prove to be very versatile in our program and provide many years of lessons.

Sponsor Sparky

Tod

Since the time he got here, Tod has been laid back and tolerant of everything we could possibly ask of him. Before he came to us, he had been purchased for kid’s speed events. Not necessarily cut out for speed, Tod found his true calling at the National Ability Center as a therapy horse. Tod’s thin build makes it possible for participants with limited leg motion to ride comfortably.

Sponsor Tod

Token

Token is a unique horse. He was awarded to the National Ability Center by the American Gypsy Angel Horse Foundation. His breed is very rare in the United States and is highly valued for their calm temperament and strong stature. The Gypsy Cob is a perfect fit for our program, due to their strong work ethic and willingness to please. Token will practically do anything you ask, if his reward is pineapple.

Sponsor Token

Tulip

In loving memory of Tulip, our 25-yr old Welsh-Arabian pony. She provided over 15 years of lessons to our participants, and in May of 2020 she crossed the rainbow bridge. A special thank you to the Pat Moran Family Foundation for their lifetime sponsorship which allowed her to spend the rest of her days at the NAC ranch.

Sponsor Tulip

Vegas

Vegas comes to the National Ability Center from a varied background starting as a reining horse to doing western pleasure, 4H, trails and some dressage. Her quiet disposition and extensive training gives her the foundation to be a good therapy horse. Since arriving here at the ranch, she has settled into her new career quite well. Her willingness to provide lessons to all types of riders makes her a very nice addition to our herd.

Sponsor Vegas

The Carrot Club

Join our Carrot Club by sponsoring ALL our horses or our equestrian program at any level. Every dollar matters.

Sponsor The Carrot Club

Barn Party 2020

Although Barn Party will look a little different this year, it will be one to remember! Strap on your boots and grab that hat off the peg to do a line dance or two with your NAC family; support our Equestrian programs and help us meet our goal of $180,000 to make sure Captain, Vegas and Tod can continue their amazing work as therapy horses and helping others achieve their "I Can".  

Sponsor Barn Party 2020