Our Herd
Partners in Everything We Do
The horses are at the heart of Barn School. Our founding herd will be selected intentionally, with each horse bringing different strengths, experiences, and ways of connecting with people. The profiles below reflect the general size, type, and qualities we anticipate needing to build a balanced and capable herd. While breed and height may vary, soundness, health, character, training, and suitability for each horse’s intended role will remain at the forefront of every selection.
Ideal height: 13.0–14.2hh
Potential breeds/types: Welsh Pony, Connemara, Quarter Pony, Haflinger or a quality pony cross
The smallest member of the founding herd would create a welcoming first experience for young children while also being large and capable enough to remain useful as riders grow. We would look for an exceptionally steady, patient pony who is comfortable with children moving around them, being groomed by multiple small hands, participating in groundwork activities, and quietly carrying riders on the lead line.
Beyond Little Hooves, this pony would be an important part of our lesson and camp programs for smaller riders. The ideal pony would be experienced, forgiving and confident in a variety of environments—including the arena and trails—without becoming dull or disconnected from their rider.
Primary role: Little Hooves · Lead-line riding · Children’s lessons · Camps · Trails
The Little Hooves Pony
Ideal height: 14.2–15.1hh
Potential breeds/types: Quarter Horse, Paint Horse, Morgan, Appaloosa or a steady stock-horse cross
This is the horse we want someone to meet when they're nervous, inexperienced, or simply need a little extra reassurance. The Confidence Builder would be selected for consistency, patience and predictability, with enough experience to calmly handle beginner mistakes without losing responsiveness.
A medium-sized horse also makes this role particularly versatile—approachable for older children and teens while still capable of carrying many adults. We would look for a horse comfortable working in an arena, navigating trails, standing quietly for grooming and mounting, and moving between individual lessons and group environments without becoming overwhelmed.
The goal isn't simply a horse that's “quiet.” We want a horse who is kind, educated and communicative, giving riders the opportunity to learn rather than simply being carried around.
Primary role: Beginner lessons · Camps · School programs · Trail rides · Community programs
The Confidence Builder
Ideal height: 15.0–16.0hh
Potential breeds/types: Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred cross, Warmblood cross, Morgan, Appendix or similar riding-horse type
As riders develop, they need a horse capable of teaching greater precision. The Teacher would be one of the more educated horses in the herd—responsive to the rider's seat, leg and rein aids while remaining forgiving enough for someone who is still learning.
This horse gives intermediate riders somewhere to progress. Rather than immediately outgrowing the school herd once they've mastered the basics, riders can begin developing balance, feel, independent decision-making and more refined communication.
The Teacher could also become particularly valuable in the high-school equestrian program and partial-lease program, where riders have the consistency to build a deeper partnership with an individual horse.
Primary role: Intermediate lessons · Leases · High-school program · Camps · Trails
The Teacher
Ideal height: 15.0–15.3hh
Potential breeds/types: Quarter Horse, Paint, Appaloosa, Morgan, Mustang or a well-rounded crossbred horse
The All-Rounder would be exactly what the name suggests: the horse who is comfortable doing a little bit of everything.
We would look for a confident, adaptable horse who can give a riding lesson one day, participate in a school program the next, head out on the trail on the weekend, and comfortably interact with groups on the ground. This horse doesn't necessarily need to be the most highly trained member of the herd; their greatest strength is versatility.
Because Barn School offers many different pathways into horses, horses like this give us tremendous flexibility while allowing workloads to be distributed across the herd rather than relying too heavily on one or two particularly dependable horses.
Primary role: Lessons · Leases · Camps · Trails · School programs · Private experiences
The All-Rounder
Ideal height: 15.3–15.3hh
Potential breeds/types: Morgan, Quarter Horse, Paint, Mustang, Gypsy/Vanner cross or another people-oriented individual
The Connector represents something particularly important about Barn School: a horse's value is not determined solely by what they can do under saddle.
We would look for a horse who genuinely enjoys interacting with people and is particularly suited to quieter, relationship-centered experiences. They should be expressive enough for participants to learn to observe body language, boundaries and communication, while remaining emotionally steady and comfortable with people who may have little or no horse experience.
This horse could become especially valuable to equine-assisted coaching, practitioner-led therapeutic services, recovery and mental-health partnerships, and other community programs. Ideally, they would still be comfortable performing some mounted work, giving us flexibility without requiring riding to be their primary contribution.
Primary role: Equine-assisted coaching · Practitioner programs · Community partnerships · Groundwork · Selected lessons
The Connector
Ideal height: 16.0–17.0hh
Potential breeds/types: Draft, Percheron cross, Belgian cross, Shire cross, Irish Draught, draft-cross or another substantial riding type
The largest member of the herd would expand both who Barn School can comfortably serve and the kinds of experiences we can provide.
This horse could accommodate some taller or larger adult riders for whom our smaller horses aren't appropriate, subject to the individual horse's build, fitness, tack fit and comfortable carrying capacity. Their size can also create an extraordinary groundwork experience: learning to communicate with and earn the cooperation of such a large animal can make concepts like awareness, clarity and trust very tangible.
Despite the name, size alone isn't enough. We'd be looking for an exceptionally sensible, well-trained individual who is comfortable around groups and capable of participating in the varied environment Barn School creates.
Primary role: Adult lessons · Trail rides · Camps · Community programs · Groundwork · Private/group experiences
