Equine Partners
LoveWay is home to a herd of exceptional horses who are specially trained to make compassionate connections with our riders.
Meet the LoveWay herd
Therapy horses are incredible. They are patient, tolerant, good humored, well trained, and sound both mentally and physically. As you can imagine, these animals are very hard to come by, so once we get them on our team, we try our hardest to keep them happy, healthy, and here! Their well-being is our top priority. Learn more about our very special horses below!
Shanna
1994 Morgan/Quarter Horse
Cross Mare
Joined LoveWay: June 2008
Color: Liver Chestnut
Donated by: Emie & Ellen Lehman
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Adam & Katherine Christoffersen
Lakokta
Viaggio
Junior
2003 Appendix Quarter Horse Gelding
Joined LoveWay: March 2014
Color: Seal Brown
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Airxcel
Lippert
W.R. Hall Insurance
Elsa
2005 Haflinger Mare
Joined LoveWay: November 2015
Color: Flaxen Chestnut
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Alpha Systems
Mark & Diane Kritzman
Welch Packaging
Kayla
2003 Paint Mare
Joined LoveWay: September 2018
Color: Chestnut & White Paint
Donated by: Patti Miller
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Bill & Ann Simon
Mark & Janelys Taylor
Welter Foundation
Teddy
2005 Draft Cross Gelding
Joined LoveWay: November 2018
Color: Bay Roan
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
BZ Automotive Group
Middlebury Animal Clinic
Wilbur & Sarah Bontrager
Lucky
2008 Haflinger Mare
Joined LoveWay: February 2019
Color: Light Chestnut
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Century Foam
Mike & Lisa Graber
Winnebago Towables
Dolly
2006 Morgan/Belgian Cross Mare
Joined LoveWay: March 2019
Color: Chestnut
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Community Foundation of Elkhart County
MORryde International
Pam
2004 Percheron Mare
Joined LoveWay: July 2019
Color: Black
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Dan & Karen Oakley
Chris & Jeff Wysong
Bonnie
2002 Draft Cross Mare
Joined LoveWay: October 2019
Color: Black
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Dave & Tammy Obendorf
Northwest Interiors
Buddy
2010 Quarter Horse Gelding
Joined LoveWay: April 2020
Color: Bay
Leased by: Leonard Farmwald
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
David & Dawn Weed
Rinker Family Foundation
Cindy
2004 Pony Mare
Joined LoveWay: June 2020
Color: Chestnut & White Paint
Leased by: Lily Thomas
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
First State Bank
Patrick
Ranger
2004 Quarter Horse/Standardbred Cross Gelding
Joined LoveWay: August 2020
Color: Bay
Leased by: Daniel Whetstone
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Horizon Transport
Ranger Distribution
Gypsy
2003 Appaloosa/Arabian Cross Mare
Joined LoveWay: August 2020
Color: Chestnut
Leased by: Beth Hochstetler
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Jayco
RiverPark
Otto
2016 Paint Gelding
Joined LoveWay: January 2021
Color: Paint
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Jeff & Melissa Rodino
Roshan & Cari Patel
Eva
2003 Fjord Mare
Joined LoveWay: February 2021
Color: Dun
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Jones Petrie Rafinski
Ross & Emily Hougland
Milo
2009 Paint Gelding
Joined LoveWay: October 2021
Color: Medicine Hat
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Keystone RV
The Matt Arnold Family
Roan
2003 Quarter Horse Mare
Joined LoveWay: December 2021
Color: Roan
Sponsored at Derby Day 2022 by:
Kip & Angela Ellis
Travel Star
Do you know LoveWay’s next equine partner?
Do you know of a horse that would be a good fit for our herd? We are always seeking equine partners that are donated, leased or otherwise gifted to LoveWay.
Learn more about what we’re looking for in our herd below.
Age & Conformation
Age: 7+ years old
Gender: Geldings & mares accepted
Soundness & Conformation: Therapy horses work hard! They need to be reliably sound with no history of chronic illness or injury. They need a free-moving, rhythmic stride at the walk, trot, and canter. Movement is so important to our riders.
Personality & Temperament
Our ideal horses have a “take it all in stride” attitude.
They should be calm and quiet for grooming in cross-ties, tacking, mounting, and should be patient while they are working. We stop and stand frequently during class while riders complete activities or games. We also frequently conduct our lead-line classes with side-walkers on both sides of the horse to support the rider.
LoveWay’s ideal therapy horses should react positively to children and adults, women and men.
Therapy horses should be comfortable in a busy environment where they will interact with many people of all abilities, levels of horse experience, and levels of energy.
TRAINING & BACKGROUND
Successful LoveWay therapy horses come from all backgrounds!
Horses who have excelled in our programs have been 4-H mounts, lesson ponies, show horses, and more!
We have found that horses who have had a variety of experiences tend to be most comfortable in our busy barn.
OUR HORSES ARE OUR HEART.
The growth in our arena wouldn’t be possible without the compassionate connection that happens between horses and our riders.
Have a horse in mind?
Reach out to LoveWay’s equine director using the form below so we can learn more about whether the horse would be a good fit for our program. You can also download a copy of our equine application.