| Horse Hall of Fame |
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Mailing address: P.O. Box 14, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0014 Phone: (319) 857-4141, Fax: (319) 857-4146 E-mail: miracles@netins.net |
|
| Horse Hall of Fame |
|
|
Mailing address: P.O. Box 14, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0014 Phone: (319) 857-4141, Fax: (319) 857-4146 E-mail: miracles@netins.net |
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Ashia
is a registered Arabian who was donated to Miracles by a woman in Swisher.
He was once called the most photogenic horse at Miracles because he
appeared in so many newspaper features. Ashia enjoyed his retirement
home in Mt. Vernon, under the care of Jackie Wallace. Ashia passed away
peacefully right after his 34th birthday in February 2006.
Big
Boy was donated to Miracles in the fall of 2001. This sorrel Quarter
Horse with a white blaze was a family horse used for many activities.
In recent years, he attended the Marion Farm Days and gave pony rides
to children, sometimes three at a time! At Miracles, Big Boy was a very
tolerant gentleman. He passed away peacefully in 2004. DOB: 1983. 
Buddy
had a special patience with riders who have trouble controlling their
bodies -- or their enthusiasm! For 10 years, we counted on our Quarter
Horse Buddy to be calm and patient in any situation. Boisterous games,
unexpected movements, or the loud cheers of an excited rider were all
in a day's work for Buddy. Buddy is half brother to Sonny. Born in 1980,
he passed away peacefully in November 2005.
Cash
came all the way from Nebraska to be a Miracles horse! His owner, Bryn
Geerdes, saw our website and was so impressed, she hauled him five hours
to donate him! Cash is a very tall, gray Quarter Horse with a black
mane and tail. He was used in rodeos as a roping and barrel horse. He
has a "been there/done that" attitude and became a favorite
with exercise riders. He is a great-grandson of Kentucky Derby winner
Bold Ruler.Cash retired in 2007 to Joyce's ranch near Iowa City.
Chief
Pilot is a red Appaloosa was purchased in 1998 with money from the
Noon Pilot Club of Johnson County. We are very grateful for this donation
as Chief was one of Miracles' most versatile and "usable"
horses. He carried almost any rider, and through his laid-back nature,
taught many students to become better riders. He retired in 2006 to
Alysia Haman's family farm. DOB: 1985.
Dakota is a paint gelding, with patches of gold on white. The
clown of the group, he added a new dimension of fun & frivolity
to our herd. Horseplay takes up a great deal of Dakota's pasture time.
However, in the arena and barn, Dakota is very calm with a "down-to-business"
attitude. Dakota was donated to Miracles in 1999 by his college-bound
owner. He retired to Sue's house near Solon in 2009. DOB: 1989. 
Duan
(pronounced dune) came to us in 2004 when his college-student owner
became too busy to give him the attention he needed. Duan came with
extensive dressage training and a love of people—especially people
who took the time to find his special itchy spot. Duan bonded with Miracles
volunteer, Loryn Smith, and when it was time for Duan to retire, Loryn
was very happy to provide him a new home. Duan moved with Loryn to Madison,
WI in 2006. Loryn reports that “Duan is very happy in his new
home. He gets the 'one owner' attention from me that he needs in order
to be a good therapy horse. He is being used in classes at Three Gaits
Therapeutic Riding Center in Madison. The independent riders love him
and his personality is a favorite with the volunteers. I am glad that
I get to see and ride my favorite Miracles horse as it has let me keep
a piece of Miracles in my new home.”
Duke is
a well-built bay Quarter Horse who joined the Miracles herd in the fall
of 2000 and retired in 2003. Duke was previously used as a team penning
horse and neck reins very well. He trained in classes during spring
2001 and carried our larger riders until 2003, when he received a new
home and a new name. His new owner, who wishes to remain anonymous,
lovingly renamed him "Dollar" after the horse of "The
Duke," John Wayne. 
Hombre,
a Quarter Horse, was donated to Miracles in Motion in 1999. Hombre was
ideal for our independent riders because he listened so carefully to
their commands. He was also a wonderful horse on which to learn how
to canter. Hombre retired in 2002 to Erin and Tim Hazen's farm, where
he spent the rest of his days grazing in big fields of grass and trotting
around with his old friends Kip and Whitney. He passed away peacefully
at the ripe old age of 30.
Leo was acquired by MIM through a donation from Civitan —
he was one of the first horses purchased that way. He was the son of
Sweet Cindy, owned by Dr. Mary. He was pretty sweet and the favorite
of one of the young adult women riders at one time. He was very
trustworthy and a good solid horse who was large enough for bigger riders.
Mike,
a 17-year-old Fjord, joined our herd in 2005. Short and sturdy, he was
just the right size for our program and was easygoing and patient with
students. He returned to his owner in northeast Iowa to retire in 2009.
Nessie
- Finesse "Nessie", a gray, registered Arabian, joined Miracles in 1999
and retired in 2001. He quickly became a favorite of volunteers and
students alike, with his beautiful long mane and tail and classic Arabian
head. Nessie is usually very calm, but when nervous he finds solace
in chewing on his bit or licking his handler. Previous careers include
trail horse and show horse. Nessie was partially donated by his previous
owner; his purchase and continued support came from the generosity of
the Collins Employees United Fund. Nessie resided with the family of
Alysia Haman, one of our students, until he passed away in January 2009.
DOB: 5-4-83. This photo is from 2007.
Nugget traveled from Florida with his owner, Wendy Larkin, and
ended up in Iowa at Upmier Stables. Nugget was purchased as part of
a driving team and a mount for Wendy’s young children. In 2008, Wendy
realized that her children’s desire to ride did not match Nugget’s need
to keep busy, so she called Miracles to arrange a lease. Nugget worked
in TR classes and hippotherapy and was also part of the driving team.
He retired in 2009.
Ralston, a Tobiano Pinto pony, has the distinction of being the
only Miracles horse found online. In 2007, MIM instructor Rosemary Oliver
was surfing the net looking for a pony that her company, Ralston Foods,
could sponsor. As luck would have it, this pinto pony was in North Liberty,
Iowa! Ralston had served as a rental pony with many riders and hours
under the saddle. He was purchased with funds donated by Ralston Foods.
MIM valued his narrow frame and smooth gaits for TR and Leg Up. Ralston
was born in 1996. He retired in 2009 to Julia's place near Mt. Vernon.
Sam,
a grey Foxtrotter cross, was ideal for Miracles in Motion’s smaller
riders. At only 14 hands high, he is the ideal height for sidewalkers,
but walked fast.Sam’s favorite activity by far, though, was being
groomed. We loved him for his generous personality and impeccable manners.
Sam was donated to Miracles in Motion in 2004 by Tina Murphy of Kalona.
He passed away in 2010.
Shamrock
is among the MIM hall of fame of horses. This bay pony joined Miracles
in January 2000. He joined us with years of experience in teaching children
to ride. Shamrock competed in dressage and was ridden English for many
years.His previous owner outgrew her beloved pony and hoped that he
would benefit our students with his kind temperament and extensive training.
Indeed, he was a solid member of our herd and much beloved before passing
away at Miracles in late 2009. 
Slugger, our tiny bay pony for many years, was more inviting
to small children than our full sized horses. Slugger loved to be hugged
and had a big heart in his small body. With his short little legs, he
had to take a few extra steps to walk around the arena, but he marched
along with the others and finished every relay race! Slugger joined
the herd in 1998. He passed away in October 2007. DOB: 1985
Sonny was purchased in 1994 with money from Perot Systems Corporation
and the Johnson County Optimists Club. He is a Quarter Horse, half brother
to Buddy, and shares the same birth day with Nessie. His previous career
was in team penning, but he's adapted remarkably well to the life of
a therapy horse. His special talent is with riders who need to neck
rein or need a sturdy western-style saddle. Sonny was the "old
man" of the herd, having been at MIM for 15 years -- longer than
any other horse. He retired to Joyce's ranch. DOB: 05-04-1983.
Speckles'
color suggests Appaloosa; his gait suggests Tennessee Walker, thus we
called him a Walkaloosa! Speckles came to Miracles in the summer of
2000. He was used as a trail horse and has previously worked at a camp.
Sidewalkers appreciate his modest height, and his sturdy build and smooth
gait make him a natural therapeutic horse. Speckles was purchased with
money from The Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation. He retired
in 2004. DOB: 1986. 
Toby, a
tall bay Thoroughbred, stayed at Miracles for a short time in 2001 and
2002. His sweet personality and kind nature made him a favorite with
the horse committee volunteers and students. Toby had an illustrious
career as a Pony Club and lesson horse before arriving at Miracles.
He retired in 2002.
Twiggy
was one of our early steeds, donated by Carol B. She was a mare just
big enough to be a horse. Today, Miracles accepts only geldings into
the herd.
Whitney, a grey Thoroughbred/Connemara cross, served many MIM
riders since 1997 and brought a bit of eleganc to MIM. He officially
retired in October 2001. Whitney had a strong personality, the kind
of horse who challenged the independent riders to do things right, but
also took care of riders who needed more assistance. He imagined himself
to be the boss of the herd (when we all know Buddy was the real boss),
and he pranced around on crisp fall days like a yearling. He found a
retirement home with Erin and Tim Hazen at their acreage in Solon. Whitney
also imagined himself the boss there, and Kip was too polite to tell
him otherwise. DOB: 1980. Whitney passed away in 2009.