Helping Horses Help Kids & Others

Therapy Animals

Support the 2024 Therapy Horse Derby!

The Derby has become a fun and exciting virtual component of our annual fundraiser, and it has been a huge success! Join one of the teams and bring your unique skills to help us reach our goal this year. When we all work together, you will be surprised how you can hit, or even surpass, your goal! You can start fundraising anytime, and the official “kick off” is August 1, 2024. We will all sprint to the finish line at our Gala at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center on Thursday, October 10, 2024. See how your favorite therapy animal is doing in the derby.

Therapy Horses

Beauty

My name is Beauty. I’m one of the original horses that started this farm, and since I’ve spent a lot of time here I know how things should be done. I try to let people figure things out for themselves, and if they are paying attention they will notice all the little hints I give them about the right way to do things.

Darcy
Hi, I’m Mr Darcy! I started my life as a racehorse and since then I’ve had a few difference careers and still love to train and compete with my mom. But my favorite career by far is being a therapy horse for PBJ. I love people so much so this is the perfect job for me!
Dia
My name is Dia and I am the prettiest horse on the farm. I like to go fast and I’m slow to trust people, but I always trust my horse friends. I was born here on the farm and though I have lived at other farms at times, I like it here with my best friend Hannah. We grew up together and we will often stand around in the same stall together. I am a little picky about, well, everything. I can’t roll in the paddock; only in the grass because it feels too weird. I am very curious, but I don’t like to explore things first. Everyone can tell I’m a girl and I’m proud of it!
Gatsby
Gatsby is the biggest horse at PBJ Dressage. He is truly a gentle giant. He has quickly become a favorite with people and horses alike with his youthful personality. He might smother you with muzzle smooches or put his head on your shoulder if you hang out with him for more than 5 seconds.
Hannah
My name is Hannah and I’m the only spotty horse. I’m brown and white and sometimes green because I love to roll in the grass. I was orphaned as a baby and have spent my whole life at PBJ Connections. I am really sweet, but I do not like to be pet so sometimes it is hard to make friends. Luckily, I have found a lot of people that understand me and now I get to help out therapy sessions in a way that makes me feel comfortable!
Heidi
My name is Heidi and I live here at Taco Bella Farm with my daughter, Joy. I am very observant, because someone has to keep an eye on things around here. I can feel people’s intentions and I like to help them realize what those are. People like to spend time with me because I’m calm and living in the present moment.
Joy
My name is Joy, and I love learning about new things! I especially like to check to see if people care if I push them around a little bit, because I love to be the boss. I think it’s OK though, because most people need to practice setting healthy boundaries anyway. I was a wee baby when I arrived here, and now that I’m almost grown up I look so much like my mom, Heidi, that people have trouble telling us apart.
Liza
Liza joined PBJ Connections in the summer of 2021. She enjoys being a therapy horse working with small children and adults. She has beautiful eyes that draw everyone towards her. Liza is fully sponsored by Glenda Childres
Meyer
Hi! My name is Meyer, but some people call me Sweetfoot. I live at Taco Bella with my friends. I love meeting new people, getting attention, and grazing in a lush field of grass. I’m a sweet, sensitive, smart guy and my mama says I’m a heart healing horse!
Oatmeal

My name is Oatmeal and I live with my best gal Beauty. She’s so pretty and I’m sure she loves me too. I like teaching kids and adults to whisper and ask permission.  Sometimes they think they can push me around because they think I’m small, and I like to set the record straight whenever I have the opportunity.  Even though I make lots of jokes, I’m very sensitive and I just know when someone is thinking about scratching my tummy, so I stand very still.

Ringo
My name is Ringo.  I am the newest member of the herd and this is my retirement career.  I love treats and have been known on occasion to enjoy Twizzlers and even tacos.  I spent most of my life teaching children to ride, and I am a therapy horse at this point in my life. My best friend is Rocky and we love to work together with our horse and human friends.  Rocky and I can be seen in the field together and our paddock, and I'm so lucky to have a best friend like him!  Sometimes the humans call us "The R's", which I think is because both of our names start with “R”. My human mom, Wendy, likes to spoil me and feed me lots of treats. I will wiggle my nose when I think you might be thinking of giving me something delicious.
Sirius
My name is Sirius and I am not Serious. I’m a happy horse, I love my people, my food, my horse family, the donkeys, the pigs, working in sessions, getting a bath, being ridden, being talked to … well you get the picture – I’m a happy horse. I love to work in sessions and can be very quiet and tender when it’s needed. You can sit and talk with me for hours and I will listen.
Taco
My name is Taco. I live in a herd here at Taco Bella Farm with my partner, Beauty, and our little sidekick, Oatmeal. Oatmeal likes to pretend he’s in charge but we all know I am. I help the humans practice whispering with their voices and body language, and when they aren’t listening, I’ll make sure I’m giving very clear feedback so they understand that they need to practice whispering more. The humans even named a training after me! The training is for the humans.
Ted
My name is Ted. I may be big, but I'm a gentle giant. I am best at teaching folks to slow down, especially if we are walking together. I am a curious fella and have been known to cause some mischief, like letting myself out of my stall or dumping my water buckets.
Waffles
My name is Waffles. I love my home here in Johnstown, and love working with the kids and adults who come see me at the barn. I’m blind in my right eye so I like to make sure I’m always in a safe place. I can be really quiet and some people would even say I’m shy. My human mom says I walk quietly like a ninja and like to appear suddenly next to her and surprise her into being in the moment.

Therapy Donkeys

Fae
Fae, short for Freya joined us in the summer of 2022. She loves being hugged by people she trusts and can often be seen encouraging people to touch her. Fae is bonded with Val and often gives Val the confidence she needs to speak with strangers.
Gus
My name is Gus and I live with my adopted family, Lily and Hank. I am the shaggiest and biggest of The Littles and I like to explore on my own sometimes. I definitely have opinions and sometimes the humans call me “ornery”. I really do like being brushed and trying new things.
Hank
My name is Hank. I live with my Mom, Lily, and my adopted brother, Gus. I love to play and am very curious about things. I have even figured out how to open the pasture gate! I do not like to be away from my family but I enjoy exploring with them and having wrestling matches with Gus. I’m so glad we all get to live together!
Lily
My name is Lily and I am the smallest and smartest of the donkeys. I’m also the sweetest. I love my kids, Hank and Gus, and I’m happy that I still get to live with them; but they can drive me crazy sometimes! I like attention and will lean into you if you are scratching me in the right place. I get really itchy in the summer. I’m pretty sure all of the other donkeys know that I am actually in charge, but I like to let them think that they are so I don’t have to worry so much.
Rusty
My name is Rusty and I am the oldest donkey on the farm. My red fur makes me easy to spot in my herd. I really enjoy ear scratches and fresh Spring grass.
Val
Val which is short for her proper name Valkyrie, joined our farm in the summer of 2022. She is a little shy around strangers but is the boss donkey of the herd. She is never far from Fae as they joined us as a bonded pair.

Farm Friends

Andy, Stewart and Sting
Affectionally known as the "rat police" at Taco Bella Farm they are appropriately named after the band Sting and The Police. They are very shy, but sometimes join therapy sessions to a few quick pets and to bring smiles to our client's faces.
Huey
Huey is a friendly orange cat that recently came to PBJ Dressage from another barn and has quickly become the barn boss. He loves people and loves to hang out in the hay loft for long naps during the day.
Pickles the Pig
Pickles seems to get a laugh out of everyone from the moment they know his name. He is opinionated and shares his opinions loudly for all to hear! He will do just about anything for a snack. He's a big pig with an even bigger personality.
Prudence the Pig
Prudence quickly became the sweetheart of the farm. She loves belly rubs and sunshine. Each day, she looks forward to taking a walk around the farm to forage and stretch her legs. She is gentle and often lets Pickles make the decisions.
Tuck
Tuck is a shy, black and white kitty that just recently came to PBJ Dressage from a feral cat colony. He loves hanging out with Huey and they bump heads when they greet each other. He is a little slow to warm up to people, but is now purring and seeking pets at dinner time.

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