The Rutgers Young Horse Teaching & Research Program: Graduates

For updates on RU Shivna, RU Firedance, RU The Good Witch and RU Pardner, visit the Class of 2010 page!

RU Prodigal Son (a.k.a. Hank Jr.)
January 2012- A pre-ride lunge January 2012- Hank listening beautifully on our second ride! January 2012- Executing a perfect post-ride bow! Learning to ground drive - not as advanced as RU Bonnie Jean! Lessons can be exhausting! Enjoying a refreshing shower on a hot day with RU Miss Kitty ('02) and RU Sir Galahad ('01) Photos by Donna Miller	By Prodigal Snifty Hank (Registered APHA) x DM (Belgian) Bred by Hiatt Ranch, ND ˝ Paint ˝ Belgian Height as of 2010: 15.1h at withers; 15.3h at rump Intended use: trail; driving; sidesaddle January 2012: Hank and I had our 4th session yesterday. He has "walk fast" and "walk SSSSSSlow", turning and halting down pat so we tried the trot- we were doing figures eights and serpentines in the space of 5 minutes! No fuss, not a foot put wrong. I am SOOO proud of him! He's even getting better at the "bowing down so I can get up without a ladder" idea! :-) November 2010: Even though Hank is very tall, sweet and willing, he is still not mature enough to be ridden without risk to his back. We had briefly considered selling him to a good home but found out they planned to ride him immediately. He is home and we will continue enjoying his antics with Galahad and have fun playing with him on the ground and ponying him off Galahad. He is still the best horse I've ever owned. July 2010: Hank is doing well. He loves to go for walks in the park, ponied by Dr. Ralston and Fling, with RU Sir Galahad ('01) in the rear to make sure he keeps up. Just now learning to ground drive - he picked it up in a single session!
*RU Bonnie Jean (a.k.a. Evita)*
September 2010 April 2010 Fall 2009	Dr. Love (TB/Hanoverian) x Lightning (APHA/Percheron) Bred by Ravine Ranch, Virden, Manitoba, Canada Ľ Hanoverian, Ľ Thoroughbred, Ľ Paint, Ľ Percheron September 29, 2010: Bonnie Jean is doing very well and is a real pleasure. I have started to lightly walk her under saddle (very limited trotting) so that she gets a feel for responding and yielding to my leg. All the time and effort that you and your students, my niece and I have put into training Bonnie really seems to be paying off. Accepting a rider (vs bags of bedding) on the saddle was a non-issue. I was able to get on her back and have her very responsive to steering right away. Many people ask me about Bonnie and her progress. My husband put a Rutgers banner on the barn – she is a good advertisement for your program. I’m looking forward to riding with RU Bonnie and the Colts Neck Trail Riders next summer. - Veronica, Owner
RU Mister Mistoffelees (a.k.a. Baby Boy)
2010	By Najib (TB) x 509 (Percheron) Bred by Early Dawn Sport Horses, Manitoba, Canada ˝ TB ˝ Percheron Height as of 2010: 15.1h at withers; 15.3h at rump Weight as of 2010 (by weight tape): 975 lbs Intended use: fox-hunting, hunter/jumpers April 2010: He is enjoying hanging out with the other RU graduates - Maggie ('08), Cluedo and Blackie ('06), Rosie ('01) and Miss Genie ('00) - and being reminded of his ground manners.
RU Magnolia (a.k.a. Maggie)
2010	By Dr. Love (TB/Hanoverian) x Mary (APHA/Percheron) Bred by Ravine Ranch, Manitoba, Canada Ľ TB Ľ Hanoverian Ľ Paint Ľ Percheron Height as of 2010: 15h at withers; 16.3h at rump Weight as of 2010 (by weight tape): 1000 lbs Intended use: fox-hunting, hunter/jumpers Update April 2010: Doing well with the other RU graduates - just being reminded of all her ground manners so far.
RU Sebastian
August 2011 August 2011 August 2011 NOTE: The chestnut shown in the foreground of this photo is a rescue and is for sale. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Ralston at ralston@aesop.rutgers.edu October 2009	By McCue Tux (APHA) x 455 (Belgian) Bred by Early Dawn Sport Horses, Manitoba, Canada ˝ Paint ˝ Belgian August 9, 2011: Sebastian has been started ground driving and has done exceptionally well. I've also put a saddle on him (no rider) and it was a no fuss process! He is responsive to cues and direction and quite willing. He can be a bit headstrong but we are working on that! I have had no behavioral issues or problems with other horses. Currently, he is turned out 24-7 with two other horses and does quite well with that arrangement. He has not been ridden and we are just allowing him time to grow and develop and just enjoying being a horse! He has had no health issues and is barefoot and just gets routine trims from the farrier. Since getting him in 2009, he has grown significantly and is approximately 17 hands. Sebastian is not only beautiful to look at but has a wonderful disposition. As an added bonus, he always comes to greet me in the field which is a pleasure especially when the weather is not so nice!!! I can't say enough about what a wonderful horse he is and as far as I'm concerned he has a permanent home with me for life! I'm grateful for all the work you and the students put into him it really shows!!! Thanks again for a great addition to my family! November 3, 2010: Sebastian is fine.....growing and starting to fill out more! He is a very happy boy! Always comes right up to the gate when I go to the farm. He prefers being outside rather than in his stall. If the weather gets really snowy or icy, he will be brought into the barn despite his dislike of it - he lets you know by repeatedly banging his knees into the side of the stall walls! Quite loud given his size! :)
RU My Fair Lady (a.k.a. Eliza)
October 2010	By McCue Tux (APHA) x 334 (Belgian) Bred by Early Dawn Sport Horses, Manitoba, Canada ˝ Paint ˝ Belgian November 8, 2010: RU My Fair Lady is learning to drive at Nearaway Farm. She is proving to be very intelligent and reliable - she was completely unfazed by an encounter with a group of noisy turkeys while she was out driving!

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For questions about the program or the website, please contact Dr. Sarah Ralson at ralston@aesop.rutgers.edu