Chance has been with Manes for Movement since the very beginning, joining Dr. Erin O’Mahony as one of our founding therapy horses when the organization was established in 2018. With his fun spirit, dependable personality, and distinctive forward-swinging movement, Chance has helped hundreds of children and adults experience the life-changing benefits of equine-assisted services.

His rhythmic, purposeful gait provides the increased sensory input that many participants on the autism spectrum need to improve regulation, attention, and engagement during therapy sessions. Chance is also a favorite for adaptive riding participants who are developing greater independence in the saddle, as his steady temperament and responsive nature help riders build confidence and advance their riding skills.

As one of the cornerstones of our herd, Chance has touched countless lives and continues to embody the heart of Manes for Movement. Patiently partnering with every rider who climbs into the saddle.

Before joining the Manes for Movement herd, Tater Tot served as a trusted partner in an equine-assisted mental health program in Wyoming. His years of experience, calm demeanor, and unwavering patience have made him one of the most beloved members of our team, and our true “Steady Eddie.”

With his slow, smooth movement and gentle, reassuring personality, Tater Tot is the perfect match for first-time riders and participants who may feel nervous or uncertain around horses. His quiet confidence helps clients feel safe, allowing trust and connection to develop from the very first session. Tater Tot’s smaller, steady movement also makes him an exceptional therapy partner for riders working to develop foundational physical skills such as balance, core stability, and head and neck control. Every step he takes provides purposeful therapeutic input while giving riders the confidence to discover just how much they’re capable of achieving. Whether he’s patiently welcoming a new rider or helping someone celebrate a hard-earned milestone, Tater Tot reminds us that sometimes the biggest transformations happen one steady step at a time.

Before joining the Manes for Movement herd, Bindi enjoyed a successful career as a competitive hunter-jumper, where she helped teach countless young riders the skills and confidence to compete in the show ring. After her retirement, she was generously donated by the Lim Family, giving her the opportunity to continue changing lives in a new and meaningful way.

As the tallest member of our therapy herd, Bindi’s long, swinging stride provides a unique therapeutic experience for many of our adaptive riding participants. Her steady movement and willing nature make her an exceptional partner for teenagers and young adults who are developing greater independence in the saddle. Whether riders are refining their balance, strengthening their communication with their horse, or building confidence in their riding abilities, Bindi patiently helps them reach the next level.

With her kind heart, athletic background, and love for her job, Bindi inspires riders to become true horsemen and horsewomen. She demonstrates that while ribbons may mark success in the show ring, her greatest accomplishments are the confidence, independence, and joy she helps her riders discover every day.

Before joining the Manes for Movement herd, Dolly spent her early years as a hardworking ranch horse, a history proudly reflected in the distinctive “S” brand she carries. Later, she became a trusted family trail horse, known for her steady temperament and dependable nature. Today, she continues her legacy of service as a beloved member of our therapy herd.

Although an old injury has retired Dolly from our mounted riding program, she has found her true calling as the queen of our Ground-Based Horsemanship Program. Patient, gentle, and endlessly affectionate, Dolly is happiest standing quietly while participants brush, groom, and shower her with attention. She forms meaningful connections with her clients, creating a calm and welcoming environment where confidence and trust can flourish.

Through grooming, leading exercises, and other hands-on activities, Dolly helps participants develop body awareness, balance, coordination, communication, and essential horsemanship skills. She reminds us that healing doesn’t always happen from the saddle—sometimes the most powerful lessons are learned simply by standing beside a trusted friend. Dolly’s quiet wisdom and loving spirit have made her an irreplaceable member of the Manes for Movement family.

Before joining the Manes for Movement herd, Patches enjoyed a successful career as a competitive hunter-jumper pony. Following his retirement from the show ring, he was generously donated by the Zebrowski Family, allowing him to begin a meaningful second career helping children achieve milestones that change their lives.

As the smallest member of our therapy herd, Patches is an invaluable partner for some of our youngest and most medically fragile participants. His size, smooth movement, and gentle nature make him an ideal match for riders developing foundational physical skills such as head and neck control, sitting balance, core strength, and postural stability. Every session with Patches helps build the confidence and physical abilities that serve as the foundation for future growth.

While Patches may occasionally show a bit of sass when he’s waiting in his stall, that playful personality quickly fades when it’s time to work. He truly loves his clients and takes his role as a therapy horse to heart, patiently encouraging each rider as they accomplish goals that once seemed out of reach. His journey from champion show pony to trusted therapy partner is a beautiful reminder that some of life’s most meaningful work begins after retirement.

As the youngest member of the Manes for Movement herd, Jordan is just beginning what promises to be a long and meaningful career as a therapy horse. Before joining our program, she excelled as a competitive Western Pleasure horse, where she developed the calm demeanor, exceptional training, and smooth, balanced gaits that make her such a promising therapy partner.

While Jordan is still completing her training to become a fully certified therapy horse, her natural athleticism and quiet willingness have already made her a standout. Her comfortable Western-style movement and responsive nature will make her an excellent match for adaptive riding participants who are developing greater independence in the saddle and advancing their horsemanship skills.

When she’s not learning the ropes of her new career, Jordan is an absolute love bug. She happily spends hours soaking up attention from participants in our Ground-Based Horsemanship Program, standing patiently for grooming, hugs, and plenty of affection. With her gentle heart, eager attitude, and bright future ahead, Jordan is already proving that she has everything it takes to become the next generation of life-changing therapy horses at Manes for Movement.

Sparky is a sweet Appaloosa horse gelding who has also been a part of Manes for Movements team since the beginning. Sparky started out his life as a loving trail horse for Manes for Movement’s Owner and Director Erin’s mom. Then when Erin graduated physical therapy school, she moved him down south from Oregon to be her personal riding horse prior to opening Manes for Movement. As a therapy horse Sparky is known for his sweet and kind eyes, brightly spotted coat, flowing forward gaits, and versatility. In his spare time Sparky enjoys riding Dressage with Erin, playing with his friend Chance, munching on apples, and playing in the mud (when he can find any!). Sparky has officially retired from Manes for Movement after serving many years as a beloved therapy horse. He is enjoying his retirement in a beautiful pasture in Ramona, CA with his mustang friend Sally, and donkey friend Buddy.

Malachi, aka “Mali” is a beautiful palomino paint gelding, who joined the Manes for Movement herd in the summer of 2019. Before becoming a therapy horse, Mali worked as a pony horse at the Del Mar racetrack, helping to escort the racehorses to the starting line, and then lived with a lovely family in San Diego. Mali’s calm temperament, smooth gaits, and responsiveness makes him an excellent horse to help new riders in our adaptive riding program, as well as adult clients in our hippotherapy program.

Lizzie is a cute welsh pony mare, who was generously donated to the Manes for Movement herd by Seahorse Riding Program in Rolling Hills Estates. Prior to becoming a therapy horse, Lizzie was a beloved lesson horse in Seahorse’s program, teaching countless young riders in the South Bay how to ride and beginning jumping skills. Lizzie’s smooth stride, sweet disposition, and short stature make her an excellent therapy horse for our younger clients in the hippotherapy and adaptive riding programs.

Rufus is a sweet Quarter-Pony gelding, in his early 20’s. Prior to becoming a therapy horse with Manes for Movement, Rufus was a part of a trail horse string providing rides to children all across the country. Rufus is our smallest and steadiest therapy horse, and is often the first horse that some of our youngest children interact with in therapy. Rufus was generously donated by Peter Weber Equestrian Center, and is sponsored by Vistas for Children.

Bobby is an adorable miniature horse gelding who has been a part of the Manes for Movement family since the beginning. Although he is too small to ride, Bobby often helps some of our more timid clients warm up to the horses with his small size, kind eyes, and sweet disposition. In his spare time Bobby loves to help with the pony camps at Peter Weber Equestrian Center, hang out with his friend Socks (a fellow miniature horse), eat carrots, and have his mane and tail braided by the little girls and boys.