Ace
Ace is generously sponsored by Gerrianne Nicholls for 2026!
Black Mini Horse Gelding ♦ DOB: 1998 ♦ Arrival: 2016
Ace is the patriarch of our mini herd and was the father of another one of our mini’s, Gina, who is no longer with us. Ace and his daughter were donated by the amazing Julie T., in hopes that they would be able to expand their career here as therapy minis!
Wise, calm, and stoic, Ace proved to be the perfect therapy pony and confidence builder for children who are uncertain if a mini (or horse) will listen to them. He is happy to follow any child placidly and obediently through an obstacle course or around the property, and his gentleness has melted many hearts.
During one session that was meant to help children understand emotional regulation, we brought a small group of kids into the mini herd pen. Young Festus, deciding to test the emotional regulation skills of the leaders (!), escaped! While the leaders frantically left to find Festus, Ace quietly walked up to the herd of kids, nuzzled them, and kept them calm and occupied while the teachers went through the lengthy process of catching the wily Festus. Even for us leaders, Ace is a wise, grounding force, and we are grateful for his nurturing instincts!
In our mini herd, he has always kept the peace, tolerating the antics of young Flash and Festus, and acting kind and caring toward Lillybelle and Frosty. He now lives with Frosty and Festus, whose diets are different from the other minis. Ace eats two big bowls of mush a day, as his teeth are too worn down in his advanced age to be able to chew hay. We are extraordinarily thankful for our sponsors, who allow us to provide specific care for our senior herd members. This helps us live true to our commitment that these horses are here with a purpose, for life!
Gray Arab/Quarter Horse Mare ♦ DOB: 1999 ♦ Arrival: July 2019
When Angel (then “Angie”) arrived at Exodus Farms, we were instantly enchanted by stories of her past: rumors that she had been the most trustworthy trail partner and pack horse, ridden bareback and bridleless, communicating only by voice commands. But the “Angie” that we saw back then didn’t look like a level-headed, trustworthy riding partner. Instead we saw mainly a cloud of dust as she tore around her pasture and heard her unending frantic screams for her new and only friend, Daisy.
Angel’s previous owner had a huge heart for horse ministries for children, and he always desired his little white horse to be able to minister to broken hearts on a farm like ours. When he retired, he knew it was time for Angie to step into her purpose, and he donated her to us.
As so many of our kiddos know, transitions are challenging, and Angie struggled to transition from her former loving, stable family into our “herd of misfits.” But a dedicated volunteer saw through her messy exterior and into the angelic horse that was inside, and began spending hours trying to chisel through the panicky outer layers. Soon Angie began to settle in. She did indeed respond to voice commands, “walk… trot… canter… woah…” She proved to be so tuned in to her rider’s energy level that she gives the impression that she can read minds.
These days, Angie is our single most trustworthy mount. She will delicately carry the smallest child with the utmost care, or she will energetically carry an enthusiastic student on their first ever canter.
…Thus, our angel horse is now fittingly, officially, Angel.
So many of our kids have experienced changing homes. Some over and over again. Some have been adopted by a new family, and like Angel, have taken on a new name. Transition is never easy, and maybe for many looks like a screaming, squealing cloud of dust. But the best part of Angel’s story is that she always had someone who could look through the messy cloud of emotions on the exterior, and see her true purpose and true name on the inside. Even during all the years of being a trail horse before she came to Exodus, her human “father” saw and hoped for her to step into the purpose that she is walking out now with her brand new name.
Chestnut Mustang Gelding ♦ DOB: 2009 ♦ Arrival: Spring 2022
Cedar is a handsome 2009 BLM mustang originally from Nevada. He proudly wears his freeze brand on his enormously thick neck, telling of his wild heritage. He was born in a holding pen following a helicopter round up of his mother’s herd, and was adopted by a Shingletown man who raised him and rode him on trails through the mountains. Sadly, his human partner passed away in 2021, and his family lovingly donated Cedar to Exodus.
For his first month at Exodus, Cedar looked like a giant deer in headlights. He had only ever lived with one other horse with a quiet family, so a herd of 20+, including miniatures and a mini mule, plus an endless supply of children and visitors, all but overwhelmed him. He looked at us with skeptical eyes, sometimes allowing us to come close and pet him, other times standing back defensively, trying just to understand.
As we began to get to know Cedar, two of his qualities began to emerge: first his intelligence, and second his unique balance of softness and power.
Author and horse trainer Mark Rashid writes about how a mother horse can protect her foal with such ferocity that she can ward off any stallion, while simultaneously moving her tiny foal out of danger’s way with a soft nudge of her muzzle. Horses are masters of softness and power and Cedar is no exception. His presence is huge and can be intimidating. As a mustang, he is inherently self-preserving and independent, and those who approach Cedar without direction or leadership often find themselves in front of what feels like a solid brick wall. But with a healthy dose of confidence and assertiveness, even a child can break down Cedar’s walls and discover a sensitive, feather-light dance partner just under the surface.
Just before we integrated Cedar into our session program, he attended a cow working clinic to expose him to a new environment, a group of horses, and many new experiences. He was called “the gentleman” by the clinician and won the award for cutting out one cow at a time due to that quiet, soft, powerful presence. The way he handled these new experiences launched him into his fulltime session career.
As a session horse, he is a challenge for both rider and wrangler, but the good type of challenge. He continues to demand that his handlers use that fine balance of softness and power that we see displayed in him. He is a brilliant teacher for on the ground work and riding alike. And for the handful of students that really take the time to build a relationship with him, his loyalty, friendship, and beautiful gaits prove much worth the effort.
Daisy
Daisy is generously sponsored by Bubba Van Dusen and is looking for additional sponsors to fill out her 2026 team!
Bay Morgan Mare ♦ DOB: 2002 ♦ Arrival: 2012
Daisy, lovingly referred to as our “sweet lil Daisy Mae,” is a 21 year old bay Morgan mare that was donated to us in 2012 by one of our volunteers. In the past she had been used as a brood mare and continues to carry her motherly instincts. Her former owner thought that Daisy would be great with the Exodus kids, but when she arrived we found her to be a little too quick and reactive to be a safe program horse. A team of very dedicated volunteers began a three year process of rehabilitating and retraining this little mare. It took five years of consistent work with our volunteer trainers for Daisy to be fully integrated into our session program, but she is now an asset and a favorite of many of our kids.
We have been surprised to find that Daisy has two specialties: teaching anxious children to manage their anxiety, and taking the gentlest care of the smallest riders. With most riders, Daisy is still a fairly reactive, anxious horse. It can take an entire session of coaxing to walk her through an obstacle course of pool noodles. But with a rider who remains calm and encouraging, they can help Daisy conquor her fears and learn valuable skills about managing anxiety and fear. In fact, she is the first choice horse for many of our teenagers who struggle with anxiety. They feel empowered to learn to manage their anxiety while helping their faithful partner Daisy through her own.
Amazingly though, Daisy is also our most trusted babysitter for the smallest of riders. Carrying around a tiny five-year old, all of her fear and anxiety melts away. She steps carefully and methodically, even finding the smoothest trot imaginable if asked. She will gingerly play with rolling barrels and balls, or even the dreaded pool noodles, if the small child on her back asks her to. Daisy is an amazing reminder of the power of love and how love conquers fear. We are grateful for all those in Daisy’s life who have seen this potential in her from the start and have dedicated their time and efforts to helping this little mare realize her full purpose in our herd.
Dorper Sheep ♦ DOB: 2023 ♦ Arrival: January 2025
In January 2025, we got an email about a big black horse with a companion sheep, who needed a home as their owner was moving into assisted living. It was like déjà vu! Just a year earlier we had taken in Coal and Larry, a big black horse and his companion sheep, for exactly the same reason! As soon as we met Gatsby (the big, black horse), Daisy (his sheep friend), and their wonderful owner Martin, we knew they were meant to come to Exodus.
Daisy had become Gatsby’s “companion sheep” when Gatsby’s 32-year-old herd buddy passed away, and this 2-year-old lamb took on the new responsibility with enthusiasm, trotting along everywhere in her giant friend’s footsteps. Daisy is a Dorper sheep – Dorpers are an incredible New Zealand breed that are usually raised for meat (don’t tell Daisy that!), and do not need shearing, as they self-shed their own wool each year by scratching against trees! Little Daisy IMMEDIATELY adopted Larry (our Jacob’s Sheep) into her “herd” when she got here – she truly refused to take no for an answer, breaking through her fence into his pasture with Coal and chasing Larry around until he agreed to be friends with her! When Coal suddenly passed away about a year into his and Larry’s time here at the farm, we were all very grateful that God had orchestrated Daisy and Larry’s friendship, and that Daisy had been so insistent about it. Larry and Daisy became the best of friends, and for months roamed the farm freely as Daisy fearlessly led them under any fence that stood in their way. Recently they joined the mini horse herd, when we became concerned their free-ranging might get them in trouble with nighttime predators. They now complete our adorable mini herd.
Bay Mini Mule ♦ DOB: 2019 ♦ Arrival: 2022
Festus is a pint sized mini-mule who believes himself to be the biggest equine at the farm. He first came to Exodus as a fire evacuee in 2020 and we all remember falling instantly in love with his tall ears, fluffy mane, and warm, mischievous eyes. So when his owner reached out looking to rehome him, we couldn’t resist. We had no idea how much this pint-sized addition to our herd would teach us.
Initially Festus didn’t really seem to fit in. Not quite a mini horse, not quite a donkey… he neither neighs like a horse nor eeee-haws like a donkey… we couldn’t find him quite the right companion. The other thing that made Festus a little different was that if you approached him with a halter he would run for his life! Our initial attempts to work with him with traditional horse-training techniques not only were futile, they were making him faster, more fearful, and less trusting of us humans.
Many of our Exodus kiddos present just like Festus did: fearful, distrusting, closed off… and sometimes don’t respond well to “typical” teaching methods. But what ALWAYS works for these kiddos? Love. Patience. Meeting them where they’re at. These kiddos became the blueprint for earning Festus’ trust. We learned to kneel down to his level, realizing that being towered over scared him. We sat in his stall, patiently, with no agenda, just trying to get to know him. It wasn’t long before Festus’ natural curiosity and desire for connection began to shatter his walls. If you sat in his stall he would march over and embrace you with his head in a “mule hug”. He showed us that he loved ear rubs and scratches. Once we had earned his trust, the halter was no longer scary to him, it was just a vehicle to meeting new people and finding new grassy areas to graze.
Over time, Festus began to fit in with his equine herd too. He became the companion of a newer mini named Frosty who was Festus’ inverse: bold, unafraid, and a little bossy, Festus has helped soften Frosty as Frosty has helped embolden Festus. And our oldest mini, Ace, was added to their little herd of three after the passing of his companion, Gina.
Nowadays, Festus joins sessions whenever we use the mini horses. He loves kiddos who are kind and understanding… which amazingly has been every kiddo he’s ever met! (Kids, it turns out, are far better at that than us adults.) His friendly and social personality continues to blossom, and with his newfound confidence he has revealed his remarkable athletic ability of walking around on his hind legs… which we think might make him a candidate for some miniature “airs above the ground” training one day!
Flash
Flash is generously sponsored by Yvonne and Heather Muncy for 2026!
Black and White Mini Horse Gelding ♦ DOB: May 31, 2015 ♦ Arrival: 2015
Flash’s claim to fame is that he is the only Exodus critter to be born at Exodus! When Lillybelle arrived at Exodus we were told she “might” be pregnant, but that seemed unlikely. Well the joke was on us because a short time later little Flash was born! Surrounded by love from his very birth, Flash is an example of someone who knows their worth and has no problem flaunting it. Full of tricks and quite a bit of mischief, Flash is an entertainer to the core. Kids love to run full speed with him around the arena, and if they can hang on it ends up looking a bit like waterskiing!
As Flash grew up, we decided to teach him to have some maturity… so Flash joined our driving program learning to pull a cart! To our surprise, he took to cart driving like a fish in water! Flash enjoys having a job, a goal, boundaries, and a new way to interact with the children. He is now the star of driving sessions with the kids, and the kids have loved learning a new way to interact with our horses!
Driving is an incredible visual lesson for the kids about the importance of not looking back. While pulling a cart, the horses must keep focused forward, not on the cart they are pulling behind them. Kids instantly understand the analogy to their own lives, and how important it is to keep looking forward, rather than being caught up in their past, whether that past was filled with trauma or ease. Ms. Ash now offers driving one-on-ones with Flash, Lillybelle, and Millie, as an alternative to riding during sessions, and so many children have had powerful experiences with this new way of working with our horses!
Palomino and White Mini Horse Gelding ♦ DOB: 2005 ♦ Arrival: 2025
Frosty the “party pony” was donated by one of our wonderful volunteers. In his previous “career,” Frosty traveled by trailer all over the local area, entertaining groups of children with his extra-fluffy mane, his beautiful golden-and-white hair, and his very huggable neck.
Since his arrival at the farm, Frosty has befriended Ace, our oldest mini, and Festus, our mini mule. The three share a pasture area that can be split up for mealtimes so Frosty and Festus can eat their hay (which Ace can’t chew) while Ace eats his mush (which Frosty would love to have but which is a bit too calorie-dense for Frosty’s physique!). Dietary differences aside, three have become fast friends, helping eachother overcome their weak points. Frosty’s familiarity with kids has helped Festus’ confidence start to soar. Festus’ gentleness has softened Frosty. And Ace has taken both newbies under his highly experienced and grounded wing, helping them both settle into their new careers.
Frosty has already joined several mini sessions with the rest of our mini herd, and the kids love him! He is learning a whole new set of ground manners and ground exercises – such as how to politely follow a child through an obstacle course, or over a jump – and is already very talented at being brushed and being surrounded by adoring fans, since that was a large part of his previous job.
We are thrilled to have this newest pint-sized member of our “healing herd.” Just like our other minis, Frosty will travel to community events like Special Kids’ Day and also participate in our mini driving program! Welcome, Frosty!
Black Friesian Gelding ♦ DOB: 2003 ♦ Arrival: January 2025
In January of 2025, we got an email about a big, black horse with a sheep companion whose owner was moving into assisted living. If that sounds familiar, it is! Just a year prior we had taken in Coal and Larry whose story was identical. We could hardly believe it, and we all felt like we should at least go and meet him – perhaps, we thought, we could help find them a home even if they were not meant for the farm. However, upon meeting Gatsby, Daisy, and their wonderful owner, Martin, it became immediately apparent that Gatsby and Daisy were meant to be at Exodus.
Martin and his family raised Friesian horses in Holland for three generations, beginning with his grandfather who was the town’s baker, who needed a fast, lightweight but strong carriage horse that could deliver the day’s bread orders while the bread was still hot! When Martin immigrated to the United States, he carried on the family tradition here, importing his family’s horses after they were born. His incredible life story – and the clear love that he has for his animals – touched us all! Gatsby, like all of Martin’s horses, was trained to ride and drive and has worked with children, and Martin has cared for Gatsby exceptionally since he was born.
Daisy became Gatsby’s “companion sheep” when Gatsby’s 32-year-old herd buddy passed away, and this 2-year-old lamb took on the new responsibility with enthusiasm, trotting along everywhere in her giant friend’s footsteps.
Gatsby settled in quickly at the farm, making friends with Oliver across the fence, enjoying his springtime grazing with a group of geldings and the sheep, and even “adopting” Larry the sheep into his herd after Coal’s sudden passing. After several months of “workouts” and conditioning to put on some weight and muscle mass, Gatsby seamlessly entered program and is regularly a favorite. Many kids recognize his breed from movies and media, and it isn’t uncommon for him to be the star of a photoshoot, that always begins with “mom! Look! A real-life Friesian!!!” We are incredibly blessed that Martin chose to entrust us with his beloved and stunning horse and his sheep companion.
Gilead
Gilead is generously sponsored by Elizabeth Gerry and family for 2026!
Appaloosa/Fresian Gelding ♦ DOB: 2013 ♦ Arrival: 2020
We’ll let Ginger tell Gilead’s story in her own words:
2020 has been the year of heartache for me…….so many losses, so many challenges………discouragement and sorrow seemed to cover me like the early morning fog on our beautiful river. Upon returning to the farm the first of July after caring for my dearest friend through her last days of cancer, I would walk the farm and pray, asking the Lord to lift the weight, the fog of my sadness. Mid July, a dear friend and former horse donor, sent me a video of a horse needing a home. Love at first sight?? Absolutely!! I grinned from ear to ear as I watched this incredible creature canter……how could it be? How could a beautiful boy ….Friesian/Appaloosa cross with incredible good looks and manners… possibly need a home at such a young age? The Exodus team went to look at him the following week and he was everything the video showed…..but so much more. His personality was bigger than life and he wanted to connect with everyone! He had some soundness issues that would prevent his new owner from ever showing him but he would be fine for our kiddos. And still, I was smiling…….what was it about this horse called Ghost that brought light into my sad fog?? That night after looking at Ghost, I talked to God about him. “Lord, we cannot adopt a horse just because he is beautiful and I love him…..he has to have a story to tell; I need to know he is here to reach these kids.” You see, Ghost had been bought by a woman when he was 6 months old and shipped out from Missouri to Sutter county. He was raised and trained by her with the best of care…his manners reflected that. She passed away from pancreatic cancer and Ghost found himself in a sale barn, hopeful for a new lifelong partner. He was purchased last fall by an owner that thought he would be her last competing partner….but then the lameness started and it was evident that was not to be his future. My friend had reached out to me to see if Ghost might have a future at Exodus. I sat in dark silence that night, thinking about this incredible horse…and then the good Lord brought this to my mind. We serve several children at Exodus who have come out of “failed adoptions”….children who for whatever reason have had to accept the fact that their birth moms and dads were no longer able to raise them…….then been fortunate enough to have a family adopt them for their forever……….only to face the heartache of an adoption that did not work……and to process the fact that for them, there is no forever home and family that loves them. It doesn’t matter what the reasons are……..what matters are the results………a child’s heart that is not shattered once…..but multiple times. Then the good Lord spoke. ”This horse has lived those kiddos’ story….they will get each other…..and they will make each other whole. Know this…this horse will make your heart stop hurting….as well as theirs.”
Ghost arrived on July 29, 2020. One of our followers suggested that I call him Gilead instead of Ghost and mentioned the balm of Gilead from the Bible. I looked it up. The balm that was able to heal all wounds was only produced in the region of Gilead. Perfect. God had sent Gilead to me at just the right time to heal my shattered heart and to bring light into my fog of sorrow…….and He had sent Gilead to the countless children here that just need to fall in love with the most extraordinary horse….that will not only mirror their story but point them and all of us to a love that will NEVER, EVER let us go! Welcome home, Gilead…….”there is a balm in Gilead that makes the wounded whole…”
Sorrel Quarter Horse Gelding ♦ DOB: 2003 ♦ Arrival: 2016
Glory is our one-eyed wonder! Like many of the Exodus horses, Glory’s story has unfolded the more we’ve gotten to know him. Glory was lovingly rehabilitated by one of our trainers, Lee, over the better part of two years. He came to Lee underweight, in need of a “tune-up,” and blind in one eye due to a previous accident. Lee and Glory formed a unique bond, and over time Glory blossomed into an athletic, hard working, willing partner. Glory was easily integrated into our session program, and Lee and Glory mentored countless young men together as well. But that wasn’t the beginning, or the end of his story.
Several years into his time at Exodus, our veterinarian recommended eye surgery to remove Glory’s blind eye, as it was likely causing him headaches. When we dropped him at the hospital for his surgery, Glory transformed from the stoic ranch horse we’d grown accustomed to, to a screaming, blowing, panicking very vocal horse who had completely lost his composure. At that moment we realized – we had never before heard him whinny. It dawned on us that before he had arrived at Exodus, immediately following his original eye injury, he was dumped by his owners at that very vet hospital, as he was no longer “useful.” After that, Glory had passed from home to home before finally landing at his forever home with us.
As much as we tried to tell him we would never, ever abandon him there, it wasn’t until he returned home post-surgery that it seemed to really dawn on Glory that he was truly home. Forever. Whether it was the surgery itself, the facing of his trauma and coming through the other side, or both, Glory has been a different horse since that experience. His coat shines brighter, his gaits are springier, and he occasionally offers a whinny, now unafraid to express his feelings. He’s now one of our senior herd members, as some old injuries have caught up to him. He still loves participating in sessions in moderation, and he lives with his mare-friend Kate, another senior member of the herd.
Gypsy
Gypsy is still seeking a sponsor for 2026!
Tri-colored Paint Mare ♦ DOB: 2009 ♦ Arrival: 2022
Gypsy has been part of the Exodus “farm-ily” much longer than 2022, but became a full-time addition to our session program in 2022. Gypsy was rescued and owned by one of our former leaders, Amanda, and the two of them competed in obstacle course competitions together, as well as teaching one-on-ones to Exodus kiddos. We don’t know much about Gypsy’s life prior to her life with Amanda, but following her rescue she underwent a custody battle reminiscent of what many of our kiddos experience when changing homes, before she was safely and securely forever home at Exodus.
When Amanda needed to take a long break from riding to recover from shoulder surgery, she generously donated Gypsy to our session program knowing how much Gypsy loves kids. True to form, Gypsy loves her job as a session horse.
Not only is Gypsy a loving and affectionate addition to our healing herd, but it turns out she is a fantastic teacher as well! Gypsy is a very opinionated mare who requests mutual respect and understanding. She has the unique ability to help teach students patience, clarity, empathy, and perseverance. She maintains her love of obstacle courses, so whenever we have obstacles out she outshines all the rest. She is extraordinarily brave and fearless, has been known to even help with ranch chores like moving tires and tarps from time to time. Gypsy is also an incredibly strong mare, and we are grateful that she can carry many of our older teenage young men.
Kate
Kate is generously sponsored by Karen Dunlap for 2026!
Bay Quarter Horse Mare ♦ DOB: 2000
“Kate the Saint”
“Kate the Great”
“Unshakeable”
“Steady Eddie”
“Bombproof”
I (Nina) have heard countless ways to describe Kate… and every single one of them rings true. When I first met Kate, I was told “This horse can truly do anything… you just need to ask it of her. And if she can’t quite do it, she is still going to try.”
You can pretty much count on horses to always be honest… if you make a mistake, if you ask incorrectly, if you allow your emotions to control who you are in the saddle… they will let you know. When I started working with Kate, it didn’t take long for me to realize just how obedient she was. And in this obedience, it became obvious that even more than being honest, Kate desired to be GOOD.
Just like people, horses are full of personalities; they have big opinions and lots of emotions. Kate, however, very rarely emoted. While other horses would get spooky and rowdy, Kate would stand quietly, just watching. When it was feeding time, her pasture mates would run up to their feeder, and Kate would just quietly walk up to take what was hers. When a child would climb up on her back, scared, nervous, and dealing with their own big emotions, Kate would patiently wait for instruction from her wrangler, always doing what was asked of her.
Looking into her big brown eyes, you could see a mix of patience and melancholy. Like many of the children who come to Exodus, Kate was shut down. Something inside of her was closed off, and in desperate need of healing. Kate didn’t come from an abusive situation; she was very well cared for, but owned by a young girl who did not want anything to do with her. Like people, horses are highly relational, and healthy relationships are a key component to emotional health. Horses, like kids, process through their emotions by acting out in different ways, and it was almost as if Kate’s desire to be good was because she wanted to be GOOD ENOUGH.
Over the last couple of years, Kate and I have had the privilege to work with some amazing young riders, but for me, there is one kid in particular who stands out heads and shoulders above the rest; the journey of healing has truly been for both of them. Clay and I first met my very first week at Exodus. He had high functioning autism, told me he “only ride(s) Kate”, had a fantastic sense of humor, and we got along right away. Pretty soon, we were meeting for one-on-one sessions weekly. It became evident to me right away why Clay insisted that he only ride Kate; Clay also suffered from high anxiety, and when he was trying to process through these fears and emotions, Kate was the steadying force that kept him grounded. He could always count on her to be consistent. Somedays, we would ride for a full hour. Somedays, we would spend most of our time grooming, and going on a trail ride. Every few months, Clay would have a meltdown in the arena, as I was still learning how to navigate his anxiety and challenge him to try new things without pushing him too far. As we journeyed through this, I can say with complete certainty that Kate was the glue that held us together.
Every week, without fail, Kate was so patient to meet Clay exactly where he was at. On days where I wanted to challenge Clay to try something new, all I had to do was look at Kate. Some days, she would lick and chew, letting me know they were ready. Other times, she would give me the look that said “Not today. He’s too anxious.” Kate carried more than just Clay on her back, she carried everything he brought with him. She was always ready to help give him confidence, and she was always faithful to do whatever he asked of her.
As time went on, I watched something amazing begin to happen. As Clay became more confident, Kate became more honest. She wasn’t just GOOD any longer… she was coming alive. Kate was taking over as teacher; I was just there to facilitate. Pretty soon, Clay and I were riding out of the arena. I introduced him to Working Equitation obstacles, and he looked forward to them every week. This summer, he asked if we could start focusing more on bareback riding, and the day he cantered bareback for the first time I had tears in my eyes.
Working with Kate has allowed Clay to overcome a tremendous amount of fear to be where he is at now. He tries his heart out. He is thoughtful, intentional, works hard, and dreams big. And he is so, so good to Kate.
Likewise, Kate continues to come out of her shell. If Clay doesn’t ask her correctly, she’ll say “Try again, kid.” If he does something she doesn’t like, she lets him know. But those instances are rare. Their relationship is filled with love, and I know she looks forward to her time with him every single week. Now, Kate is good for Clay because she chooses to be, not because she has to be.
Kate’s melancholy has been replaced with peace. She knows she is safe, protected, and LOVED. Just like with the kids we work with on a daily basis, building trust and healing hearts takes time… and Kate gets to show them that every single one of them are worth it.
Jacob’s Sheep ♦ DOB: 2018 ♦ Arrival: 2024
In early 2024 we got a call about a horse desperately in need of help… and his sheep who we learned MUST always be by his side. Their loving owner had been blindsided by rapid onset dementia, leaving her unable to care for the animals that she loved.
At the time we were not accepting any new Exodus horses… much less a sheep… but we could not refuse this desperate family. A group of our leaders trailered out to pick up Coal and his “comfort sheep” Larry, and each one of us was deeply impacted by the love still shown these two despite the owner’s debilitating disease. She led Coal onto the trailer, hot tears streaming down her face, and his big brown eyes searched hers for the answer to where he was going. He laid his big black head in her arms before we closed the trailer door and Larry ‘blahhhhhhh’ed his assurance that everything was going to be alright.
We are glad to report that Larry was correct. Coal and Larry fit right into the Exodus “farm-ily”. Larry seemed unconcerned that he was the only sheep in the whole menagerie. Sadly, Coal passed away about a year after we took the two in. However, Larry’s assignment here is not over, and God seemed to have everything planned out, because just a couple months before we lost Coal, we took in another horse and sheep pair, Gatsby and Daisy. With the passing of Coal, Gatsby and Daisy have taken Larry under their wing, and they are now an inseparable trio. Although Larry was quite used to being a bachelor, he seems to be warming up to having Daisy dote on him and stick close by his side. We aren’t sure yet why God seems to be sending us sheep… but we sure do love them and hope they can find their role with the kiddos too.
Lillybelle
Lillybelle is generously sponsored by Sweet Orchard Church for 2026!
Brown and White Mini Horse Mare ♦ DOB: 2010 ♦ Arrival: 2015
Lillybelle is a wildfire survior! This beautiful mini horse was able to escape her burning home in 2014 and for nine months, she ran wild in the wilderness, uncatchable despite many attempts!
Finally, a kind man who owned a farm full of minis managed to capture Lillybelle and spent some time helping rehab her after her lengthy wilderness adventure before he began looking for a permanent home for her. At the time, Exodus had no minis, but we couldn’t resist Lillybelle’s sweet blue eyes and incredible story, so when the man contacted us looking for a home for her, we said yes. “Oh,” he mentioned later in the conversation, “She also might be pregnant.”
Ginger wasn’t so sure, but not long later, on a stormy night full of lightning strikes, our little Flash was born! Lillybelle and Flash became our first “mini ambassadors” and kicked off our whole “mini program” at the farm! And recently, it has been Lillybelle and Flash, trained by Ash, who have kicked off our new Exodus driving program, where minis and ponies learn to pull a cart, teaching the kiddos a very visual example of leaving the past behind them!
Lillybelle has a gentle, quiet spirit and instictually gravitates towards the children who need her motherly, nurturing energy. One winter session we will never forget, a family of children arrived late to their session. On the way they had been in a near car accident and all three siblings were visibly shaken when they piled out of the car. Our sessions that day involved an activity with the minis. The session leader tried to gently talk to the kids, but one was crying, and another one had shut down. From across the arena, Lillybelle, who rarely disobeys, started marching towards the group of siblings, dragging her child behind her as he held tightly to the lead rope, and ignoring her wranglers attempts to stop her. She arrived at the group of siblings and shoved her face into the center of the three, and immediately the crying stopped. The shut down one looked into her glistening blue eyes. The three petted her woolly coat and she nuzzled them one by one. Soon smiles began to form on their faces and then giggles started to emerge. The rest of the session turned to fun and laughter as their day turned from terror to delight.
The book of Isaiah promises a Messiah that will “bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Our little Lillybelle, with her sensitivity to the broken and hurting, has proven over and over to be the perfect embodiment of this promise.
Lilly
Lilly is generously sponsored by Mardi and Sam Parish Cornelius for 2026!
Black Welsh Pony Mare
When Ginger first met Lilly, this beautiful little black pony dragged her owner all the way to the big barn. Her owner was the father of one of Ginger’s beginner students and had bought the pony off the internet for his daughter. Lilly is a beautiful 21-year-old Welsh cross pony who arrived with several ponies’ worth of attitude packed into that tiny frame. Her original owner brought her to Exodus two summers in a row to get her safe enough for his young daughter to ride. Each summer, with regular riding and training, her behavior would begin to improve…but when she went back home, she would go right back to her “rude pony” behavior after a month or two of time off!
At the end of the second summer, the student’s mother called and asked if Ginger would like to have Lilly – they were done spending money on retraining her. Ginger jokes that she adopted Lilly because she was gorgeous and had the same name as Ginger’s granddaughter – how’s that for a logical reason? – but whatever the case, we’re very glad she’s here! For a full year, Ginger rode Lilly to get her ready for the kids – to the great amusement of all of our students and volunteers. Toward the end of that year, Lilly was still exhibiting a bit too much “attitude” to go to work as an honest school pony. Ginger, fed up (and, possibly, tired of riding with her feet almost touching the ground!), decided, “She’s got 21 days. If she doesn’t shape up and become honest, she’s going to someone’s field to be a lawn ornament somewhere.” We’re fairly certain Lilly both speaks English and overheard her, because at the end of those 21 days, when Ginger put the first child on her, she was PERFECT, like she’d done it all her life. Within another week, children were riding Lilly regularly in sessions (and Ginger could finally go back to riding taller horses).
With regular work, Lilly has turned out to be a lovely lesson horse and the smaller kids adore her! She turned out to LOVE mounted games (and, occasionally, even a little jumping!) and she still argues just enough that it’s good for the kids to learn to work things out with her, but in the end, the kids are always able to win those “pony discussions” on their own. Lilly has taught many a child persistence, follow-through, and the futility of arguing! She also travels to many events (including the Redding Rodeo Parade and Special Kids’ Day) as an “Exodus ambassador,” and her jet black coat and dainty features get her many an adoring “AWWWWWW” from both parents and kids.
For the kids, Lilly’s story is a great example of how, sometimes, our behavioral choices can make it difficult for people to work with us, or for us to fully participate in the things God has for us to do – but when choose to participate joyfully, we get lots of opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have gotten, and our relationships with those around us improve immensely.
Millie
Millie is generously sponsored by Susan Vonasek for 2026!
Black Shetland Pony Cross Mare ♦ DOB: 2004 ♦ Arrival: July 2019
On May 23 of 2019, I (Ginger) received an email from a friend of our old neighbor in Scottsdale, Arizona. This friend had adopted a precious little pony that had experienced the most unspeakable abuse and had come through a law enforcement dispersal sale years ago. This young lady was recently diagnosed with a very rare illness that would require long term treatment and had asked our old neighbor Tina if she had any ideas as to a good placement for Lilly, the pony. Tina has been following Exodus since its beginnings in 2003 unbeknownst to me….and she immediately thought that lil Lilly needed to come here. Both her and her friend reached out to me and told me Lilly’s horrific story.
Lilly was one of 35 horses seized by law enforcement from a barn in Washington. Her tail has been broken in 3 places, her face greyed from halter scaring, she battles ulcers from the trauma. It took me days to process her story…..NEVER in all my years of hearing horse stories, have I heard anything so awful. I told the girls we were at capacity but that I would pray for what God had for Lilly. I went out immediately and told my teachers who were all gathered around the picnic table cleaning tack and they also committed to praying for Lilly. That night, and for many nights to come…I talked to the Lord about this horse…..I was deeply disturbed about her story…….and yet knew that at least 20 of our Exodus kiddos knew her story all too well…that sickened me more…..but was God bringing this pony to our attention that He might go deeper with these extremely hurting kiddos? After days of praying, I told the Lord that if He wanted this broken pony to come to us, then it would be up to Him to decrease our herd as He saw fit….at that same time, we began to see two of our seniors start to have soundness issues and thought perhaps God was making a way.
A week later, on Sunday, June 9th at 9pm…..my own horse, Indi, was stricken with severe colic and we had to euthanize him at 1:30 am. My heart was crushed…and in the numbness of the days that followed I gave the pony no thought …..or prayer. Just a week after losing my beloved Indi, I was driving down Deschutes Road…and the tears would not stop….why had God taken my sweet friend, my therapy, my solace when I needed a diversion….. why?? …….and in a still small voice He reminded me that I had asked him to make a way for this broken pony to find healing at Exodus. “Seriously, Lord?!?!?…..this is how?!?!?!?!?…..Indi was mine……..I raised him from a baby………….I loved him more than any other….Indi was most precious to me………….this was how You make a way???”…….I had never loved or trusted a horse this much….more tears…..this wasn’t the first time the Lord had asked for some sacrifice from me as He worked in the lives of our Exodus kiddos…….now I, through the tears, relived that moment when I held Indi’s head and stared into those incredible eyes and watched life pour out of him……Lord, I went through this agonizing heart ache for a broken pony??????…..His still small voice spoke again…..”Child, I gave up so much more so that your brokenness could be made whole….I watched the life pour out of my son that ALL the broken would find wholeness…”…………….. I felt as if the wind had been knocked out of me….sobs…..deep sobs………..as God gave me this intimate glimpse……..this personal application of the agony of the Trinity at the crucifixion. Never in my life has the heartache of our Father at the sacrifice of His son been more real to me. No more questioning…..I knew in that moment…. without a doubt…that through Indi, God had made a way for that broken lil pony to come to Exodus Farms, not only for her healing but the for the healing and wholeness of children who have endured the unspeakable.
This precious pony arrived the 4th of July, close to midnight. I knew the minute that I saw her soft, dark and endless eyes that God had brought this farm a very special treasure! In the coming days we decided that her new Exodus name would be Millie (short for Mildred!) as we already had two Lillys and a third black Lilly would cause a lot of confusion for our kids and adults! In the coming days, we all got to know this sweet soul with a mane and tail. We spent hours taking her for walks, grazing her on the lawn, brushing her, smashing bananas for her ulcer medicine, showing her around the farm…..and just being with her. EVERYONE has fallen in love with sweet Millie…..
In the first few days, a young boy felt an urgency to read to her on a regular basis…this was huge in her being able to just hang out and build trust. Our grandparents, struggling raising their grandkids, wanted to take her for walks and just decompress with her. At the end of very long and challenging days, just Millie and I would hang out on the lawn, watching the sun go down…..and our hearts both began to heal. As I began to get to know this exquisite lil pony, one thing stood out….her incredible sweetness. In spite of all her horrible trauma, this dear one did not have have a bite or a kick in her…….she is truly the kindest, most gentle horse I have ever met. Her sensitivity to those around her defies explanation…..she should truly hate every human…..but she doesn’t. Just a few months from her arrival, she reaches her sweet little nose over her door to talk to us and beckon us to visit, she gallops free in the arena, begging all to come play and she lets countless little girls braid her perfect pony tail! She is now fat and healthy and happy…….but any of you who know me know the message of Exodus is that we bring God’s love and healing to the broken in order that their hearts would be made whole and they would find God’s new purpose for their lives, just like our herd of rescued saints. We are so excited to watch as we slowly introduce Millie to her new purpose, driving!! She is a natural and is quickly becoming comfortable having a cart move behind her.
Millie epitomizes all that Exodus Farms is……..a safe place for the broken to meet unconditional love and acceptance, no matter how horrific the trauma…………a safe place for the deeply wounded to finally step away from their pain long enough to smile and play………a safe place to realize that one’s trauma does not define us but the miraculous love and healing of our Savior shows us who we are.……a safe place where the ones’ who thought they would never have value find their new heavenly purpose!!! Millie is a remarkable creature….brought to us by a remarkable God….and she has touched mine and so many other hearts already!
BLM Burro Gelding ♦ DOB: 2000
Mr. Chips is our lovable, huggable long-eared BLM “wild” burro, who came to Exodus as a “two for one” adoption with a horse named George. Ginger was reluctant at first to take him on, as she had grown up with a donkey who made kicking and biting his lifelong mission, fully living up to the title “ass.” Mr. Chips however, quickly won over our hearts with his innate ability comfort the brokenhearted, make us laugh with his impossibly long ears, and the way he wraps his head around you, pulling you into the warmest hug imaginable. As a donkey, he closely assesses every situation and can appear stubborn when he decides that our idea does not meet his standards of enjoyment. For this reason, only a few that have won over Chips’ heart can actually make him move while on his back. So for the most part, Mr. Chip’s role on the farm is our therapy donkey, shoulder to cry on, and two long listening ears for those who need them.
Recently, Mr. Chips aquired a side job at Exodus, and that was to gentle our new young mini mule, Festus. For most of Mr. Chips’ time with us, he lived as a companion to the ponies who were about his same size. It confounded us for years that Mr. Chips, despite his wild background, seemed impossibly delicate and injury-prone. With the arrival of Festus, we decided to house our two long-eared boys together and changed their diets to meet their specific nutritional needs which are different from those of their horse cousins. Mr. Chips and Festus thrived together. Mr. Chips, who we always assumed was just a bit lazy and sedentary, learned to wrestle and play tug-of-war with a jolly ball. With so much movement, Mr. Chips’ hooves have amazingly made leaps and bounds in health which will prevent future injury. And Festus, who was only three years old and a bit of a wild thing, let Mr. Chips teach him the ropes of how to hug and be a calming friend for our Exodus kids. Mr. Chips has taught us all how to love unconditionally. Even though he was somewhat misunderstood when we grouped him with the ponies, he has never given us less than his full heart.
Oliver
Oliver is generously sponsored by Brent, Colleen, and Nadia Morris for 2026!
Bay Quarter Horse Gelding ♦ DOB: 2007 ♦ Arrival: 2019
Every class needs a class clown.
Prior to his career at Exodus, Oliver was a very successful show horse. But he has a constantly busy and mischievious mind that caused him frequent injuries in stalls and at shows, and his owners thought it would be best for him and his personality to be the star of a different kind of show. They generously donated him to Exodus in 2019.
Oliver quickly found his place as the Exodus clown. He swings ropes and running hoses around in his mouth, makes funny faces when we are trying to be serious and pray, and always has something in his mouth that isn’t supposed to be there. As much as our leaders and volunteers might feel like we need to babysit Oliver constantly, we could not do the work we do without him. His silly behavior is actually perfectly and uniquely suited to engage our most difficult population of Exodus kids; our preteen and teenage boys. Unlike their female counterparts, many of whom will happily stay involved with horses all through their teenage years, many of the boys do not. Oliver however, is a preteen boy magnet. Perhaps they see themselves in his silliness. Whatever it is, we are grateful for our big goof and his superpower.
Buckskin Paint Missouri Foxtrotter Gelding ♦ DOB: 2010 ♦ Arrival: 2025
Prizm is our most recent adoption, and his bio is coming soon!
Tommy
Tommy is generously sponsored by Ben Kegel and Mimi Karys for 2026!
Bay Quarter Horse Gelding ♦ DOB: 2011 ♦ Arrival: Spring 2023
Tommy arrived this past spring on a 30-day trial, a possible donation from a longtime friend of Ginger’s. He had been a children’s riding horse, but cysts on his stifles limit his athletic abilities and he was not cut out to be the rodeo horse the children were needing. Tommy quickly won us over by bonding with Festus, our wiley mini mule. The two of them would nap together for hours of the day from opposite sides of their shared fence.
Bay Roan Quarter Horse Mare ♦ DOB: 2007 ♦ Arrival: 2020
Twiggy is a beautiful, gentle, kind young mare that we have the honor of calling our own. She came to us in 2020 when foot pain ended her show career with her lifelong owner earlier than expected. With her sweet, personable nature, she quickly bonded with one of our junior leaders who would trail ride on her bareback around our property’s short trails. Around and around they’d go, relaxed and just enjoying eachother, and Twiggy’s body began to heal. She came sound in no time, and entered quickly into sessions where she became a nurturing, safe and very comfortable horse to ride for anyone from the tiniest child up to full grown teenagers. She is now one of the best horses for our kiddos to learn how to canter on, as she is reliable, safe, and smooth as a rocking horse!