Animals of Halcyon
While Glenbaer Farm, the home of Halcyon, is the living location of many horses and animals, listed below are several of the primary Halcyon-specific critters. Each animal has its own story, and has navigated its own challenges. Many horses are donated to Halcyon each year, with a significant number being placed in long-term free-lease homes, such that each horse can have his “own person,” without the risk of ever ending up in a rough situation. For the most recent updates and pictures, particularly with recent changes, please visit the Facebook page: Facebook.com/2019hhc
Much change and new developments have come to the farm since the autumn of 2023. With photographs to soon be added, the following is the current list of horses who are used by or have been donated to Halcyon, listed small to large. Private boarders and horses in training separate from Halcyon are not included.
Halcyon Horses
Halcyon Coming in Hot (Cutie), 2016 8.2hh mini Shetland dun gelding
Ellie, mid-1990s 11hh brown Welsh cross mare
Lightning, 1998 13hh chestnut Welsh cross gelding
Pineland Moonshine, 2022 13.3hh red dun Quarter horse gelding
Halcyon Say When (Vinny), 2006 14.0hh varnish Pony of the Americas (POA)
Bryson, mid-1990s 14.3hh pinto Quarter Horse gelding
Halcyon What If (Star), 2010 15hh chestnut Quarter Horse mare
Halcyon Who Knows (Appy), mid-1990s 15hh Appaloosa mare
Donnybrook Good Morrow (Myra), 2013 15.2hh bay Irish Sport Horse mare
Scout’s Honor, 2008 16hh bay Thoroughbred gelding
FGF Forest, 2015 16.1hh dark bay Percheron cross gelding
Halcyon Compatriot (Koa), 2009 16.2hh bay Warmblood gelding
Traviatto (Teddy), 2002 16.3hh bay Dutch Warmblood gelding
Off-farm Leases:
Ryan, 2002 14.2h buckskin Quarter Horse gelding
Nikki, 2015 14.2h brown Thoroughbred/Welsh mare
Sunny, 2011 15.2h palomino Quarter Horse gelding
Creature, 2005 17hh chestnut Thoroughbred gelding
Select further descriptions and other animals:
alpacas
A breeding program of alpacas joined the farm at the end of 2023, when their owners retired from the alpaca industry. The four females are top-quality lines, with the four males having recognition for their fleece. Hopefully our first cria (baby) will be joining us at the end of 2024.
Munchkin Moo
Munchkin joined the farm as a 4-month-old calf in autumn of 2024, having been bottle raised in western NC after she was rejected by her mom. Fully blind in one eye, and significantly blind in the other, she is a special girl who knows her name and only wants soft touches and scratches.
Raider, Recon, & Ranger
The three rescue donkeys are Oreo-obsessed cuddlers who gently teach participants about handling, treat-giving, leading, and basic tacking. At the start of 2024, the donkeys have begun packing work around our hiking trails, and are training for the autumn’s “burro races”
Dogs of the Farm
The social greeters of Halcyon are Sage (like a Muppet), Annie (the Cuddler), and Izzy (giant dragon who adores kids!).
Scout’s Honor
One of the very first Halcyon horses, Scout is a Thoroughbred gelding who joined Halcyon in 2018. This handsome soul was very much a “lost soul,” having fallen through the cracks, shifting from one owner to the next from the time he was a youngster. After a period of training to understand our program, to have his own “decompression” time from past experiences, and to learn to again trust people, Scout has become the central horse in the program. While he beautifully responds to pressure while working and is a joy to groom, his favorite activities are giving hugs and offering affection.
Boo
Update: Boo was gently laid to rest in late June of 2024, after melanoma spread throughout her body, making it difficult to eat. The kindest thing we could do was to let her rest without pain.
Another foundation horse of Halcyon, Boo is an Irish mare who is the social greeter and formal cuddle-buddy of the farm (seriously). Bred to be a performance horse, an injury as a baby prevented Boo from a competitive career; however, she has successfully found her niche. Hugs, grooming, and searching for carrots are her preferred activities with humans on the ground, and she is a solid mare to ride. The white “spade” marking on her forehead is quite rare, especially with her coloring, so we consider it fated that she would enter the world where “spear” and “tip of the spear” have meaning.
Selection of special pics from ‘19-’20, the first years:
