Buddy is a 22-year-old Rocky Mountain–Haflinger cross with a long history of taking life at an easy pace. Orginally bought by Teresa’s mother in 2016 for trail riding, he spent years as a laid-back pasture companion. In 2022, he was pulled out of semi-retirement and stepped into steady work, teaching walk/trot lessons and carrying kids for pony rides.

He’s been to a handful of local shows—he even won a cross-rail class—and he loves heading out on the trail more than anything. He’s traveled to the fair several times and once tolerated being dressed up as a blue troll. Through it all, he stays relaxed and willing, happy to roll with whatever comes his way.

Phoenix is a 14-year-old Appendix mare who’s been with Teresa since she was an unbroken two-year-old. Over the years she’s tried just about everything on the English side: hunters, jumpers, a bit of cross-country, dressage, judged trail, even a parade as a three-year-old. Students have shown her in 4-H, and she’s earned ribbons and the occasional paycheck at the SRU hunter show.

She loves a good trail ride, happily hands out “kisses” for treats, and is famous for her midday stall naps.

Cody is a Missouri Fox Trotter who came to the Sterling Stables community through a close family friend. He first arrived as a 19-year-old lease horse in 2017, when his owner was searching for something steady after the loss of one of her twin daughters. Their bond formed quickly, and by the next year she purchased him—her first horse fully her own.

The two spent several years doing judged trail rides together, collecting a good number of ribbons. Even now, he can take months off and return as the same reliable, quirky “squirrel” everyone knows.

He’s the one she turns to on the hard days, leaning in for what look like snuggles while quietly checking for treats, but the comfort still lands. He even has a custom Batman tack set made in honor of her daughter, a small but meaningful part of their story. He’ll always work for treats, and he’ll always be her heart horse.