Meet Our Herd
Gunner
Gunner, an Appaloosa, was born on 9/01/2013 and is a registered miniature gelding. He came to Freckles Farm as a young stallion from a bad situation, and after training, he worked as therapy horse through Minis on the Move, visiting hundreds of pediatric patients, expectant mothers, and cancer patients at Vidant, and residents of multiple nursing homes in Pitt County. Gunner worked with Pitt County Sheriffs’ in the Building Bridges Program, and was even deputized as a volunteer Deputy by Sheriff Elks. He has also worked with Veterans from the Wounded Warrior Project.
What he lacks in height, he makes up for in personality! He’s outgoing, curious, and a bit mischievous. Gunner loves to take selfies with friends and thinks strangers are just friends he hasn’t met yet!
Sammy
Sammy, a chocolate palomino, was born on 1/01/2010 and is a miniature gelding. He came to Freckles Farm as a 5 year old from a bad situation, and after training, he went to a therapeutic riding center and worked with many children and adults with disabilities. Both he and his friend Gunner were deputized by Sheriff Elks, and they visited hundreds of pediatric patients, expectant mothers, and other patients at Vidant, and residents of multiple nursing homes in Pitt County. He enjoys ground work although he takes a while to decide if someone is safe.
Sammy was abused and therefore, distrusts most people. An introvert by nature, he likes to watch from a distance and will rarely offer to meet you. His exception is quiet people who are patient enough to allow him to slowly warm up. Don’t be fooled though; he’s the boss of the mini herd and enjoys his job!
Donkey (aka Wee Donkey)
Wee Donkey is a miniature donkey gelding, born on 1/01/2014. He came to Freckles Farm with Sammy and Gunner from a bad situation.
He was feral when he arrived as a yearling and couldn’t be haltered or even pet. With training and the patience of Malaika’s youngest daughter, Serena, Donkey eventually decided humans were useful.
He is now quite sociable once he’s decided to meet someone, and like Gunner, he likes to take selfies with friends. Donkey’s very curious and has been known to pick-pocket cell phones.
Apple
Apple, an Appaloosa mare, was born on 1/01/2003. Before she came to Freckles Farm almost a decade ago, she was owned by a teenager and enjoyed running free and fast down wooded trails.
She has worked with Dr. Meola of Mane Source Counseling as a partner in equine facilitated psychotherapy. Apple enjoys working with clients and is comfortable in particular with those who have anxiety or PTSD.
She’s an outgoing horse and very curious. Apple will be the first to greet most strangers and will insist on neck rubs and back scratches from her fans! She assists with horse yoga too and enjoys rides with her friends in the woods.
Bonita (Bonnie)
Bonnie, a bay mare, was born on 1/01/2000 and was a polo horse before the Albrechts bought her for polocrosse over a decade ago. She is the pasture-mate of Apple and is quietly the boss.
More introverted than Apple, Bonnie chooses who she wants to work with and prefers introverts like herself. Much like Ellie and Sammy, Bonnie reminds folks to lower their energy before approaching with the horseman’s handshake. She’s got a silly sense of humor once she knows you, and though she’s retired from polocrosse due to injury, she still likes to ride and participates in horse yoga with Apple.
Bonita too has partnered with Dr. Meola’s clients in equine facilitated psychotherapy and enjoys working with ground school.
Louie
Louie, was born 2/10/1997, and is a registered Quarter Horse. He’s a chestnut gelding who retired to Freckles Farm after a decade at Rocking Horse Ranch working as a therapeutic riding horse.
He has Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a disease caused by a parasite that affects the central nervous system of horses. Louie has greatly recovered here and now is cleared for riding once again.
He was on the Special Olympics team and competed in Raleigh several years as an equine partner for children with disabilities.
Octavia
Octavia is a dapple grey mare who was born in Illinois. Her father’s name is Maruka and he was actually a very fancy pony! Her mother was a Holsteiner mare named Oasis.
She is in her first year of being a therapy horse. Octavia came to NC to do some rehab from the cold north, and has been progressing in her training by leaps and bounds.
She is friendly and polite, but her manners cover a very sensitive horse who would rather not be around people who cannot control their energy. As she learns to relax and decompress at Freckles Farm, she is more open to exploring new situations and her natural curiosity takes over more and more. Her favorites are neck scratches and peppermints (on special occasions!)
Tia
Tia is the newest addition to Mane Source Counseling, arriving on two days before Thanksgiving 2021 on a misty morning. She had a 20 hour ride to get here from up North and had a lot of new sights and smells to get accustomed to on Freckles Farm. She had never met a Donkey before Louie!
Yet it was the older, bigger Louie the horse that won her heart. The older gelding was just the calming presence she needed to begin to settle into her new forever home and they quickly became pasture-mates.
Though she was originally very skittish, around quiet people she is not afraid to show her curious, sweet, and sometimes a little sassy side! Working with Tia is always a treat because she’s always able to teach you something new.
Meet Our Furry & Feathered Friends
Hercules
Hercules grew up on the farm with 3 female turkeys in spring 2020. As babies they loved to join Malaika for online yoga sessions! Now Hercules is a bit too big to sit on mom’s lap, but you’ll see him strutting his stuff around the farmyard.
If you call out his name, often you’ll get a gobble in response!
If you’ve never met a sweet bird with a gallant personality, you need to meet Hercules. Despite being a meat turkey, and having leg and joint problems because of his size, he’s such a happy little guy! If you are lucky enough to catch him while his eating you might get to hear his cheerful chirping at the food dish.
Nellie
Want To Meet A Member Of The Herd In Person?
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