Horses are highly communicative and social, forming strong bonds with humans and other horses alike.

The herd at Copper Bowl Ranch Co-op.

Horses are extraordinary creatures with remarkable strength, majesty, and emotional range. They are highly communicative and social, forming strong bonds with humans and other horses alike.

One of their unique abilities is their remarkable hearing, which allows them to detect a human's heartbeat from up to four feet away. In the wild, horses coordinate their heartbeats with the herd to better sense potential threats. Many members at Copper Bowl Ranch have experienced this and witnessed the horses' ability to sense their emotions.

Our volunteer members and those who have spent time with our herd can attest to the special nature of horses. Come and experience it for yourself.

Patriot

Illini Patriot is a registered bay Standardbred born in 2001 in Urbana, IL. Patriot was part of a group of three horses that were brought to us. He was trained to cart race as a Pace racehorse, which means that he moves his legs laterally (right front and right hind together, then left front and left hind).

Patriot is an introverted horse and doesn't like to hang out with the crowd. He is cautious and wise, and he really helps to balance our herd. Despite his introverted nature, he is loved by all. Suga, one of our spicy mares, is his best friend, and surprisingly, Patriot has her taking care of him.

Dasher

Dasher, also known as Wolmi Do Isle, is a dark bay Thoroughbred born on May 15, 2005. He was originally a racehorse, but was not successful on the track and only earned $210 in total winnings. Unfortunately, his history from 2008, when he last raced, to September 2021 is unknown. However, he was later rescued from a kill pen along with two other horses and brought to Copper Bowl Ranch.

Dasher is a friendly and affectionate gelding who enjoys the company of humans. He follows people around and loves to be involved in whatever they're doing. Despite his large size, he sometimes forgets himself and acts like a lap dog. His favorite activity is rolling in the round pen after a long grooming session. In addition, he loves playing pretend restaurant with children and will try out all the "meals" they offer him. He is a great companion and an excellent friend.

OB

Originating in the rugged mountains and moors of northwest England, the Fell Pony is celebrated for its hardiness, versatility, sure-footedness, stamina, and calm disposition. Typically standing at 13.2 hands, these ponies most often have black, bay, brown, or gray coloring, complete with feathered fetlocks and thick coats. Historically used in mining and agriculture as packhorses, Fell Ponies today excel in riding, driving, and serve as wonderful family companions.

Our own OB stands out with his dazzling white/grey coat, as most Fell Ponies are black. At the Ranch, OB carries on the breed's working tradition, delighting our guests with performances such as the Spanish walk, side-passing, lying down on cue, and bowing.

Always a gentleman, OB is recognized as the leader of our gelding herd—though he seems blissfully unaware of his stature. With only about 3,000 Fell Ponies worldwide, they are deemed a rare breed.

Chancey

The registered name of the horse is Chancey Light. She is a 22-year-old thoroughbred mare who retired from racing in 2006 after earning just over $160,000 in her career. Although we have limited information about her past, Chancey was adopted by Jodi Menke and Kendra Horejsi on February 22nd, 2023, after spending some time at CopperBowl Ranch. It's fortunate for her that she now has two owners who are close friends and share the same love for her.

Chancey has an adorable baby face and, although a bit shy, is very sweet and a bit sassy too. She is eager to learn, but sometimes gets anxious. We're working on it, and she has made significant progress. She started riding again this year, and we're excited to see how far she'll go. Her future is bright.

Echo

Echo is a Chestnut Quarter Horse mare born in February 2008, who has extensive experience as a trail horse and was often used to accompany her owners on camping trips during her younger years.

She has a calm and gentle soul and loves to go for walks and to be pampered by her human companions. She’s not shy about asking for a booty scratch and will melt your heart with her quirky, high-pitched snores while napping. These qualities add to her charm and personality, making everyone fall in love with her.

Patient and wise, Echo is a delightful companion who consistently impresses us with her potential and sweet disposition.

Yanko

Developed by the Romani people of the British Isles to pull caravans, the Gypsy Vanner—also known as the Irish Cob or Gypsy Horse—is recognized for its stocky build, abundant mane and tail, and unique leg feathering. This versatile and intelligent breed is gentle and calm, making it ideal for both riding and driving. Their amiable disposition and manageable size have made them particularly popular among families and riders of all skill levels, earning them the nickname “people-sized draft horse.”

Yanko wins the hearts of all with his gentle spirit and willingness to do just about anything we ask. He is an easy rider and has allowed those who have never experienced riding a horse the thrill of a gentle ride.

Dewey

The Arabian horse is an ancient, light horse breed originating from the Arabian Peninsula, renowned for its distinctive "dished" face, high tail carriage, intelligence, and exceptional endurance. Valued for their stamina and beauty, Arabians have contributed to the bloodlines of most modern light horse breeds, including the Thoroughbred. They are versatile, excelling in disciplines such as endurance riding, racing, and pleasure riding; however, their sensitive and intelligent nature requires experienced handlers.

Dewey came to us from a neighbor who was downsizing. It’s taken time to earn his trust, and we have volunteers who have put their time in with him. He is a part of our gelding herd and our pond paddock. He’s smart, can “read the room” at ﬁrst glance, and has always surprises us with his “quick moves”.

Suga!

Suga! is a chestnut American Saddlebred mare, born in Georgia in 2009. Full of charisma and personality, she brings a spark to the farm with her animated spirit and desire for connection. Suga! thrives on interaction and forms strong bonds with calm, gentle souls.In the round pen, Suga! is a true professional.

She excels at lunging and clearly enjoys the work, moving with confidence and grace. She’s attentive, curious, and always ready to engage—whether it’s through quiet companionship or asserting herself with just the right amount of sass.

Before joining us, Suga! competed in Saddle Seat and Cart competitions and lived at the Veit Ranch in Monticello, a chapter that adds depth to her already colorful story.

Suga! was adopted by CBR Coop member Erin in 2025 and these days, Suga spends her time learning to enjoy quiet trial rides through the property on her own and with fellow CBR horses. She also loves trolling around the fields and grazing on fresh grass, checking in on other horses and long grooming sessions in the barn.

Phoenix

Phoenix is an 11-year-old Standardbred gelding whose registered name is "Too Oh Fore". Initially, he started his career as a trotter racehorse. However, at some point in time, he suffered a coffin bone fracture in his right hoof and lost his vision.

Unfortunately, we don't know much about his past, but we do know that he was rescued by Standardbred Rescue from a kill pen in 2022. When he was rescued, he was in a very thin condition. In April of 2023, he was transferred to "This Old Horse" rescue under their "Racehorse Reimagined" program.

Phoenix is a big, fun-loving, and goofy boy. He was adopted by Jodi Menke on July 15, 2023.

Mary

Mary, a Black Tobiano Paint registered as “No Bunny’s Fool” through the APHA American Paint Horse Association. She was born in 1998 and worked most of her life ranching, team cattle roping, and sorting, and was a broodmare, foaling four times! Unfortunately, she landed in a less-than-ideal situation.

She was brought to Copper Bowl Ranch as a rescue on December 4th, 2022, through “This Old Horse” with her stable mate, Misty, who gained her wings shortly after her arrival. Mary’s health turned around, and she quickly fit in with our herd and found a place in our hearts.

She was adopted in place by Brooke Prom in the summer of 2023 and has kept our hearts full and smiles on our faces with her loving and goofy personality! She has a solid and nurturing spirit with a silly side, protects her herd, loves scratches and grooming, and when her asthma allows, loves to go for walks and work in the round pen!

She has settled into her haven here at CBR and continues to give us all the love right back!

Princess Janet aka PJ

The Percheron is a French draft horse breed known for its large, robust build, gentle temperament, and versatility, commonly used for heavy farm work, carriage driving, and parades. Typically black or gray, these horses are characterized by their muscular bodies, clean-cut heads, and long, arched necks. While originally bred for war and agriculture, Percherons are now popular for recreational driving, forestry, and as pleasure mounts for larger riders.

Princess Janet came to us from Windermere Farms in Pennsylvania, in foal. We were all taken aback by her size and beauty. She is a sweet mare, and we’ve learned along the way about driving and working with this beautiful horse. She gave birth to Princess Aurora Lucia on our Ranch, which was a ﬁrst for us. We took hours preparing for the special moment, and yet she decided to give birth all on her own on the Winter Solstice.

Miss Jane

Meet Miss Jane, a 2014 OTTB mare with 10 starts and two firsts! She has recently graduated from the UWRF Racehorse Retraining Program and has become a part of our herd.

Though a little shy, Miss Jane is spirited and is slowly adjusting to her new life and paddock mates. We are excited to get to know her and learn all her stories as we ride her. Look into her beautiful, warm eyes and you will fall in love with her.

Princess Aroura Lucia AKA Orah

Orah surprised us and came into our lives here at the Ranch early. Born weighing just under 200 pounds, she arrived with a sweet and spicy spirit.

We are excited to see her grow and learn, while at the same time teaching us about a younger horse and learning how to train them.

Cleo

Cleo is a 2009 Holsteiner mare, registered under the name B-Cleo 195. She is sired by Clinsmann 2 and out of the mare Just for Fun 14, whose bloodlines trace back to the renowned stallion Coriano 44.

The Holsteiner is a prestigious German warmblood breed, celebrated for its athleticism—particularly in show jumping and dressage. Cleo was born in Germany, where she began her competitive show jumping career under rider Franz Becker. At the age of six, she was imported to the United States, continuing her jumping career in sunny California.

Cleo bears the official Holsteiner Verband brand on her left hip, a mark of her registered heritage. In 2025, she moved to Copperbowl Ranch, where she is now proudly owned by Co-op member Lori Johnson.

Today, Cleo enjoys a well-deserved, more relaxed lifestyle—spending her days trail riding and being thoroughly pampered.