Autumn is our star therapy horse. This twenty four year old haflinger mare waits by her gate when she knows there’s a riding session about to start as she loves nothing more than meeting new friends and taking them on riding sessions around the Dueker Ranch. She is also Sully’s mother and was raised with both him and Gil before they came to live with us. Autumn is well loved by all who meet her and is the sweetest of horses.

Children love Gil as much as he loves them.

A Haflinger, Gil is the perfect size for children and young teens to ride on as the ranch’s child therapy horse. Dependable and loving, patient and careful, Gil enjoys going on rides or to just be loved and petted to create happy smiles on the faces of the kids who come out to visit him. Gil has a straight and thin blaze and is Sully’s half brother. Gil currently follows Autumn on her riding sessions for training.

Gracie is the baby of Dueker Ranch. Willow’s daughter, she stands 25″ at her withers and weighing, 87 pounds, this fast growing little girl is well on her way to becoming a great therapy pony. Gracie has been handled since birth, and as a result, she loves to interact with people. Since she was a surprise baby, we were lucky she was born healthy and strong. We named her Gracie, because for the grace of God, she was born a perfect baby.

Gracie is the Belle of Payson and when visitors stop in to see her and sit down, she runs over to get petted and scratched just like a dog.

One day, a couple arrived and asked if they and their daughter could see little Gracie. We said yes. So the parents went to their car and brought their daughter out of the car and placed her in a wheel chair. As they got closer, we noticed that the girl was a young lady, about 25 years old, and she could not move her hands or legs.

Her parents wheeled her into the barn and Gracie was brought in as usual. Gracie ran over to the girl just like she always does. But this time she did not ask for the usual pets and scratches. Instead she began to nuzzle the girl’s hands and arms and rub against her legs. The girl loved it and smiled the whole time. Gracie did this until her parents decided Gracie needed a rest.

Kenny is a miniature shetland His small size makes him the perfect horse to meet with small children, those in wheelchairs and seniors. Before he joined the herd at the Dueker Ranch, Kenny was a performer of sorts as he traveled with a small group of horses to attend children’s birthday parties as a part of a mobile petting zoo. While those days may be long behind him, Kenny loves being part of the Dueker Ranch where he can continue bringing smiles to the faces of the children and adults he meets.

Rex is a the largest and most senior of the horses, a Belgian Draft Horse weighing in at over 2000 pounds and over 6ft tall at the shoulders but is as gentle as they come. His strong and sturdy build provides a safe and stable ride for adults with disabilities. Despite his large stature, Rex is as gentle and loving as a puppy dog and loves to make friends and take them on rides around the Dueker Ranch.

Known for his quiet personality, Rex is the go-to horse when a rider is apprehensive.

Our other Haflinger, Sully is the half brother of Gil and Autumn’s son. He is calm, sensible, friendly, smart, and curious - the perfect horse for kids learning to ride. Coming in at just over 850 pounds and over 4 feet at the shoulders, Sully has a white blaze with a bubble shape at the top.

Like Kenny, Willow had a long and prestigious previous career before becoming part of the herd at the Dueker Ranch. As part of a traveling group that visited hospitals and senior centers, Willow grew up as a therapy horse who brought comfort, care and love to the sick and old alike. Her work continues in the mountains of Star Valley as Willow continues to help the new friends she meets.