Emily's school horses are selected and trained carefully so that students can learn not only how to safely ride a horse, but how to communicate effectively. Her horses are selected for patience, calmness, intelligence and skill, and while they are all working solidly in dressage, many of them are cross-trained in several disciplines including jumping, trail and driving. This allows students to learn to improve themselves through the discipline of their choice, on the horse that best suits their personality. Emily's horses are part of a closely knit family, and each is treated with respect and given plenty of time to just be a horse. They are all provided with the greatest care, including regular assessment for soundness and gastric ulcers, high quality supplements and even regular vacation time! "A happy school horse is a safe school horse!"

Current school horses:
	Aoife (pronounced Ee-Fah, AHA Charming Cheyenne) is a 2001 14.2hh registered Arabian mare who has plenty of pep in her step, but she knows that her job is to safely carry her riders. She has always loved to jump, but now that she is in her late teens she is loving life as a dressage schoolie as well. She is currently schooling first and second level, showing training level.
	Teagan (AHA Princess Bahara 2001 AHA) is a 14.3hh registered arabian mare who is sensitive, patient, and expressive! Her favorite thing to do is squawk at the geldings (and mares) over the fence, and her best friend in the world is our little grey schoolie, Aoife.
	Lyra (AHA BA My Stars) is a farm favorite. She is the go-to horse for beginners and special needs students, and yet is a steady second level school-master. She is a 15 hand purebred Arabian mare, born in 1999, who is retired from showing second level and is increasingly content to teach riders the basics of collection. Her favorite things to work on are the travers and half-pass!
	Hero (AHA Blackberry Wine) is a 2004 16.1hh double registered National Show Horse. She is proficient in dressage, though she has plenty of training in other disciplines. She loves to venture out on the trails, but is happy to work in the arena as well. She is schooling second and third level, showing at training and first, and has a lovely easy-to-ride lengthened trot.
	Declan (AHA JR Popstarr) is everyone's favorite little mischief maker, here at the farm. He is a 14.1 hand, grey 2010 Arabian gelding with flashy movement and a steady-eddie attitude now that he's grown up. We are excited to have him in our program and can't wait to see him develop further into a spectacular little sporthorse schoolie. He is currently showing training and first levels, and has schooled second level at home.
	Brigid is a 2012 year old 14.3 hand FriesianXLipizzaner mare who was incredibly shy when we brought her home, but as she has settled into her new life she has blossomed to become an intensely friendly and joyful mare. She is currently schooling first and second level.
	Wallis (IALHA Roxana HPF) is a 16 hand, 2006 purebred Andalusian mare trained through second level. Unfortunately she came to us with some fibrotic myopathy in both hind limbs which means her gait can be choppy, so she is not generally a candidate for showing, but she has a heart of gold, and is sweet, kind and patient with her students.
	Bertram aka Bertie is perhaps the biggest personality in the barn at the moment. He is a 15.1 hand, 2011 Missouri Fox Trotter X Argentine Criollo! You would never know he has gaited blood, as his trot is as pure as it is ginormous. He is currently schooling 3rd and 4th level with Emily, and is very happy to have a job teaching lower level movements to her students.
	As a 2016 baby, Atticus has spent most of his life being doted on by his admirers. He has recently grown into a stunning young man and is currently standing at 15.1 hands. He is an Hispano Arabe, meaning he is AndaulsianXArabian, and his mother, Willow, still lives on the farm! We take the development of young horses very seriously, so Atti is currently in a very limited program. He has an incredible attention span, and is eager to please.
	Finn We couldn't be more excited to join the Haflinger club by welcoming Finn to the program! He is a 2005 registered Haflinger currently schooling first and second levels.
Youngsters:
	(Meadowlark's Mirabelle, 2019 IALHA pending) Mira is our newest addition to the family! Out of Lissi (Roxana HPF) and by Matador BPF, she is a purebred Andalusian filly born in April of 2019. It will take her several years to mature into a riding horse, but it is a joy to watch her learn and grow.
	Guillaume Gui (Brioso SMS) is a lovely 2018 AndalusianXMorgan (Registered American Warmblood) gelding recently purchased by Emily. His goofy personality, expressive athleticism, and incredible intelligence make him an exciting dressage prospect, indeed! He is currently just starting in ground and in-hand work, and will be slowly introduced to ridden work as he matures, but at over 16.1 and coming four we're going to give this boy some time to grow into himself!
Emily's Horse:
	Alcyone is the most recent addition to the lesson program, and is a 2012 Andalusian mare. She is sweet, curious and brave, but more than that she is intelligent! She is currently Emily's primary riding horse and endeavors to educate Emily in the ways of proper riding. ;)
Past school horses:
	Thistle (AHA PFrost, Polish Arabian), one of our foundation program superstars, has gone to the best retirement home ever where she is loved and doted on by her very own little girl. She is decked out in pink and purple and is basically living life as a unicorn.
	Caoilfhionn, or Keelin, is officially retired from riding, and is living her best life on a private farm where she has her very own goat friends to keep her company!
	Veery has been purchased by Emily's assistant instructor, Andrea, who is continuing her training. They are an absolutely stellar pair, and we couldn't be happier for them both! Andi's connection with Veery shone through right from their very first ride, and it is so, so gratifying to helped these two finding each other. :)
	We are SO pleased to give Missy (2001 purebred Arabian mare) a fairytale ending to her time here as a school horse. She has been purchased by one of Emily's adult students and has retired from lessons to a life of light dressage work and low-level endurance and trail riding. She is one of those once-in-a-lifetime horses, and she has been the heart of riding for many, many students. We are thankful that she is able to live out the rest of her years with a single owner who loves her enough for the rest of us.
	Willow (AHA Starstruck Motivation, 2008) has been sold to the lovely Allison, who had been leasing her for six months prior to her sale. They are an incredible team, and have an inspiring bond. It will be so exciting to see these two continue to progress in dressage, and possibly even as endurance racers, in the future!
	Our beloved Hazel (16 year old, 16.1 hand 3/4 Hanoverian mare) has been sold to one of her favorite student riders, Nicole! She couldn't have sold to a better home, as she gets to stay here at Meadowlark with her established friends in the herd, and she gets to have a single rider to continue her rehab work with her and eventually show her.
	Congratulations Fitz and Acacia! Fitz has been sold to a competition home where he can strut his stuff in the sandbox! He will be missed by the riding program, but his flashy gaits certainly won't be missed by the judges in the show ring this summer! We can't wait to see what Caci does with him!
	Freyja has retired from lessons and has gone to her new home in Reed City where she is very busy looking gorgeous and holding down the ground, between trail rides and light drives. Thank you so much, Sarah, for helping her find the perfect retirement from lessons as a new trail horse for your dad!
	Ffiona has left the program to continue her show career with her new mom, Erika! We could not have asked for a better home for her, and we can't wait to see you both in the show ring this year! Watch for them at training and first levels in 2018!
	Caspian has left the program to continue his show career with his new mom! Congratulations Jennifer! We are all so excited to see you and Casper in the show ring. Watch for them at first level in 2018!
	Moth of Peace is loving life with her new owner, Kari, in Indiana. We miss you, big girl!
In Memory:
	Branson has left this world to graze greener pastures. He came to us as a project horse and after a year of chiropractic, EORTH surgery and slow rehabilitation he showed his true colors as a thoroughly trained third level schoolmaster. Over the years leading up to his death he taught countless students to ride from the inside leg to the outside rein, and his canter was the fabled rocking-horse canter that riders dream about. His donkey-like bellow could be heard for miles, and we will forever miss his echoing cries and his begging for soft forehead scratches. He passed eventually due to central nervous system complications (a possible brain tumor) and is survived by his beloved schoolmistress, Thistle.
	Rest easy, Rowan. This beautiful Holsteiner mare had so, so much to give to the program. She came as a rescue/rehab horse with some severe lameness issues. Over the course of the following year she regained health, comfort and ultimately trust in the people who handled her. She was an easy ride and a beloved friend. Unfortunately she lost her battle with EPM in the autumn of 2018, but she left her mark on many of us and the lessons she has taught us will last forever.
	Rest in Peace, big guy! Our beloved Kingsley Shacklebolt died suddenly in late winter of 2017, from a severe colic. He was rushed to MSU for evaluation, but was not a good candidate for surgery. He touched so many lives, and the lessons he has given us will continue to guide us for years to come. Very few horses leave such big impressions as he did, and he will be sorely missed.
	Though she was only eight years old, we have had to say farewell to our beautiful Niamh. She struggled for most of her life with a genetic disease called PSSM, which is a muscular myopathy causing muscle pain and stiffness. This disease progressed until Fall 2021 when we made the heartbreaking, but obvious, decision to have her euthanized due to her increasing discomfort. She left us with a strong determination to do right by the horses in our lives, regardless of the cost.