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!"

As of 2022, Emily has been actively and carefully downsizing her lesson horse herd in an effort to shift her focus to more academic riding and training. 

Current school horses:
	Atticus As a 2016 baby, Atticus spent most of his early life being doted on by his admirers. He has recently grown into a stunning young man and is currently standing at 15.2 hands. He is an Hispano Arabe, and his mother, Willow, still lives on the farm! He is currently schooling second and third level, and training in academic classical dressage.
	Finn Finn is a 2005 registered Haflinger currently schooling second and third levels, with a penchant for collected trot work!
	Ella New to the program in 2023, Ella is a kind and gentle schoolmaster and we couldn't be more grateful for her presence in the program.
	Cinder Cinder is everyone's favorite leased schoolmaster! She is in her mid-twenties, and apart from some greying around the edges you'd never guess she was a senior. She is schooling upper level movements, but she's also allowed to cut a few corners as a senior citizen. 😉
	Brioso SMS Brioso SMS AKA Gui is a lovely 2018 Andalusian sporthorse gelding, started by Emily. His goofy personality, expressive athleticism, and incredible intelligence have made training him an absolute dream! He is currently schooling first level, but training up through third level movements.
Emily's Current Personal Horses:
	Alcyone is a 2012 PRE Andalusian mare. She is sweet, curious and brave, but more than that she is intelligent! She and Emily were fortunate to be gifted some significant training by the late Bettina Drummond as part of her APAHA program, and they are currently doing their best to continue that study in academic and artistic riding.
	(Meadowlark's Mirabelle, 2019 IALHA pending) Out of Lissi (Roxana HPF) and by Matador BPF, she is a purebred andalusian filly born in April of 2019. Unfortunately Mira was born with a malformation of her lower cervical spine and upper ribs, and so was retired at the young age of 4. She is currently training on the ground in trick training and classical in-hand work.
	Hildegard Hilde was a bit of an "oops purchase", while Emily was horse shopping with a student. It was love at first sight, and Emily is pleased and relieved to have welcomed another heart-horse into her life. ❤️
Past School Horses:
	Brigid is a 2012 year old 15 hand FriesianXLipizzaner mare whose sensitive and anxious nature eventually led Emily to find a more consistent home for her, without the pressure of school horse life. She currently lives with Emily's close friend and is schooling academic dressage and loving her small, quiet life.
	Hero (AHA Blackberry Wine) is a 2004 16.1hh double registered National Show Horse trained through second level. She has retired from school horse life and sold to her favorite young human, Alyse - Congratulations Alyse!
	Declan (AHA JR Popstarr) is everyone's favorite little mischeif 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. He has sold to one of his favorite adult students and continues to learn and train with her here at Meadowlark!
	Caoilfhionn, or Keelin, is officially retired from riding, and is living her best life on a private farm where she has two other mare friends and a whole herd of goats 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!
	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 Startruck Motivation, 2008) has been sold to the lovely Allison, who had been leasing her 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.
	Fitz has gone back to his previous owner where he is living his best life!
	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 left the program to continue her show career!
	Caspian has left the program and is now living his happiest life as a retiree with one of the absolute best horsewomen Emily has ever known! He gets an incredible amount of love and care, daily.
	Moth of Peace is loving life with her new owner, Kari, in Indiana. We miss you, big girl!
In Memory:
	❤️ Bertram aka Bertie was perhaps the biggest personality in the barn, ever. He was a 15.1 hand, 2011 Missouri Fox Trotter X Argentine Criollo, and would greet his favorite humans by whinnying and galloping to the gate each day! He was ridden through 4th level movements, before being retired and eventually losing his battle with EPM and DSLD.  He was Emily's greatest teacher, and her first heart horse - and has left his mark on many of the people who knew him. If there are puddles on the other side of the rainbow bridge, he's certainly there - splashing and rolling in them.
	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.
	Aoife (pronounced Ee-Fah, AHA Charming Cheyenne) was a 2001 14.2hh registered Arabian mare who always had plenty of pep in her step. She lived a long and happy life in the program, and passed away due to complications from cancer in 2022.
	Teagan (AHA Princess Bahara 2001 AHA) has crossed the rainbow bridge, after an incredible final couple of years owned by one of Emily's students. She is remembered for her friendly snuggles and her eager and sensitive nature.
	IALHA Roxana HPF was a beautiful (and massive) 16 hand, 2006 purebred Andalusian mare trained through second level. Her partial blindness never gave her pause, and she was a strong force in the program until passing in 2022
	Niamh was a kind and intelligent Lusitano/draft mare who unfortunately was born in 2013 with PSSM that worsened as she aged. She passed due to complications from her PSSM in 2021.
	Lyra (AHA BA My Stars) was a farm favorite for over a decade! She was the go-to horse for beginners and special needs students, and yet could be a steady second level school-master. She taught well over a hundred people to ride, and unfortunately passed due to complications from cushings in 2024.
	After many years in the program, Thistle (AHA PFrost, Polish Arabian) retired to an incredible home ever where she was loved and doted on by her very own little girl until the end.