A seven-year-old registered American Paint, Chester excels at teaching advanced students the trot and canter and also offers steady footing to beginning riders. He was donated to DreamPower by Denise Mascari and her family.  Chester is an expressive and versatile horse who can be ridden on the trail as well as in the arena. Because of his outgoing personality and sense of humor he is sometimes called "Chester the Jester." Chester's best horse pals in the DreamPower barn are T.C. and Rocky.

Choco
One of the four DreamPower minis, the adorable Choco (short for Chocolate) looks just like a bay mini Morgan. With his flowing mane and beautiful movement, Choco loves to run fast!  He is an eleven-year-old American Miniature Horse gelding.  All prettied up with glitter in their manes, Choco and the minis are also known to make appearances at DreamPower events.  Choco was donated to DreamPower by Dottie Scott and has performed in the Salinas Rodeo Parade.

Classy
One of three registered Haflingers donated to DreamPower by J.J. and Barbara Routson, Classy is a former brood mare currently being trained for her new role as a therapy horse. Before coming to DreamPower in February 2008, Classy had five foals.  Classy is smart, willing and a quick learner. True to her breed she is small and sturdy, with a lovely light chestnut coat and a blonde mane and tail. She has a friendly and curious personality. Her best horse friends in the barn are Honey and Red, who joined DreamPower with her.

Forest
Forest is a miracle horse! After spending many years working with the Forest Service in the back country, this elderly Appaloosa had ground down his teeth foraging and could no longer live grazing in open pasture. He arrived at DreamPower undernourished and withdrawn, with health problems resulting from his poor diet. Today Forest is the grand old man of the DreamPower herd, enjoying the sunshine and his mule friend Snickers. His diet of beet pulp, grain and rice bran pellets has fattened him up nicely. Forest  works with experienced riders in the arena and on trails.

Honey

Honey is a particularly beautiful 10-year-old registered Haflinger mare with a pretty white blaze on her nose and a very broad chest. She was donated to DreamPower by J.J. and Barbara Routson in February 2008, along with her friends, Red and Classy.  Honey had four foals before coming to DreamPower and is currently in training for her new career as a therapy horse. In the DreamPower program she is proving to be a quick and willing learner.

Patches

Patches is a very smart six-year-old miniature donkey jenney.  She is the only member of the mini herd who has learned how to open the gate and let all the mini's out.  Both of Patches' parents earn their living by working in children's petting zoos, and Patches inherited her parents' sweet temperaments and love of people.  She is owned by Martha McNiel and works full-time at DreamPower.  Patches is a pinto mini donk and she loves to "talk" (very loudly!).

Red
Red is a large registered Haflinger gelding with a back as broad as a couch, and so is well suited to working with heavier riders. Calm, stoic and gentle, Red is unflappable on the trail and in the arena. Red is trained to pull a cart and has competed in musical freestyle shows.  At DreamPower he continues to watch out for "his girls" Honey and Classy, who were his friends before all three joined the DreamPower program in February 2008.  Red was donated to DreamPower by J.J. and Barbara Routson and Ellyn Schumacher.  His sister "Buffy" also works in a therapeutic riding program in California.

Rocky
The first Haflinger to join DreamPower, Rocky is a fabulous ambassador for this amazing breed.  Rocky was donated to DreamPower by Jeanne L. Whitlow. Rocky is a veteran therapy horse with many years of experience working with all levels of program participants. He is under 14 hands high but mighty, as his name implies. He is a steady and willing worker in a lesson, but capable of holding his own when playing in the pasture with his much larger friends, Chester and T.C. Rocky can enthusiastically pull a cart, go on a trail ride, and work quietly with medically fragile children.  We call him "Rocky the Wonder Horse."

T.C. (Too Cool)
T.C. (Too Cool) is a wise old soul. A registered American Quarter Horse in his early twenties, T.C. has a wonderful talent for teaching and relating to students of all levels. He is an adept communicator, and true to his name, unphased in almost any situation.  T.C. is owned by Garry Stauber and works full-time at DreamPower.  He is a sorrel gelding.  A student learns quickly that "you get what you give" with T.C. and he will amply reward those who treat him with kindness and respect.

Trigger

Trigger is a 10-year-old class "A" registered American Miniature Horse gelding.  He was donated to DreamPower by Dottie Scott, along with his best friend, Choco.  Trigger is a palomino and used to be a show horse before he came to DreamPower.  Because of his excellent conformation and handsome appearance, he was a halter champion at mini shows.  Trigger is the smallest member of the DreamPower herd.

Tulips
A petite and elegant bay American Quarter Horse mare, Tulips has a sensitive nature and a fine-tuned intelligence. She is owned by Garry Stauber and works full-time at DreamPower.  Her good looks and seemingly miraculous ability to keep her coat perfectly clean have made her "the princess" of the barn. Her name derives from her habit of smacking her lips when she is anxious. This habit helps keep students (and teachers) aware of the comfort level between horse and rider as skills advance. Tulips prefers working in the arena, where she knows what to expect and where she can show off her smooth canter.

Zachary

Starbright - Sadly Missed
A "grandmother with attitude," Starbright was a successful competitive children's jumper pony before switching careers to equine therapy. This bay Welsh pony/quarter horse cross used to compete in horse shows on the East Coast.  She was donated to DreamPower by Kathy Faraday and her family.  DreamPower's first horse, she passed away on April 9, 2009 after over seven years of helping and inspiring many DreamPower participants. Read more about Starbright.