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.

Gunnar

Gunnar is a 14-year-old Quarter Horse gelding who is a wise protector of his herd mates. He has a heart of gold but can be misunderstood due to his beefy appearance. However, he is an excellent teacher and can help you learn about yourself.

Gunnar loves his cookies and enjoys showing off in the round pen during working times. When he first came to CBR, he had a thick shell that took some time to peel back. But now, he is a well-behaved gentleman who will stop at nothing to ensure the safety of his herd and do anything for his humans.

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 15-year-old mare who belongs to the quarter horse breed. She is a friendly and gentle horse who loves to receive booty scratches and go on leisurely walks while listening to your conversations.

Echo is a social animal and enjoys walking alongside other horses. She also relishes spa days where she can pamper herself and relax. In her previous life, Echo was a trail horse who preferred to follow rather than lead. She is a real treat and a pleasure to spend time with.

Magic

Magic Show is a Thoroughbred Broodmare born in Florida in 2001. She is now retired at CBR, and lovingly known as Mama Magic at the ranch. Magic has an innate ability to read your heart, and has produced many racetrack champions during her life as a broodmare.

We are grateful to have her at CBR for her well-deserved retirement. After feedings, Magic gets sleepy, enjoys the sunshine, and loves being groomed. Her strength and grace can take your breath away, and you can see her eyes soften in her presence.

Lady B

Playing Miss Doc b-2004 was registered in Roscoe, Montana. She is an American Quarterhorse, a buckskin broodmare, and has a heartwarming story. When she came to us, she was in rough shape, and we were unsure whether she would survive. However, her remarkable fighting spirit helped her pull through. She is teaching us the values of patience and perseverance, and we are learning to earn her trust.

Despite being cautious, she is still brave and exudes a mix of courage and strength that fills the space around her. Working with her requires a unique combination of endurance, boldness, and a "can-do attitude." We are thrilled to have her at Copper Bowl, and we look forward to seeing her write her story here.

Suga!

Suga! is a Chestnut American Saddlebred mare who was born in Georgia in 2009. She has a vibrant personality that is full of charisma. Suga! loves to engage in little chats with her human companions and forms strong connections with calm individuals. She is a true pro in the round pen and thrives when being lunged, displaying her remarkable skills.

Suga! is an attentive listener and loves to lend an ear as you talk. While being assertive, she often thinks she's the boss, which adds to her unique charm. In the past, Suga! worked as a cart horse and lived at the Veit ranch in Monticello, which adds an interesting chapter to her life story.

Mabel

Mabel is a 22-year-old Standardbred mare with the registered name Really Elegant. She was once a trotter racehorse and had 4 foals before serving as a cart horse with the Amish community for 14 years. She was rescued from a kill pen in Wisconsin, adopted, and later surrendered to This Old Horse rescue under their Racehorse Reimagined program in 2023.

Mabel is known for her sweet and witty personality, and she was adopted by Jodi Menke on February 22, 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!

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.

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.