2024 RRA Lesson Horse Honor Roll
Join us in celebrating the true heroes of our sport! These devoted equines contribute to the development of top riders, the sport, and lifelong equestrians. The hardest working and most impactful equines in our industry are honored here for everything they do! Click here to learn more about where these nominees reside and about other currently Recognized Riding Academies in your area. Meet our 2022 and 2023 honorees here.
Zone 1
Adored by RRA Folly Farm Show Stables of Simsbury, CT
19 year old Quarter Horse, 11 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Strawberry frosted donut
If he were a famous person, he would be: Gilbert Godfrey
Floyd is the absolute best teacher for all lessons from dead beginners to 2' students. He teaches students how to ride their first lead change and compete in their first show! PC: Folly Farm Show Stables
Adored by RRA Rising Starr Horse Rescue of Wilton, CT
21 year old American Paint, 14 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Mrs. Pastures
If he were a famous person, he would be: Gary Sinise/LT Dan
There is nothing Dakota couldn't do. He is kind, hardworking, and unbelievably reliable. PC: Rising Starr Horse Rescue
Adored by RRA Well-A Way-Farm of Simsbury, CT
20+ year old Warmblood, 10+ years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Apples and carrots
If she were a famous person, she would be: Jennifer Aniston - they both look great for their age!
Classy is the kindest and most special teacher. She has the best rocking horse canter for students just learning to canter but still makes her riders work! Classy is the BEST first horse show horse, too. She loves to show and shows her riders how it's done in the walk/trot and walk/trot/canter classes. A barn favorite, all of the kids ask for her! We are so lucky to have Classy as part of our Well-A-Way Farm family! PC: WAWF
Zone 3
Adored by RRA Haverhill Farm of Ashland, VA
26 year old Thoroughbred, 12 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Anything!
If he were a famous person, he would be: Bob Ross
Chance is the ultimate confidence builder, babysitter and best
friend. He takes care of each and every rider; big and small.
Chance is the best guy to introduce riders and families to the
joy of horses and riding. PC: Shaun Mitchell
Adored by RRA Beverly Equestrian of The Plains, VA
13 year old Welsh Pony, 5 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Buckeye Nutrition peppermint treats
If she were a famous person, she would be: Sweetie Belle
Poppy is very brave and safe but a little mischievous. PC: Darrin Mollett
Adored by RRA Palisades Episcopal School of Charlotte, NC
25 year old Warmblood Welsh cross, 3 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: She is an equal opportunity treat lover!
If she were a famous person, she would be: Queen Elizabeth
Many people say their horse or pony likes kids, but Cortina completely lights up when the littles are around- they are truly her people. She is so gentle and sweet for even the tiniest student, but she can still turn on the fancy for a kid who is more experienced. Cortina is great for the kids who are just learning to canter as well as the ones who are learning to navigate courses of ground poles. We are so incredibly fortunate to have her in our program and we absolutely adore her! PC: Emily Frye
Adored by RRA Chatham Hall of Chatham, VA
19 year old Thoroughbred, 10 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Only carrots!
If he were a famous person, he would be: Jason Bateman
Joey has been an IEA Nationals fan favorite for many years now. We were lucky enough to welcome him to Chatham Hall in 2023. Joey has a silly personality and has been crowned the slowest walking horse in the entire barn. He has taught kids
how to do their first canter, jump, and taken them to their first shows. We love Joey! PC: Chatham Hall
Adored by RRA Full Moon Farm of Finksburg, MD
28 year old Irish Sport Horse, a lifetime of years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: He doesn't turn down a treat, but probably apples!
If he were a famous person, he would be: Professor Dumbledore
Sully is special because he is in tune with everything around him, even if he's stoic about it. He will do whatever it takes to get the job done and take care of his rider. Sully teaches students how to be a more technical and effective rider, and he is the very best at teaching riders how to properly sit the trot! Sully has been referred to as the "King of Kings" by the students and they're not wrong! PC: Amy Flemming Waters
Adored by RRA Beverly Equestrian of The Plains, VA
15 year old Arabian, 2 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Buckeye Nutrition Peppermints
If he were a famous person, he would be: Renowned Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo. Domingo is celebrated for his powerful and emotive performances on the opera stage, reflecting a combination of strength, beauty, and dramatic flair.
Lorenzo loves looking fancy and floating around.
Zone 4
Adored by RRA Boca Riding Club of Boca Raton, FL
16 year old Quarter Horse/Warmblood cross, 6 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Peppermints
If he were a famous person, he would be: Ryan Reynolds- everyone’s favorite
Rocky is the best teacher for anyone learning to ride. He has taught every student from itty bitties to adults. The barn favorite!!! PC: Elizabeth Constantin
Adored by RRA Boca Riding Club of Boca Raton, FL
21 year old paint/Quarter Horse cross, 12 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Cucumbers
If he were a famous person, he would be: Ryan Reynolds- everyone’s favorite
Hazel is the safest starter pony. Her job is to basically stand still and she does it perfectly! PC: Elizabeth Constantin
Adored by RRA Haig Point Equestrian of Daufuskie Island, SC
20 year old Welsh Arab cross, 6 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: He never met a treat he didn't love
If he were a famous person, he would be: Jimmy Fallon
Farley, renowned for being charismatic and charming, is a fan favorite in our barn! He doesn’t mind toting the littles around or jumping a course with a more advanced student. He knows when to be perfect, when to put on a show, and when some comedic relief is much needed. Farley has certainly left his mark on our program and the hearts of many young riders! PC: Marlene Makowski
Adored by RRA Cornerstone Farm South of Naples, FL
26 year old Pony of the Americas, 20 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Shaved carrots
If he were a famous person, he would be: Conan O'Brien
He is the VERY best at helping students learn to trot as he is so smooth and keeps a steady beat. BUT he can be a little imp - he forces his riders to pay attention, or he will sneak some grass! He LOVES to jump and if he does not get a solid short
stirrup rider at least once a week he will start to get pouty. He does everything from leadline to short stirrups - he will TOTALLY babysit but he love the brave kids the best! PC: Leslie Terry
Adored by RRA Lucky Fox Farm of Murfreesboro, TN
40 year old Arabian, 20 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Nicker Maker treats
If he were a famous person, he would be: Thomas Edison
Rajah is the best first ride horse, the best first trot horse, the best first canter horse, and the best first crossrail horse. He takes care of his rider at every step, and if a rider becomes unbalanced, he breaks to a walk every time until they get their position back. Rajah is the safest and gentlest horse in the barn and is the best confidence booster that has ever been in my barn! PC: Amanda Strube
Adored by RRA The Stables at Frederica of St. Simon's Island, GA
17 year old Welsh X Pony, 8 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Bananas!
Maddie is a staple within The Stables at Frederica riding program. She's involved in every lesson type, from first lessons to 2' and up. She is stellar in the competition ring, consistently earning "Horse of the Show" at IEA competitions, and a region
favorite! PC: The Stables at Frederica
Sparkles
Adored by RRA The Stables at Frederica of St. Simon's Island, GA
17 year old Appendix, 2 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Horse show vendor French fries
Sparkles is one of the most loved horses within the Stables at Frederica riding program! Sparkles thrives in the cross rail ring, but will never miss a beat in the higher divisions. He's taken riders confidently through the Hunter and Equitation cross rail divisions over the last 2 years, earning countless champion and reserve placements at a multitude of venues! It's a great day when you see "Sparkles" written by your name on the lesson assignment board! PC: The Stables at Frederica
Adored by RRA Winterview Farm of Flora, MS
24 year old Quarter Horse, 11 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Carrots
If he were a famous person, he would be: Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln is always so kind and patient with the kids. He is great for first horse shows, almost always bringing home a champion ribbon. Lincoln is best at teaching kids how to canter jumps because he has a great rhythm and flat jump. PC: Meghan Roider
Zone 5
Adored by RRA Hathaway Farm of Lebanon, OH
12 year old Quarter Horse
At 15 hands, what Gunner lacks in size, he makes up for in heart. He is a favorite in our lesson program with our experienced 2'6" riders. He goes to most of the horse shows with us and has had wins and great placings with a variety of different riders in all three rings. Gunner's temperament and personality along with all his great buttons make him wonderful. PC: Kirsten Vanderburg
Zone 7
Adored by RRA Double Rainbow Farm of Haughton, LA
20 year old POA/pinto cross, 15 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Peppermints
If he were a famous person, he would be: Matt Rife (funny and famous, and he knows it).
Triton keeps his riders on their toes, teaching while maintaining his sense of humor. He is wonderful at teaching the sitting trot because he is so smooth yet gives a true feel for the correct diagonal. When riders are starting to canter, he will make them ask correctly if they want to pick up the correct lead. He has some unique quirks that he has maintained since being rescued by one of our students and given to us. These quirks teach all of his students to be kind, move slowly, and notice all horses are individuals. PC: Corey Andersen
Adored by RRA Sunny Fox Farms of San Marcos, TX
18 year old Welsh Pony, 13 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Whatever you offer her!
If she were a famous person, she would be: Fergie!
Fergie is our Fergalicious pony queen. She is a favorite among the littles as she's cute and inviting and has the best little boing-boing trot. The more experienced riders adore her too she is such a blast to jump around. Fergie qualified with owner Lilly for Pony Finals in 2014 and 2015 and since has brought so many kiddos to championship after championship. She is an IEA super star and loves to horse show. Fergie is our sassy redhead who basically runs the barn with her adorableness. We give a huge thanks to the Niccum family for trusting us with Fergie in this forever job of hers. PC: Sandlin Niccum
Adored by RRA Double Rainbow Farm of Haughton, LA
20 year old Australian Thoroughbred, 2 years giving lessons at our farm
Favorite Treat: Carrots or apples
If she were a famous person, she would be: Princess Diana (royal and kind from head to toe)
Echo is the most lovely horse because she is kind, forgiving, patient, and makes the most nervous riders fall in love with horses. Echo serves all riders from the littlest to the adults - she is a teacher in every way. Echo has HUGE anxiety about the sound of the announcer at our schooling shows. This gentle giant turns into a bundle of nerves when the announcements start rolling out. Maybe it reminds her of her steeplechase days! Another thing that makes Echo unique is that she only has ONE EYE! That doesn't stop her from being one of the best lesson horses to ever live at Double Rainbow Farm and that is saying A LOT! PC: Katie Andersen
Adored by RRA Double Rainbow Farm of Haughton, LA
28 year old Welsh Pony, 23 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Baby carrots and smushed oatmeal cookies
If she were a famous person, she would be: Tom Holland (everyone loves him)
Simon is the best boy. He has lived at Double Rainbow since he was two. He was imported from Wales in utero and born in Canada. He is an incredible mover, has a big canter and an extraordinary jump. Simon is a very good teacher of posting and staying centered since he has such big movement for a small pony. In his older years he is still fancy but has become an extreme caretaker of his little students. He is gentle, kind, and smart as a whip. He is the sweetest soul yet teaches everyone to ride correctly. Simon has been a true gift to those who have learned from him over the years. PC: Morgan Eberhardt
Adored by RRA Hill Country Riding Academy of New Braunfels, TX
18(?) year old Quarter Horse cross, 10 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Anything!
If he were a famous person, he would be: Abraham Lincoln
George has the quiet demeanor of someone who knows exactly what they are doing, but does not need to tell you about it. He is patient, almost to a fault, allowing young and inexperienced riders to take their time learning important skills like balance,
hand, seat and leg coordination, and steering. George can be stubborn, but he does it in a quiet way, so that no one ever gets mad at him!! When he is ridden by a confident rider, George is amazing, jumping big and getting all the horse strides and lead changes! We couldn't run our program without him! PC: Stephanie Cook
Adored by RRA Hill Country Riding Academy of New Braunfels, TX
22 year old Thoroughbred, 15 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Carrots and peppermints
If he were a famous person, he would be: Superman / Clark Kent
Checkers is always so good at being "Super Checkers" and was a true 3 ring horse! As he has gotten older he has not slowed down at all. Checkers was the Take 2 National Champion Thoroughbred Jumper in 2015 and he NEVER lets anyone forget it! He now allows small children to trot him around , but can still show at 3'!! PC: Stephanie Cook
Adored by RRA Victory Stables of Martindale, TX
16 year old American Paint Horse, 4 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: Peppermints
If he were a famous person, he would be: Charlie Chaplin
Omega is the beginner horse deluxe! He can have the slowest trot and canter when he has a beginner learning the ropes to make sure they never get going too fast or get too nervous. He is so quiet and careful with our smallest riders when they are
having their first longe line lessons. But don't be fooled, he also loves to jump and will always take the line and get to the other side. Omega is loved by all in IEA, he is a great draw for any kid looking to walk away with a ribbon! We're so glad to have
Omega as part of the Victory program where he has been loved by so many for almost 5 years! PC: Cory Valenzuela
Zone 10
Adored by RRA Elvenstar Riding Academy of Moorpark, CA
29 year old pony, 15 years giving lessons
Favorite Treat: All treats are good!
If she were a famous person, she would be: Betty White because she is so sweet and loves all kids.
Daphne is the sweetest pony and a treat to ride for all beginners. She is kind, smooth and the best for the mommy and me classes. At her age she doesn't canter anymore and now excels at teaching riders how to trot. Daphne is also best friends and lives with our mini–donkey Aladdin. She keeps him calm and happy like a four-legged grandma! PC: Kaycee Bischoff
