Ares is a true Florida native. He was born in Ocala but has adjusted well to the harsh Canadian winters. Trish has always loved palominos, so she bred Athena to Kid, who is a palomino. Of course, it is impossible to get a palomino from a dark bay mare but she tried anyways. As it turned out, Ares is a blood bay color with a lightness around his eyes and muzzle that shows that tiny bit of color influence from his daddy. He’s very proud of his “smiling” trick and will show off for anyone who encourages him. Ares is part of all the programs at the ranch.

Born: February 1, 2000

Breed: Standardbred/Quarter Horse

Foaled: Ocala, Florida

Dam: Andros Athena

Height: 15.1 hh

Sire: Kid Tama

Color: Blood Bay

Sex: Gelding

Athena is another home bred who was born on Trish’s farm in Ontario. Like many “snowbirds,” she soon headed south to Florida. After relocating to the Sunshine State as a weanling, Athena raced for several years in trotting races and was later sold when Trish started training thoroughbreds. Two years later, Trish watched Athena win a race, but realized the mare was being abused horribly, so she bought her back. Athena has called Story Book Meadows home ever since, and has had four foals, Ares being her first. She is involved in the Equine Assisted Learning programs and can be ridden. Athena’s former days on the track are just memories now and she is quite content to be driven around the farm’s lane ways at a much quieter pace when hitched to a two-wheel cart. She’s happy to back in Ontario where the cooler weather is healthier for her.

Born: February 16, 1991

Breed: Standardbred

Foaled: Schomberg, Ont. Canada

Dam: Tay View Rhia

Height: 14.3 hh

Sire: NV Worthy

Color: Dark Bay

Sex: Mare

Chelsea was purchased from a “kill buy” auction in Pennsylvania in 2016 and shipped here to our ranch to become one of our therapy horses. Although we don’t know much about her previous life, she has settled into the herd here with Athena and Sasha. Chelsea displays many behaviours of abuse and victimization and it takes a little extra time to build the trust she needs to feel safe. Those that interact with her are drawn to her gentle spirit.

Born: Unknown

Breed: Tennessee Walking Horse

Foaled: Unknown

Dam: Unknown

Height: 14.2 hh

Sire: Unknown

Color: Black

Sex: Mare

After a riding vacation in 2001 at Paradise Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming, Trish promptly fell in love with Quarter Horses raised in the West. She decided to add Double Fancy Wrangler (or Patch, as he’s known on the farm) to the herd and bought him sight unseen from a ranch auction in South Dakota that same year. When he finally arrived after a long trailer ride, she was thrilled to discover he is truly a nice horse. She’s been blessed to enjoy Patch as her personal riding horse as they’ve experienced many Florida trails together over the years. Patch is part of all the programs offered at the ranch. Since every year he grows a thick and long South Dakota coat, Patch is very comfortable at his new home in Loretto, Ontario.

Born: April 27, 1998

Breed: Quarter Horse

Foaled: Whitehorse, South Dakota

Dam: Fancy Fancy Bar

Height: 15.2 hh

Sire: Wranglers Dun Packin

Color: Grey

Sex: Gelding

Despite his majestic name of Lightning Power, we call him Troy. He is another home bred by our stallion, Light Years Ahead, a beautiful and talented race horse in his own right who is involved in our Equine Assisted Learning programs. As of this writing, Troy has won ten races in his career and his victories have served as the financial resource for creating this ranch ministry. Troy finally retired in January 2013 with a total of over $280,000 US in earnings from racing at the age of eleven and is perfectly sound. He has now readjusted to retirement living and is part of our programs. He is a horse that would love to have a special volunteer retrain him for pleasure riding.

Born: February 25, 2002

Breed: Thoroughbred

Foaled: Ocala, Florida

Dam: White Lightning

Height: 16 hh

Sire: Light Years Ahead

Color: White

Sex: Gelding

Twilight Sasha, or Sasha for short, is a home bred sired by Trish’s stallion, Light Years Ahead. Although she raced a few times, she just didn’t have the “fire” necessary to be a successful racehorse. Sasha has been in dressage training, but is now joining her friends to help teach here on the ranch. With the double whorls on her forehead, Sasha is true to the old cowboy lore of a split personality. She worked well in our Equine Assisted Learning programs. Sadly, Sasha passed away this summer due to complications from Cushings Disease. She was the herd alpha and is missed by her human and herd friends.

Born: April 1, 2002

Died: August 4, 2021

Breed: Thoroughbred

Foaled: Ocala, Florida

Dam: Cox’s Miss

Height: 15.3 hh

Sire: Light Years Ahead

Color: Grey

Sex: Mare

Cox’s Miss goes by her barn name of Sam and was purchased at the OBS auction here in Ocala in 2000. Since that time, she has had two foals for us, including Sasha. Trish and Gary retired her from breeding a few years ago, believing she definitely deserved a rest after having produced over 15 foals in her lifetime. Sadly Sam herself decided it was time to leave this earthly world and was humanely euthanized. She gallops freely now with no arthritis and no pain in heaven.

Born: May 18, 1983

Died: October 4, 2011

Breed: Thoroughbred

Foaled: Ocala, Florida

Dam: Aware

Height: 16.2 hh

Sire: Cox’s Ridge

Color: Dark Bay

Sex: Mare

After a riding vacation in 2001 at Paradise Ranch in Buffalo, Wyoming, Trish promptly fell in love with Quarter Horses raised in the West. Later that summer she jumped at the chance to purchase Tru High Bid, (affectionately known as Justice), sight unseen from a ranch auction in Idaho. Due to several trailering misadventures, it took two weeks for Justice to cross the country to his new home in Florida. But once he arrived, he settled right in and soon became Trish’s trail horse for several years. Gary is now his regular rider as they hit the trails all over Central Florida. Justice loves being part of all the programs at the ranch. He has adjusted well to the colder climate in Ontario which is much more to his Idaho blood liking! In January we discovered Justice had a grapefruit sized bladder stone. He was admitted to the University of Guelph Ontario Veterinary College to undergo surgery to remove the stone. Although Justice made it through the surgery, for some unknown reason he was unable to put weight on his front legs. After bravely trying to stand for over 30 hours his pain and anxiety was more than he could handle and Justice was humanely euthanized on Saturday evening. He was our most beloved ministry horse filled with wisdom and the Spirit of God. We miss him dearly. The farm will never be the same.

Born: April 18, 1989

Died: January 30, 2016

Breed: Quarter Horse

Foaled: Moore, Idaho

Dam: Bids Mandy Rose

Height: 15 hh

Sire: Tru Trus Grand

Color: Palomino

Sex: Gelding

Light Years Ahead (known around the barn as Hollywood) was purchased from a sale in Lexington, Kentucky as a yearling. Trish broke and trained him to sell in a two year old in training sale but fell in love with his gregarious and fun loving personality. After turning down an offer for $150,000, she saw a talent in him that she hoped he would take to the race track. As Light Years Ahead won his maiden race at Tampa Bay Downs, tears streamed down her face, while watching her very first race horse prance into the winner’s circle. After suffering an injury later in the season, she bred him to several mares and enjoyed raising his foals. Many of them raced successfully. He is now a gelding and happily participating in the equine assisted life lessons on the ranch. Watch him though, he still has stallion habits! Unfortunately Hollywood has left this earth and now romps on the heavenly pastures with those who have gone before him. There is a huge hole in our hearts in losing Hollywood. He had such a BIG personality and loved every second of life. We miss him dearly.
Born: March 9, 1996

Died: March 16, 2019

Breed: Thoroughbred

Foaled: Lexington, Kentucky

Dam: Little Betty Blue

Height: 16.0 hh

Sire: Majestic Light

Color: Grey

Sex: Gelding

Chief was purchased out of a prominent yearling sale in Lexington, Kentucky. After training here on the farm, he went to the racetrack. He broke his hock as a three-year-old and although the vet said he would never run again, he was healed and raced again. Chief almost always hit the board but never broke his maiden, meaning he never won a race. He retired from racing in 2002 after developing a bone spur in his foot. Chief has been retired to a SavetheHorses.org in North Georgia to live out his days.

Born: May 14, 1996

Died: Sept. 20, 2019

Breed: Thoroughbred

Foaled: Midway, Kentucky

Dam: River Guide

Height: 15.3 hh

Sire: Chief Honcho

Color: Chestnut

Sex: Gelding

Rose was purchased as a yearling at auction in Lexington, Kentucky. After training at the farm, she raced a few times as a three-year-old. An unfortunate habit of pawing at the fences resulted in an injury to her tendon that same year. After she healed, Trish decided to breed her instead of putting her back in training. Rose has had four foals, with Luke being her last. She is sound and could be ridden with some retraining. Rose has been retired to SavetheHorses.org in North Georgia with Chief.

Born: February 2, 1996

Breed: Thoroughbred

Foaled: Lexington, Kentucky

Dam: Azadeh

Height: 15.2 hh

Sire: Pistols & Roses

Color: Grey

Sex: Mare