Meet Our Equine Instructors
PUMPKIN- Better known as "The Mighty Pumpkin",
though small in size, Pumpkin is big in heart.
RAWHIDE - This beautiful buckskin colored, 14.3 hand tall, BLM Mustang gelding once ran with a wild herd of BLM horses in Wyoming. He has carried many WTRRA riders to Special Olympic honors, was used for vaulting, and was featured on a BLM Mustang-collector card. Before becoming a therapy horse, he was trained by the prisoners at a prison in Riverton, Wyoming.
Rawhide has now been retired to Misfit Farms in Salmon, Idaho. This is a fitting retirement home for the mustang. Misfit Farm is named for their first mustang Miss Fit. Rawhide will continue to teach individuals the skills of trail course and we are sure he will show up at WTRRA events. THANK YOU, RAWHIDE.
These are the donks donated to WTRRA by Sandra Willingham.
They were welcomed to WTRRA by the kids of the Lemhi County Kids and Horses program and will be in-training in the equine activities for the elderly and accompany Tater Tot to Discovery Care
Ima Man
or Manny as he is prefers to be called was donated to WTRRA by
RuffnTuff minis of Nampa, Idaho. Manny will be a real asset to WTRRA's in-hand trail and showmanship classes for the smaller participants. He has a charming personality and is currently boarding with the Bellers and learning the ropes from Tater Tot.
TATER TOT- Tater is a 13 year-old, 31-inch tall Miniature Horse. For the past ten years, Tater, and his friend, Jane Burke, have been regular vistors at the Discover Care Center as part of the Center's pet therapy program. Each week the pair visit with the residents and even make bedside visits. Tater is somewhat of a local celebrity, having appeared at numerous events and in various parades. He was also featured on the syndicated equine tv program, Complete Rider. But despite his fame, Tater is most happy when he's visiting his friends at the Center.
National Geographic Kids features Tater Tot
December 2009
Tater Tot visits the residents of Discovery Care Nursing Home
Article by Margaret Hevel
A handshake is often the introduction to a performer. For Karine Aigner, Senior Photo Editor with National Geographic Kids Magazine, meeting this Salmon celebrity was a pat to Tater Tot’s head. This equine star is a miniature horse that has been touching the hearts of Whitewater Therapeutic and Recreational riders and the residents of Lemhi County for around fourteen years.
It all began when Kitson Flynn, Freelance Equine Journalist, sent out a call for story ideas for National Geographic Kid’s Magazine. Susan Dudask, an Equine Journalist in Salmon, told Kitson about Tater Tot. Kitson approached her editor. The story was accepted and Karine Aigner arrived in Salmon. At the Child Development Center, she photographed children grooming Tater Tot. Later in the day, Karine took pictures while Jane Burke, Tater Tot’s handler and friend, led our equine physician on his rounds. Tender moments glowed for the residents at the Discovery Care Center.
“Tater Tot is the best thing that has happened for the Discovery Care Center,” said Steve Lish, Administrator at the Discovery Care Center. Thanks to the Care Center Tater Tot now walks the hallways in the comfort of new red tennis shoes.
As the camera shutter closes; each picture captures Tater Tot’s enduring gift of unconditional love.
Tater Tot will be featured in the May edition of National Geographic Kids.
Tater visits the Salmon Schools Preschool Program
