It takes a special horse with a lot of heart to be a part of Ride for Joy! First and foremost, we are looking for four-legged team members who are kind, patient, and enjoy a job supporting riders experiencing a variety of disabilities. Horses must also be strong, healthy, sound, and compatible with many different personalities and skill levels.

Ride for Joy provides care leases, meaning that the program receives exclusive use of each horse in exchange for covering the expenses of their daily management and routine healthcare. This allows staff to maintain ongoing training and ensure that each horse’s workload stays within standards set by RFJ and PATH Intl. Some horse owners choose to fund the ongoing care of their horse through a generous tax-deductible donation, allowing RFJ to expand and serve more participants.

Before reaching out, please review the following equine qualifications:

• Physically fit and healthy

• Sound at the walk, trot, and canter/lope

• Calm, unflappable temperament

• Patient and forgiving with young, unbalanced, and uncoordinated riders

• Well-trained and responsive to hand, leg, seat, and voice cues

• Between the ages of 8 years and 18 years

If you have a horse that you would like to care lease to Ride for Joy, please fill out and mail (28379 El Paso Rd. Caldwell, ID 83607) or fax (1 208 550-3208) the Horse Evaluation Form. A RFJ staff member will get back to you regarding any openings in the herd and whether your horse would be a good fit.

Questions? Contact Chanel Jensen at cjensen@rideforjoy.org.

My name is Madonna, and I certainly live up to it. I like the finer things in life, especially if it involves anything I can eat. I’m a unique mix of the refined Thoroughbred and the powerful Percheron breeds, and I have done everything from jumping to dressage before beginning my career with Ride for Joy. If you’re lucky, I might show you my smile!

Don’t let my size fool you, I have arguably one of the biggest personalities of all my peers! I am a Section B Welsh Pony, and have previously been used as a trail and lesson pony. I have also been a mom twice! I love my job here at Ride for Joy and can’t wait to teach you how to ride!

I'm Ike! I used to do dressage, and I am very fancy! I'm a really good boy who wouldn't harm a fly, and I want to make everyone around me happy. 

I'm about 18 years old, and I love to snack on carrots and bananas.

I’m Bella! I have been with Ride for Joy the longest of any of my herd - mates. My best friend is DeNaldi, but I get along with all my friends. You wouldn’t be able to tell since I have no spots, but I’m actually a registered Appaloosa! I am a solid lesson horse that will be a reliable teacher for you to learn to ride with - let’s saddle up!

You can probably see why my name is Sunny, since my coat is golden like the sun! I’m a stunning Quarter Horse, and in my younger years I worked on a ranch. I still have some fancy moves and am very sensitive to my rider’s aids, but I always take really good care of my students and am sweet as can be.

My name is DeNaldi, and I am a handsome and young Westphalian Warmblood. I used to be a dressage horse before joining Ride for Joy, and I am very well trained. I am full of youthful energy and my humans have compared my personality to that of a Great Dane - I’m large, but I want to be in your lap!

I’m Twisty! As the oldest horse in the Ride for Joy herd, I have a been there, done that attitude that makes me a great horse to teach beginners and little riders. I definitely have my quirks though, like escaping my stall if you’re not paying attention! Food is my favorite thing in the world, so if it’s nearby while I’m working, I will easily be distracted.

My name is Jones! I’m a tall and lean OTTB (off the track Thoroughbred), meaning that I was a racehorse in my younger days! After that I became an eventer, traveling across the country for shows. Now in my middle age, I prefer to take it a little slower, but I can still be spicy when the staff ride me! In lessons, I’m cool as a cucumber and will take very good care of my students.

My name is Bert, and I’m a young Quarter Horse who loves to discover the world by nibbling. I loudly welcome my friends - especially Jones, back to the barn after their lessons. That combined with my spunky personality makes me the perfect little package. Can’t wait to meet you!

No one is 100% sure what kind of horse I am, but we can all agree that I'm 100% a good girl! 

I was taken in by a family who found out just how sweet I am, and that's when Ride for Joy found me and gave me a chance! 

I'm 15 years old and ready to be your solid, sturdy teacher.