Meet the Horses Who Empower Heroes at Michael's Foundation's Equine Program
DESIGNING POWER LADY
Designing Power Lady is the mother of both Michael’s Dream and Michael’s Promise. Her spectacular breeding career has ended, and she joins our herds full-time. Her experience as a mother and member of the herd brings a new perspective to many. She is a nurturer and a strong boundary-setter in her role within the herd and as a teacher.
MICHAEL'S PROMISE
Michael’s Promise is Michael’s Dream’s baby sister. She came into this work appreciating human assistance to get up, nurse, and stand independently. All things that didn’t seem as important as grooming herself. She is a fancy little girl who LOVES people and attention! Currently, she is pasture mates with Pearl, the donkey.
THOR
Thor has a similar story to Asterisk…. he too, had a successful career in the show ring and as a schooling horse under saddle. A chronic lameness issue forced his retirement as a riding horse. He is in his early teens and loves working with participants in our program. Thor brings his sense of humor and unusual upbringing, he was orphaned at 1 day old.
MICHAEL'S DREAM
Michael’s Dream is Designing Power Lady’s baby, and was born on Valentine’s Day 2020 in the middle of the afternoon. He has been a “pot stirrer” and like his namesake, a sweet boy with a glint in his eye and a sense of humor. Michael’s Dream is currently in “school” in NC learning his P’s and Q’s.
ASTERISK
Asterisk is our Sr. teaching horse in the herd. He became a wonderful teaching horse after a revered career in the show ring and as a breeding stallion. Asterisk has taught from small children to college students and adults under saddle, down the trail, and in the show ring. Arthritis forced an end to his riding career, and he has shifted into being a beloved member of our teaching herd.
PEARL THE DONKEY
Pearl is the farms baby sitter and preschool teacher. She LOVES the babies! Her job also includes protection. There is a long history of donkeys with babies for protection from predators and Pearl does not disappoint. Pearl also works in our program and loves a good ear scratch.
History of Al-Marah Arabian Horses
Al-Marah Arabians is owned by Keeley Clark & Mark Miller, founder and owner of the world-famous Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction, which he closed at the end of 2013 to continue the Legacy of Al-Marah. Mark’s mother, Bazy Tankersley, started breeding Arabian horses in the late 1930s and founded her Al-Marah Arabian Horse Farm in Tucson, Arizona, in 1942. In 1956, Al-Marah Arabians added the horses from Crabbet Stud and Hanstead Stud to their herd and have been the principal breeder of the Arabian Horses first gathered from the desert by Abbas Pasha in 1815, making Al-Marah the oldest privately owned band of Arabian Horses in the world. Mark is the 6th person in the third family to have control of this herd.