Meet our Herd: Target

For Jaclyn and Target, it was love at first sight. Jaclyn was a university student, and already owned one horse Java, so when she saw Target for the first time and thought "I am going to own that horse," she didn't know how it could ever possibly come true.

Target was rescued with the remainder of his herd and brought to a facility where Jaclyn was boarding Java. 

Jaclyn bought Target on September 30, 2009, when he was just a feisty, green 5 year old gelding. Target is a 15'2hh paint horse, born June 9, 2004.

Target is named for the big white circle on his rump that resembles an archery target against the backdrop of his dark black coat.

Target is affectionately known as one of the most intelligent horses Jaclyn (or most people who have met him) have ever encountered. Target absolutely loves to figure out puzzles, routines, systems and processes.

The first time Target moved in to his stall at his current barn, he figured out how to completely dissemble the entire thing! This particular stall has boards that slide up and out, to help in an emergency, should a horse be cast or stuck in some way. Target had not seen a stall like this before, but he needed to know how it worked. In the morning, the woman feeding the horses walked in to find a pile of stall boards on the ground - and Target standing smug in his stall, as if to say "I figured it out! What's next?"

On another occasion, Target, during the morning feeding ritual, somehow opened a gate and let himself out to the field, likely to munch up the leftover good quality alfalfa hay that only the outdoor overnight horses get!

Target is fiercely protective of his herd and his humans. We have witnessed him bravely chasing a coyote out of the field - or aggressively snorting at the misplaced sweater someone carelessly left on his stall. 

Target is not a jouster but he is a very talented horse! And in fact, you can spot Target in the video on our homepage showing off his mounted games skills. Fun fact - Target learned to hit the quintain and throw a spear during the filming of that video! We believe this is partially due to our Trust Based Learning technique, but Target will tell you it is because of his high IQ and athletic prowess.

As a young, green horse, Target stuck closely to the side of his big sister Java. Since her passing, Target has become the older sibling to his big baby brother Titan - who now sticks to him the way he used to stick to Java. One time we even saw Titan eating hay directly from Target's mouth! Brothers!

Target truly loves his home, his brother and his people. Target is wary of new things and new people, but once he trusts someone, they clearly become part of his herd. We thank him for his ever vigilant and watchful eye. 

Jaclyn has had Target for over 16 years and has loved every minute with this hard-headed, super-smart, feisty, challenging, love-bug horse!