Barnyard Friends
Meet the Amazing Animals Who Complete Our Ranch Family
Beyond our horses, Hands & Hoofs is home to a wonderful collection of barnyard animals who each play a special role in our programs. From gentle donkeys to playful goats, these animals help children learn about different species, animal care, and the joy of connecting with a variety of farm friends.
Our Donkey Family
Betsy
Maria
Little Man the Llama
Little Man
Little Man is our special llama who adds unique charm to our ranch. While he doesn’t participate directly in arena activities, campers love meeting him and learning about llama behavior and care.
Our Goat Herd
Jani
Addy
Addy brings energy and fun to our barnyard animal sessions.
Mambo
Duncan & Mocha
Duncan is known for his gentle interactions with children during petting zoo activities.
Mocha completes our goat family with her sweet disposition and love of treats.
Our Sheep
Thelma & Louise
This dynamic sheep duo brings wool, warmth, and wonderful learning opportunities to our programs. Campers love learning about sheep behavior and the differences between our various barnyard species.
What Children Learn
Animal Diversity
- Understanding the differences between horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, and llamas
- Learning about different animal behaviors, needs, and personalities
- Discovering how various farm animals interact with humans and each other
Animal Care Basics
- What different animals eat and why their diets vary
- How animals are housed and cared for
- Understanding animal body language and communication
- Learning about the daily needs of farm animals
Respect for Living Beings
- How to approach different animals safely and respectfully
- Understanding that each animal has its own personality and preferences
- Learning patience and gentleness through animal interaction
- Developing empathy through positive animal experiences
Barnyard Activities
- Safe, supervised interactions with our gentle barnyard friends
- Learning to feed animals appropriate treats
- Understanding how different animals like to be petted and handled
- Observing natural animal behaviors and social dynamics
- Learning about animal care and daily routines
- Understanding how farm animals contribute to human life
- Discovering the unique characteristics of each species
- Building confidence through successful animal interactions
The Petting Zoo Experience
- Meet animals up close in a safe, supervised environment
- Learn about gentle handling and animal respect
- Experience the joy of connecting with different types of animals
- Build confidence through positive interactions with smaller, less intimidating animals
Supporting Our Barnyard Friends
Our barnyard animals require daily care, appropriate feed, shelter maintenance, and veterinary care. You can help support their care through:
Monthly Sponsorship Options:
Goat Sponsorship
Sheep Sponsorship
Llama Sponsorship
Donkey Sponsorship
Meet Them in Person
The best way to truly know our horses is to meet them during one of our programs:
More Animal Friends
Meet Our Horses
Our therapy horses and mini horse
Animal Sponsorship
Support all our animal care
Our horses make our programs possible and are cared for through donations and volunteer support
Hands & Hoofs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization