About Small Wonders Farm
Meet the Animals
As important as Michael, Patricia, the family, and our team of volunteers are to Small Wonders Farm, the animals are the stars. There’s quite a variety of critters on these 5 acres, so let’s meet a few:
About Leroy
Leroy is a miniature horse and was the first animal to join the farm that wasn’t a chicken or a duck. We call him our “SLM” – spicy little midget – because his curiosity and playful nature can get him into trouble. When Michael is building a run-in or fixing a fence, Leroy will often come over to see what he’s doing… and to drag away Michael’s tools. He loves attention and will do anything to get it. Including pull on your pants. If you have a horse cookie, you might get him to strike a pose up on his hind legs… or maybe not. It depends on the day.
About Gracie
Gracie is our Shetland Pony and serves as our pony ride specialist. She has never lost a rider! (We can’t say that about Leroy). Gracie loves to work and was even working with our 6-year-old to learn barrel racing. She and our miniature donkey, Salem, have an “off-again-on-again” relationship.
About Salem
Salem is our miniature donkey and quite the ladies man. He came to us at two years old and loves attention… unless you have a lead rope in your hand. If Salem had a catchphrase, it would be, “don’t touch my feet.” He loves pats on his enormous forehead, rubs on his nose, even hugs. Just don’t touch his feet.
About Butterscotch
Butterscotch is our special needs sheep. He was a triplet and got the short end of the vitamin and mineral stick. He kind looks like a miniature giraffe with no neck and walks like his knees don’t bend, but he was bottle fed as a baby and is the sweetest sheep we have. He wasn’t expected to live more than a year, but, at a year and a half, Butterscotch is living his best life!
About Nessie
Nessie got her name because she has a white mark on her side that looks like the Loch Ness Monster peeking out of the water. She is a Pygmy Nigerian cross goat and can almost fit in a cargo pocket. We usually have to check purses as people leave to be sure she’s not stowed away. Also a bottle-fed baby, Nessie can’t get enough attention and would be quite content to simply be held all – day – long. Since Nessie is too small to jump the fence, she gets to share space with Rodeo Joe.
About Holly
Holly is a little black hair sheep. She and Butterscotch shed their wool rather than needing to be sheared. Holly is a love and will walk right up to you so you can have the distinct honor of petting her. Before she got pregnant, she was one of our primary travel sheep for petting zoo events because she was more eager to see people than eat food.
About Roscoe
Roscoe is a fairly new addition to the farm. He is a 12-year-old Hackney Pony and served as a cart horse for the Amish before he came to us. At 13 hands, Roscoe can handle larger riders than Gracie can. Gracie can carry a rider up to 85 lbs, but Roscoe can handle up to 115 lbs. We do need to watch his weight though. Our vet thinks he was in an accident years ago and broke his jaw. It makes it more challenging for him to eat well and gain weight, but he has a very distinctive smile. Depending on which side you’re standing on, you’ll see either his top or his bottom teeth.
About Rodeo Joe
Rodeo Joe is our Sulcata Desert Tortoise. We call him RJ. He is seven years old and will live to be over 100. He loves to be scratched on his shell, which is part of his skeletal system, and he can feel those scratches all through his body. He loves to spend time in the sun munching dandelions, romaine lettuce, and other green food. One of his favorite treats is watermelon, but he always leaves the rind. Weird.