house. No one could recall who was the second highest bidder, so the owner pulled the horse out of the auction and led her away. I told my husband to go down, find the man and buy the horse.
This was how we acquired Thor’s dam, Xena The Warrior Princess. We found out when we got her home that she was well broke and was one of the best trail horses you could ask for. Anyone could ride her. She was a big comfortable ride.
The owner had assured us that Xena was not bred, even though she was pastured with the Appaloosa stallion at home. He said the stud was too short to breed her. He was 14.2 hands and Xena was 15.3. Nevertheless, March 26, 2007, Thor was born. He was a big smoky black colt with
was the beginning of a great adventure!
Thor was imprinted and handled as soon as he was born. All the other horses and donkeys regarded him as a prince and would help Xena protect him. She really didn’t need any assistance in that matter, however, because she was so big and protective on her own.
We generally only breed one or two Sarplaninac litters per year. If you are interested in purchasing a pup from us, please visit our website to learn more: www.grazerie.com
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Our journey began when my husband David and I went to a horse sale looking for a saddle. We usually avoid horse sale barns as they can be quite depressing. We went with some friends and were going to leave before the horses went through the sale barn. The tack sale was first so we thought we would be gone by then. However, we had some time before it started so we went back to see what was in the sale barn.
A big black Percheron mare came trotting through the aisle of the sale barn. Behind her, hanging on for dear life was a very small man who looked like he was skiing. The mare was big with beautiful floating movement. We came up to her to admire her. She was magnificent. The owner explained that she was attached to a stallion he had brought to the sale and that was why she was in such a hurry to get in the barn. The stallion was a real beauty himself. He was a black bay appaloosa with a colorful blanket. The owner explained that the mare was not broke, but that he had led children on her hundreds of times. He asked me did I want to ride her and I said yes. He led us around the sale barn paddock and I was very impressed with her. We were there to buy a saddle though, not a horse.
Needless to say, we did not get a saddle at that sale. When the big beautiful mare was led in to be auctioned, the owner of the horse refused to sell her to the man who bid the highest. He recognized the man as the meat man. He would come to the sales to get horses for the slaughter
I told my husband to go down, find the man and buy the horse.
This was how we acquired Thor’s dam, Xena The Warrior Princess. We found out when we got her home that she was well broke and was one of the best trail horses you could ask for. Anyone could ride her. She was a big comfortable ride.
The owner had assured us that Xena was not bred, even though she was pastured with the Appaloosa stallion at home. He said the stud was too short to breed her. He was 14.2 hands and Xena was 15.3. Nevertheless, March 26, 2007, Thor was born. He was a big smoky black colt with a small white blanket on his rump. Little did I know that this was the beginning of a great adventure!
Thor was imprinted and handled as soon as he was born. All the other horses and donkeys regarded him as a prince and would help Xena protect him. She really didn’t need any assistance in that matter, however, because she was so big and protective on her own.
Thor’s favorite buddy was our sweet standard donkey, Raindrop. She was his playmate and babysitter for most of his younger life.
Because a colt shouldn’t be ridden till they are 3-4 years of age, I started teaching him ground manners and tricks. He learned very quickly and soon he could bow, open and close a mailbox, lift the flag, open a cooler, get a bottled drink out to give you, close the lid, rock a rocking chair, smile, shake hands, perform the Spanish Walk, pick up things on command, put a ball in a basketball hoop, and shake his head yes. I also started entering him in the local fun shows in halter classes. He won all his classes and even some championship conformation classes as well.
Thor has become an accomplished trail horse, trick horse, and show horse over the years. You can count on him around the farm to help. He has often pulled fallen branches to the burn pile, or fence posts to my husband to mend fences. You can take him out on the trails and there is nothing he won’t cross or go through. We love to go trail riding and camping with him.
In the spring of 2015, I had Thor tied to the cross ties to bathe him, and he spotted a paint brush lying on a table within reach of his nose. I looked around and he had this paint brush in his mouth by the handle and he was tossing his head up and down. This gave me an idea and I went and bought some canvas and some non- toxic acrylic paint. Thor learned to paint in fifteen minutes! I would put the paint on the brush and he would take the brush and apply the strokes to the canvas. A star was born!
Our local news station(NBC) came out and did a feature on him two weeks after he started painting. RFDTV came to our house and did a story on him in June of 2015. Even his dam, Xena, got a cameo on the RFDTV newscast. He sold quite a few paintings, as well, all over the nation.
Thor was invited to Breyerfest (held in Lexington, Kentucky) by his breed registry, The American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Horse. We took him to Breyerfest and it was an incredible experience. We met a lot of the members of the American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Horse Registry there, also. We got to meet the incredible Harley’s Classic O, who is the foundation sire of the breed.
Thor has been out in the public eye often since he took up art. He has been on CBS news, NBC news, RFDTV news, front page news of THE TELEGRAPH (Macon, Ga. local newspaper) and their website, featured in Horse & Rider magazine, and attended many local events to show off his talents. He gets invited to numerous events every year. Thor donated one of his paintings to the Georgia Equine Rescue League to help horses and donkeys in need. He has his own face book page called Thor The Painting Horse and his paintings continue to sell nationwide.
He is one of a very elite breed. The American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Horse is a rare jewel indeed. There are only a little over a hundred in the registry right now. The breed is making a strongcomeback. They are so versatile and easy tempered. They are definitely family horse material, but a force to be reckoned with in the show ring. They excel in all disciplines.
Thor is starting a new chapter in his life soon. He will be learning ranch work and sorting cattle to add to his resume. Western dressage is in his future as well. Painting will still be his passion, however. He absolutely loves it.
A rare breed with a rare talent, we are thankful every day that Xena’s former owner recognized the highest bidder at that sale as being the slaughter house man and refused to sell her.
BIO:
Dorinda and David Hennings live in Lizella, Georgia on their farm. They have two mini donkeys, one
standard donkey, two mules, and DJH Thor Of Hopehaven. When they are not out enjoying trail rides
and camping, they spend time with grandchildren and family. Thor continues to sell customized original
paintings and attend events performing his tricks and painting.
Dorinda is an avid supporter and promoter of the American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Horse Registry
and the Georgia Equine Rescue League. Her and Thor continue to promote public awareness of this
wonderful breed of horse.
THOR
DJH THOR, a Horse of Many Talents
By Dorinda Hennings
Thor is registered with the American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Horse Association
Thor, the painting horse