Meet the Newest Members of the Camp Ondessonk Herd

By the Camp Ondessonk Communication Team

Whether you’re a first-time rider or a seasoned horse camper, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of meeting a new horse for the first time, that warm breath on your palm, those deep, soulful eyes, and the quiet electricity of a brand-new bond beginning. This summer at Camp Ondessonk, that feeling is multiplied by three. Say hello to Willow, Memphis, and Klancy: three extraordinary horses that are about to make your Camp Ondessonk experience more unforgettable than ever.

Willow- Wild Heart, Gentle Soul

If there’s one word to describe Willow, it’s remarkable.

Born free in the rugged high desert landscape of Oregon’s Paisley Desert, Willow carries the spirit of the American West in every step she takes. The Paisley Desert, part of Oregon’s vast Great Basin, is one of the last frontiers of true wild horse country, where Mustangs roam across sagebrush flats and volcanic rimrock. That’s where Willow’s story began.

Today, that wild spirit is very much alive, but it’s paired with a trust and intelligence that will absolutely blow your mind.

Willow has learned something most horses never do, she can sit and lie down on command. Yes, you read that right. This stunning black Mustang has mastered trick training that would stop any horsemanship enthusiast in their tracks. But that’s not even the most exciting part.

Introduction: Work at Liberty

This summer, Camp Ondessonk is proud to introduce Work at Liberty to our horse camper programming, and Willow is our ambassador for this breathtaking discipline.

Work at Liberty is the art of communicating with a horse without the use of ropes, reins, or restraints of any kind. Through body language, energy, trust, and relationships, horses and humans move together in a kind of wordless conversation. It’s the purest expression of the human-horse bond, and it’s something you must see to believe.

Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) principles have long emphasized horsemanship that goes beyond the saddle, focusing on the whole relationship between horse and rider. Work at Liberty embodies exactly that philosophy. When you watch Willow move freely around the round pen in response to subtle cues, no lead rope, no halter, just connection, you understand what true horsemanship really means.

Fun Fact: Wild Mustangs like Willow are descendants of horses brought to North America by Spanish explorers in the 1500s. The American Mustang is a living symbol of freedom, and one of the most resilient, intelligent breeds in the world.

Memphis- The Trail-Hardened Best Friend

Every great partnership needs a great partner, and Willow found hers in Memphis.

This handsome American Quarter Horse has spent his life hitting the trails, logging miles across the rolling hills of Illinois and the scenic ridgelines of Tennessee. Quarter Horses are the most popular breed in America for good reasons: they’re calm, sensible, sure-footed, and built for work. Memphis checks every one of those boxes and then some.

But here’s what makes Memphis truly special at Camp Ondessonk: he and Willow are inseparable.

These two have formed the kind of bond that reminds us why we love horses in the first place. You’ll often find them standing side by side in the pasture, sharing what we can only describe as a private joke (we’re convinced they’re laughing at us). They look out for each other, graze near each other, and bring out the best in one another, a real reminder that horses, like people, thrive in community.

Memphis’ extensive trail experience makes him a confident, well-rounded mount. He’s seen everything from bustling trailheads to quiet forest paths, and he takes it all in stride. His calm, reliable demeanor makes him an exceptional horse for campers who build confidence in the saddle, and his friendly personality makes him an instant barn favorite.

CHA Connection: The Certified Horsemanship Association emphasizes that great riding begins with great ground manners and a trusting relationship. Memphis, with his years of varied trail experience, is a living textbook of why well-rounded exposure produces outstanding horses and outstanding riders.

Klancy- The Champion Comes to Camp

And then there’s Klancy.

The Missouri Fox Trotter is a breed born in the Ozark Mountains, bred for endurance, sure-footedness, and that distinctive “fox trot” gait that makes long rides feel like gliding on silk. They are legendary trail horses, trusted for generations by riders who need a mount that can handle anything the terrain throws at them.

Klancy has done more than handle the terrain; he’s won competitions on it.

A multi-time trail-riding obstacle course champion, Klancy has navigated everything from water crossings and wooden bridges to tight gates and ground poles under the scrutiny of judges and the pressure of competition. That level of training and experience requires a horse with exceptional focus, trust in his rider, and an unflappable temperament. Klancy has all of it.

A Future Horse Adventure Star?

We are thrilled to announce that Klancy is being considered as a new addition to our Horse Adventure program, Camp Ondessonk’s most immersive and challenging equestrian experience. If you’ve ever dreamed of taking your riding to the next level, developing real trail skills, and working with a horse who has truly done it all, Klancy may be exactly who you’ve been waiting for.

His competition pedigree means he’s no stranger to pressure, but his Missouri Fox Trotter nature means he handles it all with grace and a smooth, flowing stride. He will challenge our most experienced campers to rise to meet him, and he will reward that effort in kind.

Did You Know? The Missouri Fox Trotter’s signature gait, the fox trot, is a four-beat diagonal gait that’s incredibly smooth for the rider. Unlike a trot, which can be bouncy and jarring, the fox trot feels almost effortless. Trail riders have relied on this gait for over 200 years.

A Herd Built on Heart

Willow. Memphis. Klancy.

Three different breeds. Three different stories. Three very different journeys that have brought them all to the same place: the rolling, oak-shaded pastures of Camp Ondessonk, in the heart of southern Illinois’ Shawnee Hills.

Together, they join a herd that already embodies the values of what great horsemanship looks like; patience, partnership, respect, and joy. Under the guidance of our CHA-certified staff, these three new members will help our campers grow not just as riders, but as people.

Whether you’re learning to brush a horse for the very first time, discovering the wonder of Work at Liberty with Willow, hitting the trails with Memphis, or pushing your limits with the champion Klancy, this summer’s horse programming at Camp Ondessonk is going to be something truly special.

Plan Your Summer with the Herd

Camp Ondessonk is located in Ozark, Illinois, offering week-long summer sessions for campers ages 8-16. Our Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA)-guided Equestrian Program is one of the most beloved parts of the Camp experience, and this summer, with Willow, Memphis, and Klancy in the barn, it’s better than ever.

Ready to ride? Visit https://ondessonk.com/summer-camp/dates-rates/ to explore our summer session dates, horse programming options, and registration information.

We’ll see you in the saddle.