We call him Robin’s Nest Royalty! Our beautiful Buckskin Quarter Horse at Robin’s Nest is a registered American Quarter Horse with royal lineage! Tivio was born in 2012 on a ranch in Montana. He made his way to California in 2018, where he was loved by the Goodwins (owner of the popular Goodwins Market in Crestline, CA). Tivio was one of the Goodwins’ go-to horses on their beautiful ranch near Reno; he worked the ranch, herded and sorted cows, and played with his Friesian friends.  

Tivio came to Robin’s Nest in December 2021 as Kimber’s personal horse (one of the few here not a rescue). Tivio and Kimber ride Western, and he is usually calm as a cucumber — unless it’s feeding time! They like taking rides around the property, working with famed cowboy and horse trainer Pete Spates, and sorting cows in Lakeside.

Robin’s Nest includes a beautiful solid oak round pen and arena, which bring even more opportunities for Tivio to work and perform!

The American Quarter Horse


Although Tivio is not officially a part of the rescue mission at Robin’s Nest, like Oakley, he contributes valuably. Tivio stands testament to our love for those in the animal kingdom that bring us the passion and commitment to withstand every trial and tribulation in providing a public charity. After a 13-year hiatus, Tivio fulfilled a heart-gap — he became Kimber’s first horse after losing Doc’s Flurry in 2008. 

The American Quarter Horse stands as a unique breed developed in the U.S. Quarter Horses can run a quarter mile faster than any other breed, even Thoroughbreds. Thus…the origin of their name! Almost all Quarter Horses can be traced back to one horse. It’s Pete McCue, born in 1895; though listed as a Thoroughbred, he was actually sired by a Quarter Horse. Quarter Horses have “cow sense.” Thanks to their phenomenal athleticism and unique intuition regarding cattle, they are known for amazing skill at cutting cattle. They often sense what a cow is about to do before the rider can. It is truly a remarkable breed!

Seven Quarter Horse facts you might not know:

• Quarter Horses began early on. Though the breed was not recognized until the 20th century, early settlers bred their stock with Spanish Barbs owned by Chickasaw Indians.


• First known as the “Celebrated American Quarter Running Horse,” the breed incorporated Arabian and Thoroughbred bloodlines to produce the excellent Quarter Horse bloodlines of today. Life expectancy is 25-35 years.


• Sprinters of the horse world, Quarter Horses can outrun any horse at a quarter mile distance! One of the most famous racehorses was a Quarter Horse named Easy Jet, who won 27 of 38 starts and over $30 million in breeding.


• American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) is the largest horse registry in America and has over two million registered worldwide. Texas is home to the largest population in the world, with over 420,000. 

The Buckskin

• Tivio is not only a purebred Quarter Horse; he also has distinctive markings known as Buckskin. Buckskin isn’t a horse breed but a color pattern. Typically, Buckskins have a coat of tan or gold with black mane, tail, and lower legs. 

• Historically, Sorraia horses brought to the US by the Spanish were released into the wild. The Sorraia blood filtered into horses of the wild west, developing into the Buckskin, the result of a single creme dilution gene acting on a bay horse.