Paco is the first horse all participants meet when they first start our program because of his wonderful personality. He is a Quarter Horse, Dun in color (some call him Buckskin) and 15hh. He is 20 years old. He has done it all in his life from cows to barrels and everything in between. While he will accommodate our riders who prefer English equitation, he is a cowboy horse through and through. He is a dream in the saddle who neck reins better than any horse I have ever seen, yet is willing and slow for lead line work.

When I called Lori at Sunkissed Acres to ask her about a possible new horse she knew immediately that Paco would be right for us. His gentle nature, kind soul and patience make him the perfect therapeutic partner for the children. For adults or children who cannot ride he is a sweet horse who will spend hours being groomed and fussed over, or to be taken for a quiet walk on the trails.

Paco was adopted from Sunkissed Acres and made the trip from GA to NY with Katie Scarlett. I adopted Paco and “free leased” him to an area hippotherapy program who was in immediate need. While he excelled in his work and was loved and adored, the program itself was not a good match for him and his physical needs. He suffered an injury during a Special Olympics event and was brought here to retire.

We he arrived here he was in poor condition, physically and emotionally. Horses, like humans, are not one sized fits all…and we cannot make them fit where they don’t belong. What happened to Paco is a prime example of this. From June through September we carefully worked with him to help him recover from a serious stifle injury. During this time his diet was evaluated and he was placed on a low starch, high fat forage based diet. He began to change before our eyes! Today, nearly 200 pounds heavier and on full turn out he is thriving. His personality sparkles and he enjoys his visitors more than ever. We are hopeful he will be able to return to light work with the young riders in the spring.

Paco is blind in one eye from an injury early in his life. He also has a large scar on his hock from a additional injury. Twice in his life his owner went above and beyond to give his horse the best he could and to make sure his life was a full one. Throughout his life Paco was cared for with only love, and when his owner could no longer care for him he sought the best possible home. Unfortunately, this wonderful creature fell on hard luck again…not once, but twice…and luckily for us he was returned to Sunkissed Acres who had helped his owner nurse him back to health when he was young, and now found themselves there to help him again. We are so grateful that he is part of our program and graces our lives with his sweet silly ways.


The photo of him above is the photo that says it all. Paco is happiest with a child around his neck and they love him dearly.

Colleen Cheechalk
Program Director
Borrowed Freedom Equine Therapies and Activities, Inc.
http://borrowedfreedom.org

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Comment by Maria Abrams on January 20, 2010 at 5:50pm
that sounds like a wonderful horse i have a palomino gelding and one morning i was walking into the feild and this hole leg was cut and lots of people though he wouldnt survive but hes on his way to recovery and he is such a loving horse like paco.
Comment by mary on January 19, 2010 at 9:10pm
What a kind soul! :)
Comment by Borrowed Freedom Equine Therapy on January 18, 2010 at 9:34am
He is a once in a lifetime creature...I am so grateful to have him here. He is as good for me as he is for the kids!
Comment by Jackie Cochran on January 18, 2010 at 9:30am
He sounds like a wonderful horse.

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