Name: Zora
Gender: Mare
Breed: Percheron/Welch cross
Birth: 2012
Status: With Blue Rider since: 2018
Our beautiful Zora… was she the horse Michelangelo used as a model for his commission for the Duke of Milan in 1482? Other than being born a few years too late (2012), she could be. Pretty much everyone who sees her thinks she’s that beautiful.
Zora is so much more than her looks, though. When we look at potential therapy horses, one of the aspects we consider is size. Zora is 14.1hh (that’s the Welsh Pony side of the family), meaning when we’re sidewalking she’s almost the same height as our shoulders. She’s solid and strong (that’s the Percheron side) meaning she can carry more weight than many ponies, since, being under 14.2hh, she’s technically a pony. She is also very intelligent, has smooth gaits, takes pride in doing her job well, and has an excellent temperament.
Zora joined our herd when she was five, and although she had already tried several careers before coming to Blue Rider, she has blossomed here. Not only is she now a go-to horse for therapy lessons, she also has a lot to teach our independent riders, including our interns and instructors-in-training.
When Zora came to us, she was 300 lbs heavier than she is today! This predisposes her to metabolic conditions like Cushings, so we are very careful to keep her as fit as we can. She gets a special diet year round, lots of exercise, and yearly metabolic testing, as well as chiropractic care and regular bodywork.
