The story of “Chicharito Blue”

In mid-July, I was informed a former client horse had been sitting in a holding pen in Valley Center for two months. I was devastated to find out about Chicharito, and it was on my heart to go and get him, so I picked him up and brought him to Rancho Cielo with the plan to rehabilitate him and find him his person.

Through the rehab, as he was getting stronger, odd behaviours started showing up. When he got nervous he would become explosive and rear. He is a highly sensitive horse and feels everything around him. He remained reactive even when he got to full work, where he could be turned out and lunged before a ride with earplugs. One of the girls that works with me fell off. I had the vet go over him to see if his teeth were okay, and to see if there was any pain in his body for reacting this way. We couldn’t find anything wrong.

Looking up his show record I learned he had previously competed at the Grand Prix level followed by a career as a high-level jr/am horse. This history helped me to understand his demeanor.

Due to his operation, Chicharito has needs that will never allow him to retire in a field because he can not eat grass or hay. He has special food that needs to be mixed with water multiple times a day. He’s hard to manage and he’s not going to suit just anyone. What do you do with him?

After over a year, his owner felt over-extended and took him from my program to save money. He went to a few places before arriving in Valley Center at a holding pen facility for horses in transport where he was left as the owner did not want to take care of him anymore. I heard about the situation, picked him up, and brought him home. He was exhausted and sickly. The shoes he had fell off and he was really foot sore. The look in his eye was sad and defeated.

Chicharito is doing better and my goal is to get him to a good place again, working with different riders and enjoying his life, and ultimately find him the right person. He has so much love, a will to live, and he just wants to connect with someone. When you meet him you will understand it. He’s a war horse. He’s a heart horse. 

His story is intended to turn a negative into a positive and to be a story of overcoming and success. I hope to raise awareness and a deeper understanding of how much horses are affected by what we ask them to do.

If Chicharito’s story resonates with you and you would like to be a part of his journey, please reach out.

Wendy: +1 (214) 505-5546