Don Pecos du Cheval
The prince regent of my family's breeding program, Don Pecos is the horse my Mother always wanted to breed: sound, correct, breathtaking movement, intelligent, tractable, 100% Old Type Morgan. Robin Groves describes him "as the standard by which I judge all others." And recently told a group of auditors at a clinic that she wished each one of them could have an opportunity to drive THIS horse [referring to Don Pecos]. One of the auditors said, "He looks like a Ferrari!" "He IS a Ferrari," Robin confirmed.
A veteran of the carriage driving show ring, he has multiple titles to his credit, including the 2000 Villa Louis Concourse d'Elegance Champion with Harold Ault as whip. He is a pleasure, even a blast to drive, but not for the faint of heart. Remember, this horse is a Ferrari.
An outstanding horse, to be sure, but beyond the glitz and glamour, there is another story that belongs to Don Pecos. Involving another Morgan. Morgan McCormick, a 12 year old boy with Trisomy 18, a rare chromosomal abnormality, who rides Pecos weekly. The Ferrari motor idles softly and Don Pecos measures every step, carefully, to do his job for Morgan well.
Don Pecos loves his job as a therapeutic mount, just as he loves Morgan. Every Wednesday, Don Pecos waits for Morgan. He knows. And for half an hour, Don Pecos walks for Morgan, exercising and strengthening Morgan's muscles. [ The rhythmic, cyclical movement of the horse aids in all manner of functioning, but more on that in a future blog.]
There have been several times Morgan had therapeutic riding hiatuses due to medical conditions. Boy, I tell you those were tough. Trying to explain to Don Pecos that Morgan isn't coming tonight is bad. Trying to explain you don't know when Morgan is coming is heartbreaking. Don Pecos just keeps looking at the door. Waiting.
But, Morgan is one helluva tough cookie and he is back astride again, riding his princely steed, Don Pecos du Cheval. There will be future blogs about Morgan, but Don Pecos' story is not complete without him. Don Pecos may be small in horse terms, but his engine and his heart are very powerful. Vroom, vroom...
"The basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes." Henry V, Act III, Scene VII, Wm. Shakespeare
Don Pecos, Michele Hoyne and Lucy welcome Morgan back to therapeutic riding, Spring '09
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Michelle ~~ You forgot to mention the love Don Pecos inspires in Morgan and me. Morgan is never happy riding any horse but Pecos. They are quite a pair!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Holly and Morgan
Michelle, do you remember Cody? I was blessed to be his helper when he rode Prince Pecos. Cody would hardly speak, but he could belt out that "Walk on!" when he wanted Pecos to go. Those times when Cody was less than cooperative, Pecos mustered patience that I certainly didn't have. Remember the time when Pecos was convinced that there was a ghost in the corner of the arena, and he was doing his best to toss off everyone who made him walk anywhere near it? We didn't know what we were going to do-- Cody's lesson was next! But, Pecos knew that he had to be the leader in that lesson. The ghost was gone, and he walked where Cody asked him to.
ReplyDeleteHow do they know?
Amazing.