By Lisa Bialy

Our son, Micah, had a passion for all animals, but he especially loved our young Peruvian Paso mare, Vista. He began riding Vista shortly before he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2010. After surgery to remove the tumor was a success, Micah began the long road of physical therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy.

A year later, Peruvian Horse owner, Juan Bosco Sandigo, gave us an incredible gift…a sweet mare named Cadencia! It didn’t take long for a bond to form between Micah and Cadencia, and he loved both mares and they loved him! Cadencia was born in 1992, so she was nearly 20 years old at the time.

In May 2012, Micah was diagnosed with terminal brain and spine cancer reoccurrence. Enduring the pain and other complications, he made sure to spend time with his horses for a short ride or just to hang out and be with them for an afternoon. Micah amazed everyone in June, when he was suddenly out of pain, out of the wheelchair and back in the saddle, riding Cadencia and showing her at the Mile High Autumn Classic 3-day horse show in September!

Our sweet boy left us for Heaven on November 8th of that year. He will always be our hero, and we will always treasurethe memories of that summer, and the huge gift of a little horse named Cadencia.

ERB Cadencia de Acierto now is 25, retired, and living in pasture in Colorado. My friend rides her lightly now and then, but the mare has arthritis in her front knees, so most of her time is spent relaxing with the driving ponies and the llamas. We are grateful for the contribution she made to our family.

by Sabine Steffens, Germany

Here you see my now 29 years old mare Paloma HB. The picture was taken in 2014. She is still the first Peruvian Paso horse that people have to ride when they come to us to learn a bit about that marvelous breed.

Paloma, colour dark chestnut, was born in 1988. We bought her when she was age 5 and with her established our Peruvian Paso breeding program. Paloma is a strong mare with her own ideas and it took about six months to make her a reliable friend. She bore 11 foals until age 20, and I showed her in several shows and competitions in Germany. She completed her performance test in 1998, which consists of endurance, gait and conformation.

Even at her advanced age she is still the highest ‘’alpha’’ mare and the other horses accept her leadership. She treats the two young fillies kindly, as grandmas do. I often ride her leading another horse at halter beside her, to work two horses at once. Her main task is still to be a ‘’demo horse’’ and teach people who visit us about Peruvian Paso, the feeling of riding such a smooth-gaited breed.

Now Paloma is indeed an old horse, but still has a lot of fire inside. Of course she is no longer as elegant and fast as she used to be, but it is still a pleasure to see how healthy and happy she is living in her little Peruvian Paso herd.

by Mimi Busk-Downey

Rayo de CZR is now 27 years old, living a healthy life with Liz and Bernie Potof in Arizona.

Liz and Bernie Potof had enjoyed Peruvians since 1984 and had been showing in Arizona and California.  Liz and Bernie watched Rayo (aka Gray Boy) grow up on Mike Zullo's ranch, and often saw the ranch hands riding him past their house. He was very eye-catching.

Around 1997 when Mike called and said he was getting out of the business, they jumped at the chance to buy Rayo. As Liz writes, "We weren't sure what we were going to do with a stallion, but he was handsome, very easy to handle, and a blast to ride."  When Bernie’s job change took them to Texas, Gray Boy's show career started.  Alejandro Portales became their trainer and the rest is history.  Rayo had many notable wins in National, Regional and local shows.  They returned to Arizona in 2001, after 3-4 years in TX, and continued showing Gray Boy until he was 20. 

Liz says, "Gray Boy was always a FUN horse to ride but did not respond well to over-zealous riders, which made some people consider him difficult." Lesley, the Potof’s daughter, had the magic touch that Gray Boy responded to, but that partnership only lasted until Lesley moved away to college. Now her children, Liz and Bernie's grandchildren, ride him sometimes at their small ranch in North Scottsdale. He teaches them humility and patience. Liz is his primary caregiver even carrying warm water in freezing weather, as cold water is not to his liking.

"This stallion opened our eyes more to the world of Peruvian horses. Our lives have been enriched by having Rayo and all the experiences that we have encountered because of him. This would include meeting many wonderful people and thoroughly enjoying our trip to Peru in the 80's and continuing those friendships to this day, all because of Rayo de CZR.

"Gray Boy still enjoys life to the fullest, loves his treats, and gets excited to go the moment you sit on his back."