There was never a horse like Sugarfoot. How do you tell the story?
You look back over his unique qualities and the magnificent ways and ask, how can we tell it all? How do you pen a story about an animal that was simple, magnificent, and wise, and tell it to the world? It could actually take a while to note every memory, so I will try to tell you just a brief description, and I urge you to come by and ask for stories, because we ALL have many stories about Sugarfoot, the horse that changed everyone in his world. Our original ”Horse Inspiring Hope”. He had a full life before he ever stepped hoof on this magical plot of land. He ran and flew over jumps carrying his girl Theresa to victories that will forever bring joy and memories to his first family.

Sugarfoot came on loan to Healing Strides to teach people and other horses the power of healing. You see, Sugarfoot was more than a horse. He was in tune with everyone and everything he encountered. He was wise, warm, gentle, beautiful, funny, and a master teacher. He had the “it” factor that you can’t train, breed, or buy. He was all that any little girl or boy could wish for.  He was all that anybody could wish for. He was your buddy, your sturdy steed, you heartbeat when you needed to breathe and couldn’t find the strength to go it alone. He was the one thing that so many people looked forward to seeing each week.In his long life, he won trophies and awards which were all well deserved, but that was not his biggest accomplishment. His every day gift was as a healer, a warm gentle soul that allowed the best to shine through ever person he met. There is no question that he was a special gift from heaven. He carried the weak and bold safely around the arena. He provided strong balanced legs to those who never ran or even walked. He didn’t care if you were young or old, rich or poor, strong or weak.

Sugarfoot provided the opportunity to learn confidence, grace and love. He played in mental health sessions, allowing metaphors to open closed doors, people to see light when there was darkness, to find hope when there was none. Sugarfoot was also responsible for saving a very dear life, standing on solid ground and being the answer to the question, ”Is this life worth living?”, asked the veteran who had lost hope. Sugarfoot responded with a resounding YES! He was hope and he inspired hope. And with all that he was to people, Sugarfoot was still a horse who galloped freely in green fields with his herd. He loved being a horse. Sugarfoot lived a thousand lifetimes by inspiring hope in so many lives in his gentle way.

Sugarfoot was born on October 22, 1988 in the front yard of his family. He was laid to rest in October 22, 2019 surrounded by his same family of people and horses that he always loved and trusted. We honor his memory and hope to keep his spirit alive by sharing his stories and making new ones  with our wonderful herd of horses at Healing Strides. If you have a Sugarfoot story, please share it with us. If you would like to know more, please stop by and ask about Sugarfoot, he was truly ONE IN A MILLION!