Throwback: Sugarfoot, My Kids' Pony

Yesterday's blog post mentioned Sugarfoot, another of the therapeutic riding horses. He was also my kids' pony and we loaned him out as a therapy horse just as I'd loaned Indy.  This is a little about him.

Back when I had Indy, I also briefly owned a pony named Sugarfoot. He was given to me by a friend who could no longer use him, and my kids enjoyed having something a little smaller to hack around on. He was quiet and gentle, a little naughty at times (what pony isn't?) and, as you can see, could be ridden with just a halter and lead rope.

Sarah, our oldest daughter riding Sugarfoot.

My friend, Linda, (Sweetzer's owner) was a trained therapist in using horses to help disabled children and adults improve muscle tone and cognitive functions. She started up a therapeutic riding program sponsored by the Champaign Park District and NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped) and used Sugarfoot and Indy as her two therapy horses.

The program was a huge success and the first of its kind in the area. Linda's program even made the news. (Photos are from the article published by The News Gazette, June 27, 1986.)

Sugarfoot heading into the arena for a ride led by a wheelchair-bound child.

Always a favorite, putting sunglasses on Sugarfoot! Linda used this as a way to help the children stretch and bend, plus it always made the kids laugh! (The adults, too.)

Linda ran the program for several years and then I had to sell Indy and Sugarfoot and she moved to Ohio. The Champaign Park District picked up the program and moved it to another barn with different horses and a different leader. I don't think it is still going, though, which makes me kind of sad.