Leo, a 32-Year-Old Therapy Horse in Belmont County, Is Hanging Up His Saddle
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While Roy Rogers' horse, Trigger, may have been the most famous Palomino to grace the silver screen, a Belmont County Palomino, Leo, earned his place in the tally books as a therapist in hippotherapy, or horseback riding therapy.
Leo is a 32-year-old Flaxen mane and flaxen tail gelding with a beautiful deep golden colored body. His owner, St. Clairsville Mayor Kathryn Thalman, said not only is he beautiful on the outside, but he has a calm disposition and is patient. She said he is wonderful, and these qualities made him a "superstar" with children with disabilities.
Thalman has owned Leo since 2001.
"I have always loved horses," Thalman said "When my previous horse died, I thought there could never be another like him. I was very fortunate to find Leo. My dad bought him for me; and now that my father is gone, Leo is my last tie to my dad."
Leo has done it all. He was a Western pleasure horse, then was taught to be ridden English style, and even did Hunt Seat Equitation and jumping.
"In the past several years, Leo has been a superstar doing Handicap riding classes," Thalman said, adding Leo has proven intelligent and adaptable throughout his life. "He took to jumping at a fairly advanced age. He was 10 when I got him. That's pretty cool for a horse to learn a new skill like that at 10. He's been a trail rider.
"He has been a real godsend, because he has been very calm, and you can imagine with wheelchairs and crutches around, not every animal would be OK with that, but his disposition is so calm, and we can lift children onto him and he's very cool with it, and he just marches on like a trooper."
Leo's final session happened last week with Emma Waldron, 7, of Wheeling.
The classes are taught by Jeannine Shaw at her farm, Shaw's Equine Therapy Farm just outside of St. Clairsville on Belmont County Road 56. Jeannine has a beautiful farm that she and her husband, Scott, and son, James, maintain in pristine condition.
"It is a great place to teach our students because we have a wonderful indoor arena so classes can take place rain or shine. Even during the winter, when it's not brutally cold, our therapy classes happen," Shaw said.
She said therapy horses must be quiet and have "good heads" so they will not spook.
"Leo is that horse," she said. "We got a wheelchair, even banged it against his knee a little bit just to see if he'd panic. He didn't care.
"However, I cannot emphasize enough that these classes would not be possible without a large group of volunteers. Our volunteers are young and old, men and women, all committed to the same goal: helping these children get stronger and increase their range of motion," Shaw said.
So while Shaw Farms will continue to serve the community with the riding program, Thalman said Leo will return to her sister's farm in the St. Clairsville area and be put out to pasture. He will be trail-ridden now and then.
"Leo has certainly earned his retirement," she said. "He is a beautiful soul who did his life's work earnestly and kindly. I can't wait to know he is enjoying the fruits of a life well lived."