We Can Ride's own Haji is the NARHA Region 6 Horse of the Year!

Haji, the Arabian gelding, has been part of We Can Ride since 1992 when he was only 6 years old. Haji is 22 now and has been serving the riders of WCR faithfully for 16 years. Haji wasn't always the steady therapy horse. Orignally he was purchased by a man that wanted to turn him into a race horse. When the man discovered that wasn't the job Haji was good at, he was sold to another person that thought Haji would make a good children's horse. At that time Haji was a typical high strung Arab and wasn't working out as a nice calm family horse. When he was first donated to We Can Ride he was still that high strung horse, afraid of everything and not scared to show it. Haji must have knew that Therapeutic Riding was his calling as he went from a hard to handle young horse to a seasoned veteran in no time.

Now Haji, though very high in the herd heirarchy, is the calmest horse WCR has. Haji works with the smallest, most scared, and some times most frail riders, making them feel at ease on his back. Haji is also the horse that helps train new volunteers. It's been joked that Haji could probably run a Therapeutic Riding class all by himself. He knows where the mounting block is and can guide himself right next to the hydraulic lift as close as he needs to be with very little cuing from his leader. He can walk carefully along side a rider as they lead him around the arena for warm-up. He gladly lets riders groom him, dress him up in costumes, and will stand still for a thank you kiss and a hug after class is over.

As part of the NARHA Horse of the Year program, Haji is featured in an Activity and Coloring book that you can purchase on the NARHA website.  As quantities are limited, here is a sneak preview of Haji's page.