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Formerly abused horse provides therapy to local children at Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch

By: Anna Cordaro
| Published 08/04/2016

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Every year thousands of horses are rescued from abusive situations, but not every horse becomes a therapy horse like Quito.

Short for Poquito, Quito has become a valued member of Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, where they not only help disabled children but rescued horses as well. Quito was rescued from an abusive home in Houston by Habitat for Horses (HFH) before being fostered by a Shell executive who rehabilitates horses as a hobby.

Quito spent eight months recovering and adjusting to the change. Eventually Habitat for Horses got in contact with Inspiration Ranch, which was looking for a new addition to their family. The organization believed Quito would be the perfect therapy horse.

“I immediately fell in love with him,” Krista Carroll-Venezia, Inspiration Ranch’s horse manager, said. “He was the perfect size. He was very interested in us and kept nudging us.”

He wasn’t quite ready then though, he was still a little skittish around new people so the foster agreed to work on socializing him for another six months. Inspiration Ranch then took Quito and worked for three more months getting him used to their program.

Since then, Quito has become one of their go-to horses. Curious and friendly, he adores working with the kids. Despite his poor vision, Quito is an incredibly trusting horse with the uncanny ability to spot shoulders to rest his head on.

See how Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch shares their love for horses to help local children in need in July's WOLCares Project feature.

To learn more about Panther Creek Inspiration Ranch, visit their website at pciranch.org.

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