Romeo's Story

---

Romeo was adopted a couple of years ago after his original owner passed away. For most of his life, he lived as a "pasture ornament" in someone's backyard, typical for many miniature horses. When he moved to his new home, he was shaggy, overweight, and shy around people. With some effort and tender loving care, his health and appearance began to improve and his personality bloomed. He became outgoing and affectionate, almost as if he understood and appreciated the care he was receiving.

His new owner fell in love with him and believed he was an extraordinary and magical animal. She wanted to share him with others, especially those who could benefit from his kindness and affectionate nature. Inspired by the horse van from the movie "National Velvet," she decided to build a van for Romeo so he could travel anywhere. The "Romeo Van" was designed and built, allowing him to go wherever a car could.

Romeo went on a couple of trips to the beach in Malibu, where everyone who met him was ecstatic to encounter the handsome and friendly little horse. He then attended a Christmas event at The Painted Turtle, a camp for kids with serious medical conditions, where he interacted with children in wheelchairs. He was also a special guest at a charity event in Hollywood for the Lollipop Theater Network, an organization that works with critically ill children to improve their lives and build self-confidence. Through these events, momentum and support were generated, leading to the decision to find a friend for Romeo. Ziggy, a 14-year-old miniature horse with an ideal temperament for therapy work, was adopted. He quickly acclimated to traveling in the Romeo Van and participating in events.

More recently, both horses have begun working at Senior Concerns in Thousand Oaks, a non-profit organization that offers daycare and other supportive services for the health and well-being of seniors.

Learn More about Romeo's Organizations Here:

The Painted Turtle

https://www.thepaintedturtle.org/

Lollipop Theater Network

https://lollipoptheater.org/

Senior Concerns

https://www.seniorconcerns.org/