Official Romeo Roadshow Organic Cotton T-Shirts are now available on our store!!!
"A Magical Transformation" - Training the Horses
To the Rescue
Romeo came into our care after his original owner had passed away. At that time, he was overweight, shaggy, and suffering from Cushing’s disease. Like many miniature horses, he had spent most of his life as a “pasture ornament”. He lived in a backyard and hadn’t received the care and training needed.
A Second Chance
Although he was inexperienced and fearful, he possessed a great gentleness in his big brown eyes. As time went on, Romeo’s health improved through consistent care and proper nutrition. As his training progressed with head trainer, Sanaa Pharayra, his personality began to blossom as his confidence in people grew. Romeo blossomed and fully embraced his second chance for a more fulfilling life.
A Perfectionist
As Romeo began to visit different charities and work as a therapy animal his training at home continued and he proved to be a perfectionist. When Romeo learns anything new, he really likes to try it once or twice, then ruminate on it for the night, then he comes back the next day with his new skill down perfect. Romeo is now proficient in liberty work and has increased his repertoire of tricks, impressing even the most experienced horsemen with his ability to learn and acquire new skills.
Ziggy
When Ziggy joined the team, it was obvious that he had a completely different personality and learning style. Ziggy is a bit of a rebel, testing all the boundaries, and he is very "street smart" and quick to learn new things! Although he has a colorful personality at home he is “all business” when he travels to Romeo Roadshow visits!
Individualized Training
Both horses have several training sessions a week. They learned all the basics before they were started on more technical concepts like liberty and tricks. They enjoy learning new things and it is crucial for healthy mental stimulation. They have different aptitudes and desires which has led to a customized training routine for each of them.
Horse Trainer
Sanaa Pharayra is an accomplished equestrian professional and horse trainer with an extensive background in classical riding, horsemanship, and training across multiple disciplines. Throughout her career, she has dedicated herself to developing partnerships between horses and riders that are built on trust, clarity, and respect.
In recent years, her work has evolved to focus on liberty training, where she emphasizes communication, connection, and mutual understanding without the use of tack. She has trained both Romeo and Ziggy and was instrumental in creating the Romeo Roadshow, which she considers one of the most rewarding and fulfilling endeavors of her career with horses. Through this work, she has witnessed firsthand how deeply people benefit from the comfort, joy, and inspiration these horses bring to the communities they visit.