HOOF PRINTS - CRUZ
- Lily Green
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
EVERY HORSE LEAVES HOOF PRINTS ON HISTORY
The horse of Paradise - Cruz
Current Residence: Bedford, VA
Breed: registered appaloosa
Color: three stocking sorrel
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Favorite color: purple
Only two days into her beach vacation, Jackie received a call from their farm caretaker that Cruz was injured. He and the family dog were put together in the pasture and things escalated quickly. When Cruz started to ‘feel his oats’ and play with the dog, he accidentally swung his head into the pasture fence and life became a bloody mess.
“I handled everything from the beach,” Jackie said, “and he got into Virginia Tech.”
According to the veterinarians, the location and severity of the injury would have killed him if the impact was any harder.
“When he hit (the fence) he shattered the bone, and then the bone punctured the eye,” Jackie said, “so there was no saving the eye.”
Remarkably, the clinic was able to perform a standing surgery while Cruz patiently allowed them to perform enucleation (remove the eye).
When she returned and visited Cruz for the first time, Jackie was uncertain whether or not things would be the same considering his trauma. She stepped out of the car and when Cruz heard her voice he let out a big ol’ whinny. At that point she “knew he was gonna be okay.”
“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” ~ Charlie Chaplin, 1900’s comedic actor
The accident was Cruz’s most recent display of resilience, but he demonstrated impressive character throughout his entire life. He’s a horse with great humour and personality. Jackie reminisced over his glory days in 4-H Championship grooming and showmanship.
Her daughter, Chelsea, and Cruz were a great team during these competitions. “When you put him in the show ring he always looked happy,” she said, “he was always consistent. He had his head where he needed to have it and his ears forward - he just always looked so cute!”
Cruz also brought a sense of humor to the ring, showing off to all the other more serious horses when he wiggled his upper lip, like the 1960’s sitcom horse star ‘Mister Ed.’ But if nothing else highlighted his happy disposition, then his love for kids certainly would. Andy, Chelsea’s son, is the crème de la crème on Cruz’s list of favorite humans.
Cruz is now officially retired, and his showing days are over. He developed a mild case of navicular syndrome, which is a degenerative condition of the navicular bone, not uncommon to stock-type breeds such as the Appaloosa. His regular shoeing package includes a padded shoe with impression material and breakover mods to distribute weight, cushion the caudal aspect of foot, and relieve strain on the DDFT, respectively. By all accounts, he remains comfortable and sound in his iron slippers.
Adding to his list of luxuries on the farm at Sonny’s Paradise Acres, Cruz has his own multi-stall barn, lots of room to roam, and regularly enjoys attention from the whole family.
And if you're wondering whether or not the tragic loss of his eye had any effect on him, Jackie says it never affected his personality in the least.
“You know,” I said while pulling shoes, “he looks kinda cool, like a pirate.”
Jackie, in her great sense of humor, laughed at my poor joke. I think Cruz did too.
Lily is a writer and photographer with a passion for horses, blacksmithing, rural history, and the overlooked stories of everyday life.
Through her work and travels as a blacksmith and farrier, she explores traditional crafts, blacksmith culture, and the connections between people and animals. Her work can be found on her business website, where she collects and shares stories from the forge, the trade, and beyond.