One of the drawbacks to having experienced horses in your lesson program is that their years of being a horse eventually catch up with them.

Our hearts are heavy today, because Picasso’s many years of being a horse finally caught up.

Picasso was a registered Paint horse, officially known as Way Cool Willy.

He was a giant physically, intellectually, and in his understanding of the rider on his back.

Picasso would be gentle to the littlest tiny tots while he did his patented super slow jog trot, and he was thrilled to play games more enthusiastically than the other horses. In fact, he was such a ‘steal the crop’ enthusiast that he frequently took his rider onto the playing field even when it wasn’t their turn.

He taught countless riders to canter with his slow smooth lope, and he taught many kids how to be demanding when Picasso declared ‘steering optional’ days.

He was so smart that instructors had to avoid using words with a long ‘O’ in them, or Picasso would “whoa’ immediately. In his later years, he even took to stopping quickly when the instructor would start a sentence with ‘Let’s.’

Our giant would do anything for a mint, and took many a rider into his stall looking for food.

Most of all, Picasso loved being a horse, and did it well his whole life with us. He came as a three year old and worked at Knollwood for over 20 years.

Picasso was the rare lesson horse who could do almost anything. He loved the weight of Tiny Tots, had the slow jog to teach posting as well as bareback, and cantered as smoothly as any 1800 pound creature could.

He’ll be sorely missed.

Peace to you, Picasso.

You were well loved, and gave your riders so much to remember you by.