Written by Tess Millar
Zazu in California (credit: Ande Fieber)
Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center’s Zazu is a vibrant, playful, hardworking therapy horse with a goofy sense of humor, much like Zazu, the red-billed hornbill from Disney’s The Lion King. Standing 15.2 hands high and weighing in at close to 1,000 lbs., Zazu is lacking the vibrant colors and floating movement of his feathery namesake, but his strong work ethic and comical personality more than make up for it.
Zazu is described as "handsome, dreamy, and adorable." (credit: Ande Fieber)
Zazu hails from a ranch in Northern California. As an eight-year-old, he began working as a school horse and trail riding steed in Saratoga. Within a year, his trainers realized that Zazu had too much spunk and spice for working with beginners at that time. Fortunately for Zazu, his current owner, Ande, recognized his potential and brought him home in September of 2013. Ande reminisced about the first year of her official partnership with Zazu, saying, “my western and dressage trainers were both telling me Zazu was better suited for their respective disciplines, so I knew I had a fun all-around guy on my hands!” Now 20 years old, Zazu still embodies the skills and mindset of a fun, trustworthy all-around horse.
Joie riding Zazu with volunteer Horse Leader Greg (staff photo)
Zazu came to Little Bit in August of 2022. He has gained wisdom and perspective since his younger days; even tempered and confident, he takes his days stride by stride. But occasionally, you can spot him with a sparkle in his eye and a swish in his tail while working with his Little Bit schoolers: experienced riders who provide physical and emotional support for each herd member. He’s a smart guy and knows when to let his energy out. At Little Bit, Zazu predominantly works in the Adaptive program, where riders with disabilities learn horseback riding and horsemanship skills. However, due to his understanding and kind nature, Zazu is known for his ability to fill in for both Adaptive and Therapy sessions on a moment’s notice. Zazu seems to easily understand when a rider’s cue, such as leg movement, is intentional and when the cue may be accidental, perhaps caused by imbalance or anxiety. This makes him an incredibly safe horse for riders working on riding independently.
““I like riding him, and I really love him so much because he is really my best friend.””
Little Bit Adaptive Instructor and Therapist Sarah Squires, OTA, CTRI, reports, “Zazu is really good for many of my kids to learn about energy levels in both Adaptive and Therapy settings. Zazu expresses a range of emotions from silly goof to business professional mode. Kids need a sensitive, emotionally in-tune horse so they can see how their own actions and emotions affect the world around them.” Sarah’s testament is reflected in Adaptive Rider Joie’s view of Zazu. Joie describes Zazu’s personality as “handsome, dreamy, and adorable” because he is “really nice to me, friendly, and gentle.” Joie often feels like her thoughts are “unorganized.” When Joie rides Zazu she feels, “he tries to help me focus more and balance. His movement helps me organize my brain.”
Zazu with his veterinarian, Dr. Bruno Karam (credit: Tess Millar)
When he was younger, Zazu experienced a handful of mishaps and injuries. Ande reports, in the “summer of 2014, Zazu experienced a major traumatic injury, which resulted in a scar across his girth area. He became a local medical marvel.” The veterinarians said it was unbelievable that he survived after spending eight days in the equine ICU at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in California. Zazu takes his title as a medical marvel very seriously.
Zazu's first ride, with Ande, after surgery (credit: Tess Millar)
In early 2023, Zazu underwent colic surgery, an invasive abdominal surgery done to repair gastrointestinal tract disturbances in horses. Zazu breezed through surgery and recovered quickly. Once he made it home to Little Bit to continue his recovery, it was quickly found that Zazu had a serious infection, a known risk with any major medical procedure. He was rushed back to the equine hospital by Little Bit staff and spent a few nights in Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital’s ICU. There was a point in time when Zazu’s prognosis was very bleak, but in Zazu fashion, he turned a corner and has made a full recovery under the care of his dedicated veterinary team, the Little Bit team, and his owner, Ande.
Zazu enjoying his post-surgery mash diet (credit: Tess Millar)
His story is one of twists and turns, ups and downs; Zazu has a notably resilient nature. His body holds scars that tell the story of his life and experiences. One can imagine the understanding and camaraderie Zazu has for our riders and clients and why he forges a strong bond with people who have had similar medical and psychological difficulties. In fact, he received the most love notes from Little Bit participants of any Little Bit horse this past summer!
Little Bit values Zazu’s joy for his work and excitement for life. It’s always a joy to see him out in his paddock when the hay gator is driving around. Barn Staff member Lydia talks about Zazu being the “most enthusiastic about mealtime, often hopping up and down when it’s finally his turn to get his food!” She says, “as a Barn Staff member, I can’t help but smile about how silly and playful he can be.”
Zazu and an adaptive rider at the Margo O'Callaghan Memorial Dressage Show (credit: Kimberly Lind Photography)
Zazu is a testament to the immeasurable impact a horse can have on a community. He touches not only the participants, but also the parents, volunteers, visitors, vendors, and staff at Little Bit. Little Bit is a community where horses transform the bodies, minds, and spirits of people with disabilities. Zazu is a shining example of why I choose to work for this organization in the role of Equine Operations Coordinator, to support these horses in their incredible efforts to positively change human lives.
