(SIOUX CITY, IA) He weighs about a thousand pounds, is as smooth as butter, and as gentle as a butterfly. Like many famous folks, he goes by one name. His name is Crescendo and he's KMEG 14's third Hometown Hero.
Twenty-six year-old Crescendo is a Paso Fino, a unique breed that comes from Spain. He is a therapy horse from S.T.A.R.S., the Special Troopers Adaptive Riding School.
It's said that when God closes a door, he opens a window.
"We often say that therapy horses aren't trained or created. They're born," says Jessie Christopherson, certified trainer at S.T.A.R.S. "And Crescendo actually came from a breeder that intended to use him as a show horse, however he has one blue eye and one brown eye, which disqualified him."
Door closed: window opened.
"What's unique about Crescendo is that he started this work at age three. Now, ordinarily we do not accept horses into a therapy program until they're at least 10 or 12," says Jessie.
Over the years Crescendo has been ridden by hundreds of adults and children. Children like Megan, whose mom says Crescendo makes a difference.
"I think with riding Crescendo it has helped her balance, especially her upper trunk support. She's done great with that. It also gives her confidence, too. She loves riding him," says Megan's mother, Amy Focht.
"Ya know, horses are an animal, and they have good days and bad days too, but Crescendo is the exception. I just don't think I've ever seen him have an off day," says trainer Jessie.
Julie Dorn, head instructor at S.T.A.R.S., adds, "Putting rings on his ears, dressing him up as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and he tolerates it all, he puts up with it. He doesn't complain."
"And he always shows up to work, and he doesn't call in sick and he doesn't complain to HR a whole lot," says Jessie.
"He is non-judgmental. He doesn't care who walks in, what ability or disability they have. He's here for them," says Julie.
And he has been for 24 years; about a decade longer than any other therapy horse at S.T.A.R.S. Many horses get burned out, but not Crescendo.
"I think he sees this as his life mission too," says Jessie.
"I can't tell you how many people he has helped, and how many lives he's touched," says Julie.
Because he knows what it's like when a door shuts and has spent his life carrying others to the open window and helping them climb through, Crescendo is KMEG's third Hometown Hero.
He'll be celebrating a birthday soon, turning 27 years old on February 28. A typical horse's life span is about 30 years.
If you'd like to nominate someone to be a Hometown Hero, click here to go to the Hometown Heroes section of our website.
