Some horses are purchased, but some are priceless. Pedro was rescued for $900 out of a neglect situation, and more than a decade later, he's carried two generations of the same family to national competition, most recently finishing sixth in the Aspen Leaf Farm/USEF Pony Rider Dressage National Championship with 15-year-old Zoe Lewis of Elgin, Texas, in the irons.
Pedro, a 2003 Appaloosa gelding, was originally her mother Marsha Lewis's project horse, acquired through a rescue connection at a steep discount. Appaloosas aren't the typical pick for dressage, but Marsha saw something in how he was built and started him in eventing, where his dressage scores stood out immediately. The gelding even earned consistent 10s on his extended walk work. Cross-country, on the other hand, proved a little quick for a pony his size. Marsha eventually brought him to the U.S. Dressage Finals in 2013. Years later, Zoe's older sister, Ruby, piloted Pedro in the USEF Dressage Seat Medal Finals and Pony Rider National Championship in 2023, and now Zoe has taken her turn at the top national level with the same pony who started it all.
"It's kind of cool that I can take him to the finals too," Zoe said. "The whole family has had a chance to enjoy competing with him."
Around the barn, Zoe describes Pedro as a horse with a clear favorite – her mother – but one who makes an effort with every rider who sits on him.
"He tries to have a partnership with everyone," she said. "He always really tries his hardest."
That work ethic comes wrapped in a personality Zoe calls stubborn but sweet, with no shortage of character. Pedro travels everywhere with a stuffed giraffe he curls up with in his stall, and thanks to a past bout of founder, his treats are limited to sugar-free carrot snacks. At home, he has a paddock buddy he runs and plays with regularly. The moment he steps into the show ring, though, Zoe said his demeanor shifts into total focus.
"He knows what his job is," she said. "He knows that he's good at it."
This marks Zoe's second trip to the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions; she competed last year in the 13-and-under equitation division aboard her pony Mocha, who suffered a tendon injury in a pasture incident this past December. Mocha is expecting a foal of her own, giving the family something else to look forward to next season.
Asked which celebrity Pedro would be if he were human, Zoe said there was only one option for Pedro: Robert Downey Jr. Makes sense for a pony with more than a little Iron Man energy.
For Zoe, the sport is a family affair in the truest sense. Her sister has groomed for her at past championships, which can be a demanding task. Last year, the job included a mad dash up a hill last year at the FEI North American Youth Championships in Traverse City, Mich., after Zoe forgot her polos before a victory lap. Her mother doubles as both parent and trainer.
"It's really cool to just be able to talk to her as a mom and then also have her train me," Zoe explained. "It's very helpful to have a consistent trainer like that." Above all, she said, it's the time spent simply being around horses, not just riding them; that keeps her coming back. "I could not imagine my life without horses," she said.