Some horses leave hoofprints on your heart, and Travi is one of them.
Travi isn't just any mustang—he is one of the first three mustangs we fostered from Evanescent Mustang Rescue and Sanctuary. Back in the beginning, our goal was to help Evanescent find loving homes for the mustangs they rescued. (They also rescued wild burros, and yes, we even got a trio of wild burros adopted!) But after Travi’s group, we realized we just loved them too much to let them go, and we decided that all future fosters would stay with us as part of our therapy program.
Travi came to us with the name HotShot, but his journey would bring him many names and many connections. Of the three mustangs we fostered in that first group, we successfully found great adopters for the other two, and Travi was adopted by Rita Moore, an Equus Coach like me and one of our original Board Members. Rita renamed him Raza, which means Hope, with the intention of bringing him to Florida to partner with her in equine-facilitated coaching.
But life had other plans. Finding the right boarding situation in Florida proved difficult, and in the meantime, another person had fallen in love with him. With a heavy heart, Rita transferred ownership of Raza to Jane Ferko, another of our wonderful Board Members. Jane renamed him Travieso—Spanish for "mischievous"—which became Travi for short. It was always Jane’s intention for Travi to stay at Zenhorse®, where he continues his incredible work as a therapy horse.
The Journey of Trust
Travi, a small Spanish mustang from a Colorado herd, was originally rescued by Evanescent along with six others, a group they called the Seven Spanish Angels. When Travi first arrived, he was deeply anxious—about everything. We suspect he was weaned too young, which left him struggling to feel secure.
Gentling a mustang isn’t about breaking them—it’s about building a bridge. With Travi, that bridge was built slowly, one quiet moment at a time. The first breath shared, the first touch accepted, the first step toward trust. Over the years, we (heavily including his person, Jane) have worked with him to help build his confidence, and he has come such a long way. He still has that playful 12-year-old boy energy—sometimes sweet, sometimes a little naughty—but now he carries himself with so much more confidence. We tell him he’s tall, he’s brave, he’s handsome… and seriously, he just puffs up with pride when we do.
The Gift of Transformation
As Travi softened, so did we. He reminded us why this work matters, why giving these horses a chance isn’t just about them—it’s about us too. About learning to listen, to let go of timelines, to honor the process instead of rushing the outcome.
Today, Travi is one of our most beloved therapy horses. Many of our guests choose to work with him because he is loving, adorable, and undeniably charming. He has a special bond with Jane, adores our guests, and has a big crush on Emma, the largest lady mustang at Zenhorse®!
Why Travi Matters
Travi is more than our first foster—he is proof that every mustang deserves a chance. That given time, patience, and respect, these wild hearts can heal, trust, and thrive. He was part of the foundation of something bigger than we ever imagined.
And today, he’s still here, carrying that same spirit forward. He’s in every mustang we welcome, every moment of trust exchanged, every life changed—both horse and human.
Here’s to Travi, our first foster, a handsome, loving guy who continues to make an impact every day. We love you, Travi!
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