A letter to Chacco

Tribute to the fantastic Chacco Kid , incredible partner of Eric Lamaze for many years. A horses that truly changed my life.

“My Dear Chacco,

Thank you! It might be the least we can say to you for what you gave us. I think the more appropriate reward would be a field of bananas, your favorite.

But I’m afraid it would be impossible, so instead I will tell you how much we love you to the bottom of our hearts and hope somehow you know it.

My dear Chacco, when you arrived in your frail little body after a very long trip from Columbia we were not sure on what we were getting but the way you looked at us, it was love at first sight. With your naughty eyes, searching for a play in everything you would find. With your quick but gentle nose to grab anything within your reach. With you shiny ginger cot that would make you glow under the Floridian’s sunshine. With your knees up to make any free jumping horse jealous. With your sweetness that would make us go cheesy around you. I can still here Eric saying after the first time he jumped you “ça va être un crack, je te le dis!” (It’s gonna be a crack, I’m telling you).

My dear Chacco, you taught me so much that I don’t know where to start. You had make me do hours of videos research to build your training, to make me think outside of the box when it come to physical preparation, to try over and over bits, that in the end , the key was just changing them every now and then. God you were strong sometimes, I could felt I was lost for a second, but the magic in you will align and everything would become easy again. From pure flat to the hippodrome or the training bridless and so on, you were different. I can’t thanks enough Eric for letting me following my guts and trusting the process. You make me grow in my feelings and taught me when to push in one direction or not. But specially because of you, I had to try new ways… and Man, you never disappointed.

My dear Chacco, we can brag on all the qualities you had but it would not be doing justice for the ones who didn’t meet you. They wouldn’t understand how you touches the heart and would leave an unforgettable mark.

My dear Chacco, I know it wasn’t easy to be the team mate of a Lady full of attitude. To be next to the queen all the time, you needed to keep up to those hight standards that’s she puts , and you stand there happy and gave it all. Well, my chacco baby I’m telling you, you did reach those and above!

You were not the Second but the second First.

My dear Chacco, you were a rough diamond that was polish over time with the genius of Eric. It wasn’t a fairy tail a first, Eric had to teach you everything, build a bond and become one in the ring. You had to grow to be as competitive as him to form an incredible pair among the best in the world. What an honor it was to witness Eric shape you into a stunning precious stone. My dear Chacco, it was delighting to watch you performed all those years.

My dear Chacco, little attention seeker, we are proud of your accomplishments with this undeniable beautiful style, but I think we all can be more proud of what you did behind the ring. Chacco baby, thank you for supporting Eric to reach the top again when he wasn’t at his best, and offer him an amazing win when he needed the most. You heart is truly gold.

Thank you, Chacco baby, It was a privilege to be part of your journey and will never be forgotten.

Thanks for all the funny, annoying, breath taking, joyful and amazing memories.

I love you from the bottom of my heart and I hope you know it. “