12/16/2025
With extremely broken hearts— we sadly announce the passing of our precious boy, Tahoe and his gorgeous true love, Evita.
Tahoe has been in this community for many, many years. From a barrel pony, to a lesson horse, to becoming our beloved boy that carried so many little riders into their next chapters— he was our world.
We have known Tahoe and cared after him for well over 15 years, and have had the pleasure of owning him in his final years.
Tahoe was an amazing pony. If you knew him, then you knew he wasn’t anything like your typical stubborn pony. Tahoe had the heart of a horse. He was loving, caring, patient, gentle, forgiving, smart, and always at the center of attention.
He had a heart of gold and looked after his little riders as if they were his babies. He had an easy career with us, being used in only beginner lessons which he was more than happy to do. Tahoe would walk or slow trot around the arena any day with his little riders and seriously loved every second of it. He lived for it, for them. His little ones were the center of his world, right there with his girl Evita.
Evita was a rescue that we took in shortly after opening Blue Lake Equestrian. She had a long history of being passed around before she was ultimately found to be unridable due to pre-existing medical conditions. That’s where she landed her forever home with us. Safe, in a pasture (what she preferred and what Dr. Walter recommended) with no harmful hands to to remind her of her rough past. Just green grass, tons of food, treats, love, and her best boy… Tahoe.
Evita had been with us for well over 10 years, and was estimated to be well over 33 years old. She passed away peacefully on her own in her pasture from old age, and when we found her the next morning— Tahoe was right there by her side.
Evita’s passing left a hole in all of our hearts, but it completely destroyed Tahoes. After we lost Evita, we noticed a major change in Tahoe.
He no longer had interest in food, treats, love…. And even his lesson kids. Tahoe became distant from the herd and started to separate himself. Despite our attempts to bring him back up to spirits, Tahoe continued to decline.
He was diagnosed with intestinal ulcers from the stress and heartbreak of losing his other half, Evita. After several attempts of treating his ulcers and keeping him comfortable with medications with many thanks to Central Florida Large Animal Veterinary Services, he still didn’t get better. Even after stall time, baths, wet food, extra extra love, Tahoe still showed no interest or made any improvements in getting better.
During our last conversation we had with Tahoe we mentioned how much we loved and adored him. We told him that we know he loves us, and all of his friends. How we knew his heart was destroyed from losing his girl… we sat there together and grieved together. We told him that he was our entire world. We held him and let him know that if he wanted to let go, he could. We knew he was ready, but he was hanging on for us. We just needed a sign that he was ready, to know in our hearts that it was time to say goodbye. Treatment was not working and he was only declining more, regardless of all the hoops we jumped through to save him…
The very next day, we found Tahoe crossed over the rainbow bridge in his pasture. Peacefully laying right by his girls resting place. He was ready, and we weren’t— but we do find peace in knowing that it was all on his terms, and that he’s reunited with his one true love, Evita.
This was no easy post to make, but we thought that honoring Tahoe and Evita by telling all of the people that they loved about their passing… was the right thing to do.
They will forever be in our hearts and on our minds daily. We loved them both so very much.. looking out into the pasture sadly just isn’t the same.
We made this picture from a photo we took of Evita and Tahoe walking out into their pasture together, just a few days before Evita passed away. We like to think that this is what their heaven looks like. 🌈❤️🩹🐴
- Written by Sam on behalf of all of us here at Blue Lake Equestrian.
