www.OkeechobeeTheMagazine.com April 2017 | 43

‘If you have a vision and you can see it complete, it will be complete.’ ~ Jerry Jolicoeur

f you grew up in Okeechobee, there is a good chance that you have been around a horse a few times in your life. Horses are truly majestic creatures with their incredible size and strength, not to mention their intelligence and ability to be in tune with a human’s emotions. Within the equine family, however, is a unique and special horse breed. It is one that is much smaller than most but just as mighty.

Just east of town sits over 40 acres of green pastures dotted with oak and palm trees. Also situated on those 40 acres are 50 miniature horses making up one of Okeechobee’s hidden gems, known as Paddock Farms.

I

nLoving couple runs ranch, teaching kids horsemanship

and creating confident, responsible young adults.

Paddock Farms’ Mini-Horses

Make Mighty Human Impact

By Rachel Buxton Photos by Sandra Pearce and Courtesy of Paddock Farms

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In the early mornings, during the swel-tering summer days and at dusk, you can almost always find the couple behind the unique attraction working on the horse farm.

What began as a thoughtful gesture to introduce their granddaughter Abagail to a new hobby has become a true passion for Jerry and Nancy Jolicoeur, neither of whom grew up with or around horses.

“I grew up in Staten Island, so New York City was very short on horses,” Nancy joked. “We used to ride sticks, though,and pretend.”

In 1998, the couple purchased their very first miniature horse, 6-year-old little Cisco, all of 24 inches.

“We just thought it would be fun for her,” Nancy said in regard to Abagail, who was just 4 at the time.

Abagail took a liking to the unique horse breed and went on to do very well with showing horses, even winning two years in a row. Jerry and Nancy’s interests in horses also peaked, resulting in them purchasing even more for their soon-to-be mini farm.

In the beginning, Jerry and Nancy worked with a trainer, learning the dos and don’ts of raising and showing min-iature horses. They soaked up as much information as they could and eventually decided to step out on their own and train for themselves. It seemed to be a bumpy start but proved successful at their very first show by themselves with no professional trainer.

“Here we were with all the big shots and I’m thinking, ‘What the heck am I doing in this class?’” Nancy laughed. “It was too late to walk out… but we won.”

By this time, the couple had already

‘We thought it would be fun for

her [Abagail].’ ~ Nancy Jolicoeur

Jerry and Abagail with Cisco circa 1998.

Jerry Jolicoeur and 25-year-old Cisco, the horse that started it all.

Florida State Fair 2000.

purchased the 40-plus acres in hopes of expanding their farm further. When they first viewed the property, it was nothing but land filled with trees and lots and lots of root holes. Jerry, however, saw the potential right from the start. Nancy can remember seeing Jerry standing on a dock alongside a pond on the property, just looking out visualizing their dream.

“I knew this was the property for us,” Jerry said. “If you have a vision and you can see it complete, it will be complete. Sometimes it takes time; we’ve been at it for 16 years.”

Since that day on the dock, Jerry and Nancy have been hard at work complet-ing their vision.

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Granddaughter Abagail and Oreo, circa 2003.

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The 14,000-square-foot, 30-stall barn that sits on the property was built from scratch and recycled materials by Jerry himself.

“I had no plans, but you have to start somewhere,” he smiled.

Jerry and Nancy moved onto the proper-ty in 2002 and continued to grow their miniature horse farm, which quickly became an attraction for visitors, locals and out-of-towners.

“People just drift in and out just to walk around or have a picnic,” Nancy said.

Jerry, expanding on another one of his visions, developed various tracks and courses (from scratch once again) for the horses to drive carts, an activity he has really fostered over the years.

After much research and talking with many different trainers for advice, Jerry and Nancy developed a training program that works for them. They learned how to get the horses physically fit and strong enough to drive a cart in just a short period of time.

The couple offered driving for free, and within three months Jerry was working with 21 women, ages 41 to 72, who never knew how to drive a horse. Classes were given on the weekends, and the women would practice driving the horses on the various tracks, obstacle courses and even through water in the rain forest.

“The world is nuts and driving lets them release their frustration from the work-week,” said Jerry. “When you drive off it is very relaxing.”

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~ Jerry Jolicoeur

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With Jerry busy handling the driving and cart side of the horse farm, Nancy decided she wanted to also do something different. Having been a teacher for many years and always having enjoyed helping kids learn positive things, she decided to develop a 4-H program for the youth revolving around miniature horses. After speaking with a friend in Sarasota who also had a 4-H mini-horse program, Nancy approached 4-H Extension Agent Debbie Clements with the idea.

With the necessary approval, Nancy began her new adventure of the 4-H Chobee Minis, starting with creating a project book.

For Nancy, having an equine program for the kids wasn’t just about them coming out and playing with the horses; it was

Chobee Minis 4-H group working with the horses.

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‘The 4-H members have learned more than just

horsemanship skills from Mr. and Mrs. Jolicoeur;

they are learning life skills, responsibility, compassion,

organization, record keeping, all the while having fun.’

~ Debbie Clements, 4-H Extension Agent

for them to learn all aspects, including horsemanship, care, management and even basic horse genetics.

This year, the class is getting an in-depth and up-close lesson on genetics as one of the mares on the farm has a foal on the way. The students have been able to touch and feel the foal as it has been growing. In their project books, they have tracked the growth of the baby mini-horse and the possibilities of what it may look like based on genetics.

“It’s important to understand how nature works,” Nancy said.

At the start of the 4-H Chobee Minis program, each student selects a horse for the year. Once they select a horse, they’re allowed only one month to change their mind and then are required to stay with that horse. If the horse proves to be difficult, the student has to learn to work with it to build the necessary bond.

Each week, the students come out to Paddock Farms and Nancy works with them teaching the necessary skills to show their horse, such as leading them, teaching them how to jump and, most importantly and simply, how to handle them.

Emily Hilderbrand and Valentine – Harvest Fest 2013.

4-H meeting at the barn.

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“It’s fun so it doesn’t feel like work,” said program participant Emily Hilderbrand.

Something Nancy has really tried to include in the 4-H program is fun. She does this by incorporating family events throughout the year, such as a birthday party and fall festival where the kids dress up not only themselves but also their horses in costumes.

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The students spend the necessary time working with their horses to gain the confidence to show in front of actual judges, which they eventually have to do several times throughout the year.

“Showing any kind of animal really boosts kids’ confidence,” said Saleena Hilderbrand, Nancy’s co-leader of the program. “It improves their social skills and facilitates interaction with people. You can’t get that anywhere else.”

A new part of the program this year is “Work Farm Day.” Students have to pick one day where they come out to the farm and work with Nancy one-on-one doing everything she has to do on a daily basis, such as feeding the animals, cleaning out the stalls and hauling hay. It is an all-day event for the students starting at 7:30 in the morning and not finishing until around four in the afternoon.

“It gives them a sense of responsibility and what it takes to care for a living animal,” Nancy said.

She added that the new addition has proven positive — the kids actually enjoy working all day, and there is usually no complaining.

Nevaeh Majere and Ashlynn.

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“She has really made it the children’s group,” said Wendy San Martin, mother of Anna Grace, a former participant. “She gets them involved. It’s definitely a family atmosphere where they work together and then have fun events.”

Nancy said one of her favorite things about Chobee Minis is watching the kids evolve over the course of the year.

“I see such a huge growth in the chil-dren, so much confidence and maturity,” Nancy said. “It transfers over into every-thing they do.”

And even the children themselves are able to recognize the change. “It helped me work better with people,” Emily said.

“I can’t say enough about the oppor-tunities Nancy and Jerry are providing for these kids,” said Saleena. “It’s not something they have to provide by any means, and they do it free of charge for the most part.”

At 74 and 75 and with 52 years of mar-riage so far, this very giving couple is far from done. They have yet another new adventure they are working on.

They are currently in the process of opening Happy Heart Recovery Inc., a drug and rehab facility that will consist of a 28-day in-house treatment program to help individuals struggling with ad-diction. Along with the facility that will employ 21 people, Jerry and Nancy are also starting His Touch Inc., a nonprof-it organization that will offer equine therapy.

Nonny and Jaelyn Mora, Ruby Red and Emily Hilderbrand, Prancer and Ginerva Majere, Fancy and Jayson Garcia and Ashlynn and Nevaeh Majere.

Fancy and Jayson Garcia.

Jaelyn Mora and Nonny.

Emily Hilderbrand and Ruby Red.

2nd annual Fun Show 2016.

‘I see so much growth in the

children, so much confidence and

maturity.’ ~ Nancy Jolicoeur

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They have seen firsthand how horses can help people, and they want to use what they already have to help those individuals and families suffering from the ravages of addiction.

“The Lord told us to do it,” Jerry said. “There are so many suffering.”

The two have already taken certification classes for equine-assisted psychotherapy and intend to hire the best therapists with degrees they can find.

When asked how they do all that they do, Jerry very simply answers, “There are 24 hours in a day.”

Therapy horses Juliet and Peanut.

‘I can’t say enough about the opportunities

they are providing for these kids.’

~ Saleena Hilderbrand