With deep sadness and reverence, we share the passing of our beloved Lucius, the leader of our herd, on Friday June 12th, 2026. Arguably the most handsome and mischievous horse there ever was, he will be deeply missed.
Lucius and his mother Condina (d. 2021) started the original Stand InBalance herd along with Cooper and Cosmo. After Cosmo passed in 2022, Lucius stepped in as a reluctant leader and grew into his role with a grace and style all unto his own. He absolutely knew that he was “The Star of the Show” and he embodied the essence of Stand InBalance.
Lucius led with his heart—his big, doofus, “bull-in-a-china-shop” heart. He had a way with each member of the herd, equine and human alike. When our pony, Luna, and mini horse, Thelma, joined the herd, he immediately went into protector mode for them. He always kept a close eye on them and made sure that none of the other herd members gave them a hard time until they were comfortable and had integrated with the herd, showing us a perfect example of “leading with love”.
Lu also found a co-leader, and the love of his life, in Lady, who watched over him tirelessly through his 7 months of stall rest, as we tried to help him heal his hock injury.
One of the many things that made Lucius so special was how he became meaningful to each person he met in a way that was specific to them. Sometimes he was intimidating and sometimes he was silly– well, a lot of times he was silly! He could also be stubborn, mischievous, playful and most of all, loving. No matter how your story with him started, big or small, it was always a memorable journey.
Lu’s lessons about boundaries and leadership were always front and center. His size was intimidating to most and was often seen as a “challenge” to overcome, but his wisdom, patience and charm always shone through, giving way to a gentle nudge with his nose, a deep exhale or a step up onto the wooden stump (a trick he loved to impress with).
Lu loved life and made the most of every moment, all the way up until the very end. He loved sharing breath, stealing everybody’s food, and he especially loved treats and good belly scratches. He and his memory will continue to be an inspiration for joy and play, reminding us to be curious and to find delight in the world around us, even in difficult times.
Lucius – AKA Lu, Big Boy, Big Man, The King, Handsome, Luboo, LuLu, Lucious Lucius, Prince Ali, Lemondrop, and Trouble 😉 are just some of the names he was given. His heart and his story in the hearts of many will carry on and we are forever grateful to have been part of his world and his herd. He loved us and we all loved him. Lu was our lovebug. He and his great presence at the ranch will be missed more than we could ever say.
If you’d like to make a gift in Lucius’ memory, donations can be made to The Equipowerment Foundation for Healing Horses and Helping Humans.
