For residents of Diablo, driving home each day meant passing by Pecos and Orbit, horses who have been mainstays on Alameda Diablo for many years. The two were such a familiar sight that since they moved out of Diablo last month, many residents think it strange to see an empty stable as they glance over from their cars.
“It’s just not the same without them,” said neighbor Jeff Eorio.
Bill and Jeanne Porter, proud owners of the horses, decided to move into Danville after decades of living in Diablo. Pecos and Orbit are now at a private south Danville stable where the Porters are boarding them, and reportedly are enjoying their new big pasture and barn.
“We will miss them greatly,” Jeanne Porter said. “They’ve been a big part of our lives for over 20 years. We do know that they’ve got a wonderful place to live now, and we can go and visit them anytime we want.”
Orbit, the larger of the two horses, is 30 years old. The Porters welcomed him into their family when he was 7 and he has lived in Diablo off and on for 23 years. Orbit was daughter Mandy Porter’s amateur grand prix jumper.
Pecos is a 24-year-old quarter horse. He’s been a permanent Diablo fixture since he moved in.
“Orbit is the old man of the two,” Jeanne Porter said. “Everybody remembers feeding Pecos carrots.”
When people in Diablo found out the Porters were leaving, many wondered what would happen to the horses. They felt the horses and their owners needed to be honored and remembered in a special way.
“We felt that we needed to take a picture of the space – that was the inception,” recalled Diablo resident Shannon Warburg. “These are such widely loved horses, pets to all the kids.”
Photographer Stevie Sturla, who has family in Diablo, jumped at the chance to take the photo. Sterla, of Sterla Design in Danville, volunteered her time and expertise on July 25 when residents of Diablo gathered in the Porters’ stable to take a group picture with the horses, and to say goodbye.
One photo has the 75 children present seated in front of Pecos and Orbit, while another has the children and adults together. The pictures are currently hanging in the Diablo Post Office, and eventually the group picture will hang in the Diablo Country Club next to the photos of historic Diablo properties.
Jeff and Karen Eorio are sponsoring the picture.
“We wanted to do it because the Porters have been a part of the community for so long,” Jeff Eorio said. “They’re good friends and it seemed like a nice gesture.”
“It’s a historic moment,” Warburg said. “The Porters are such great, kind people who deserve a tribute. And for a lot of families, it was therapeutic to get to say goodbye.”
After the last frame had been snapped, organizers brought out dozens of carrots and apples so the kids could feed the horses one last time.
“For so many years we’ve stood behind the split rail,” Warburg said. “This time the kids got to be on the other side of the fence with Pecos and Orbit. That’s a tremendous last impression.”
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