Meet Gazi and Electra, the equine residents of Candolim

If you take a walk down the Candolim beach stretch, you might just be pleasantly surprised to see two well-groomed horses leisurely walking around too. Gazi (male) and Electra (female) have been fascinating people around since last year, when the Pinto family adopted them.

The then Panaji-based Pintos, a very animal loving family including veterinarians Gustav and his daughter Sasha, did not see what was coming, when an 8pm call on a cold rainy June night changed their lives. “My father, Dr Gustav Pinto got a call from a friend, asking if he could take home four horses. He got off the phone and told me, I think I heard wrong. So he asked her again. It took him a while to respond and then we had questions of our own: did we have place to keep them, who would look after them and more questions followed. I told him to say ‘yes’.” says Ninoschka Pinto, a teacher, who now takes care of the horses. The family also hosts play dates with the horses for people to interact with them.

“The horses were a part of a herd of around 30 horses based at a farm in South Goa. The owner had a spinal injury, which made it difficult for her to care for them. Her friend from Chimbel helped take care of them, but things got difficult, and she put them up for adoption. We brought home two,” adds Josefa Pinto, the matriarch.

“Initially, they were very agitated and angry, they would kick and bite. They were very attached to their previous owner, and rehabilitation was tough on them. When they got here, we left them on a long leash, so that they could move around and do as they liked. They wandered, grazed, snapped at each other, and did whatever they wanted. They later realised that no harm was coming to them and then they were free. They allowed us to touch them and feed them,” says Dr Gustav Pinto.


“We had no idea how to raise horses – but luckily because my dad and sister are vets, it was easier. My mother has been reading and googling about things we need. We also contacted Dr Josika Navukkarasu from Chennai who has been guiding us with Gazi and Electra,” says Ninoschka.


-Learning about horses, their behaviour, and how to adjust around them
-How to lead a horse
-Basic ground-work exercises
-Caring for a horse (feeding, grooming, bathing, cleaning hooves )
-Take them for a walk
Pics By : Kristion Colaco