While driving into Tropical Park, I couldn't help but notice a large bronze statue that appeared to depict Ronald Reagan alongside a horse. Curious, I set out to learn more about it.
The sculpture's official title is A Man and His Horse. This life size bronze work portrays Reagan holding a horse's muzzle with both hands. It was created by Carlos Enrique Prado, a contemporary Cuban artist known for his ceramic sculptures and public art installations. Prado lives in Miami and serves as a professor at the University of Miami.
The Ronald Reagan Equestrian Monument was commissioned by Miami-Dade County in 2018 and installed at Tropical Park to welcome visitors to the Equestrian Center. The sculpture pays tribute to Reagan's well-known love of horses and his enduring popularity among many residents of Miami-Dade County.
The project was championed by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Javier Souto, who participated in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion as a young man. While the statue commemorates Reagan's personal affinity for horses, it also symbolizes his strong anti communist stance and opposition to Fidel Castro's regime, positions that have long resonated with South Florida's Cuban exile community. read more