She recently acquired three new horses, but Luisa Zissman’s favorite thoroughbred was still present in her family home this week – despite having passed away more than a year ago.
The former apprentice contestant was devastated after beloved white stallion Madrano was put to sleep following a battle with cancer in 2019, but opted to keep the animal in her life by having him stuffed.
Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Luisa, 35, confirmed he now takes pride of place in the family living room, with his stuffed carcass placed next to a window.
There it is: Luisa Zissman’s favorite thoroughbred was still an imminent presence in her family home this week – despite her death over a year ago
Captioning a short video, she wrote: “Hello. Handsome Madrono seeing him every day hurts my heart but also reminds me how much I love him…I know I’m a little weird. ‘
Luisa employed skilled taxidermist Simon Wilson to immortalize Madrano for a painstaking two-month period after realizing she could not bear to be separated from her favorite horse.
But the move – which has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic – has proven to be split among social media followers, with some calling her “scary” for wanting a constant reminder of her death.
What will the VOISINS-bours say? Taking to Instagram, Luisa confirmed he now takes pride of place in the family living room, with his stuffed carcass placed next to a window.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain in 2021, shortly after Wilson reunited Luisa with her horse, she admitted saying goodbye to Madrano was impossible.
She explained, “I guess everyone deals with grief in different ways. It is so majestic and so beautiful that I didn’t want to let it go…
“When I knew Madrono must have been asleep, I went to see Simon and said I couldn’t bear not seeing him again. I couldn’t describe it, I just wanted it with me forever.
Immortalized: The former apprentice candidate unveiled the stuffed body of her dead horse Madrono in an Instagram post last April
Recalling how she felt after seeing him drunk for the first time, she said, “It made me really happy!”
“As you said, it’s a work of art, it’s a sculpture. For me, I just wanted him to live forever, I guess, and be this incredible work of art, this sculpture, I had the privilege of owning.
She added: “I was quite grieved, I had a hard time after Madrono’s death, some people might find it strange, but we are a nation of animal lovers, so I hope some people will understand. .”
Sad news: Luisa revealed her stud sadly passed away in December 2019 – and immediately announced plans to have him stuffed by trained taxidermist Simon Wilson
Devastated: Appearing on Good Morning Britain in 2021, shortly after Wilson reunited Luisa with her horse, she admitted saying goodbye to Madrano was impossible
After the interview, shocked viewers took to Twitter to voice their concerns, writing: ‘It’s just really scary… also, I’d be gutted every time I watch it… just a reminder that they’re gone’;
‘Just why? No idea why anyone would want a permanent plush reminder that their beloved pet died Heartbroken Heartbroken.
A second added: ‘What about photographs, videos, lock of hair, horseshoe. There are many ways to see it and remember it, but it’s strange this taxidermy thing because the horse is there without life and without personality. [sic].
Having a mare: While some viewers were sympathetic to Luisa’s plight, others found the decision to have Madrono stuffed ‘frightening’
Others were more sympathetic to Luisa’s plight, with one post: ‘There is no manual for grief. People need to get out of business that doesn’t concern them or pay them. If that’s how she wants to remember her pet, that’s her choice.
While another writes: “I don’t know taxidermy in general. ‘The horse is beautiful and she loves it, if it makes her happy to see and touch it that’s all that matters’; “If having her stuffed horse makes her happy, that’s up to her.”
Luisa revealed that her stud sadly passed away in December 2019 – and immediately announced her intention to have him stuffed by a taxidermist.
Heartbreaking: The reality personality admitted she was ‘weird’ for doing this to her deceased pet, but explained the ‘crushing grief’ she felt at his death
Emotional: The Apprentice star broke down in tears last April as she was reunited with her beloved horse after it was preserved by taxidermist Wilson
Sad news: Luisa also posted on her stories at the time of Madrono’s death, announcing her decision to have him retained as she ‘couldn’t bear to let him go’
The heartbroken reality star took to her Instagram account to pay tribute to her equine companion after losing her four-year battle with ‘aggressive melanoma’.
Taxidermist Simon, the founder of Animatronic Animals Ltd, is the UK’s number one taxidermist and star prankster, claiming a 40-year career carrying out many of his projects for Hollywood film sets.
After working on films with taxidermy and training live animals, he discovered animatronics.
Simon has undertaken numerous projects around the world combining taxidermy, animatronics and live animals for the film industry and museums.
