JEFFERSON COUNTY • Mark Lenz lost a part of his family Saturday morning.

Lenz’s therapy horse, Cooper, went missing on July 11. During an organized search Saturday morning, Cooper was found dead about half a mile from Lenz’s pasture in north Jefferson County.

“He was an amazing animal,” Lenz said. “At least we know one way or another now.”

Lenz said Cooper, a Palomino Missouri Fox Trotter, probably died of injuries.

“He was on his way home,” he said.

The 12-year-old horse lived with the family for 10 years. Two years ago, Lenz crushed his legs in a near-fatal car accident, leaving him unable to walk for nearly a year.

At first, doctors wanted to amputate Lenz’s legs after he kept contracting gangrene. But Lenz refused. Throughout his recovery, Cooper was there. Lenz even bought special stirrups to ride properly.