Spirit makes a new friend, Kynlee, thanks to Make-a-Wish, RTF

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Kynlee Thomas and her parents, Autumn and Darrell, meet Spirit.

Update: Video from KSBY: Oklahoma girl travels to Central Coast to fulfill wish of meeting famous horse

Kynlee Thomas received her most heartfelt wish on Friday when she and her family met Spirit, courtesy of Make-a-Wish Oklahoma, Make-a-Wish Tri-Counties and Return to Freedom.

Kynlee, 4, was diagnosed with a genetic disorder that causes strokes. She traveled to RTF’s American Wild Horse Sanctuary with her father, Darrell, mother, Autumn, and big sister, Addison, from Coyle, Okla.

Kynlee and her family enjoyed a picnic lunch and met Spirit, the 23-year-old Kiger mustang stallion who served as the artists’ muse and model for the 2002 DreamWorks Animation film “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron.”

The film also inspired a Netflix series for children, “Spirit: Riding Free,” now in its eighth season, that Darrell says Kynlee loves watching for hours. The show calms her, Darrell said.

The Thomases also spent time with a family band of wild horses that includes a 4-month-old foal, Nora, who marched up to meet Kynlee and Addison.

Thank you to the Thomas family for spending time with us at Return to Freedom – and to Make-a-Wish for giving Kynlee a sunny, unforgettable afternoon!

New friends: Kynlee and her dad with Spirit.

Brave young ones: Kynlee meets Nora, a confident foal born in December.