Stories

She is so much a part of my life that I cannot imagine not having her. I give credit to the Lord for leading me to her that hot summer day in 2015. I have trained a lot of good horses over the past six decades, but I have to say that I am as proud of this mare as any horse I ever dealt with.

I often catch Maddie in the pasture with Moxie just talking to him and hugging on him. I would love to know what all they talk about. He attentively listens to her and seems to love her hugs.

The volunteers constantly asked “When are you taking him home?” Finally, the day came for me to move on to start my own business. As soon as that decision had been made, so had another. I couldn’t leave him behind. In the two years of being there, our bond was undeniable and unique.

I have always believed in adopting…rather than purchasing pets or horses. Several months ago I learned of a wonderful rescue group called Love This Horse Equine Rescue, Inc. In December, Vera mentioned a yearling gelding was available for adoption. His name was Astro.

FOCUS agreed to give her back to me. Their help with Sky inspired me to get involved in another rescue that focuses on draft breeds. Sky was my six year old daughter’s birthday present. She is happily boarded not too far from us and I believe she is happier to be back with people she knows!

Horace’s adoption was a big event. Everyone at RVR was really happy for me and Horace. We had a potluck at RVR and 40 people came to see me promise to be Horace’s forever person and sign the adoption contract.

‘Patch Parker’ as I call him use to be a fine harness and park pleasure horse in the Southern states. He ended up in an auction pen in Kentucky before getting in a trailering accident that left his body with trauma. Thankfully the Saddlebred Legacy program was able to step in and save him.

One very warm August day two marvelous horses debarked a horse transport to stand in stalls in Houston, TX. Both horses loved working with our riders with disabilities. Each had favorites and our riders also had favorites.

Easter had a hard time finding his own place, and I so wanted to bring him home and keep him. But the timing still wasn’t right. He was enrolled in the Bluebonnet Rescue Horse Training Challenge. I was able to ride him, and then adopt him, at the competition.

I heard from my friend about “Days End Farm Horse Rescue” in Maryland and she mentioned they had gotten a few Arabians in so I went and checked them out. After I had a few visits it came down to my grey flea bitten Lucy.

When it came time to begin looking for a horse to call my own, I had enough experience in the horse world to understand exactly what I was looking for in a horse. Most importantly though, I knew I wanted to adopt a horse rather than buy one.

Suede was a huge blessing in my life and is a treasured member of my family, not just to me, but my daughter as well. She calls him mommy’s unicorn, and she loves when I let her take him for a spin. He has given me back my sense of self and has helped me reach the goals I had given up on.