Hi, everyone! My name is Brenda and I live in southeastern Ohio with my husband and sometimes, our son. He is 19 years old and is in his first year of college, where he plays football for Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. We live in a very rural area with our two Casey Creek babies, Cash and Chance, my 20 year old quarterhorse mare, Hailstorm Cindy, a springer spaniel named Skeet, a yellow Lab named Lizzie, a beagle named Streak and 7 cats, some of whom have names and some are just "Kitty"s. I was so delighted when Karen emailed me to ask if I would tell my story about my babies. Jeannie reminded me awhile back that they really aren't babies anymore (they turned a year old in August) but compared to the rest of the horses here (there are 5 others that I care for) they will always be my babies! Early last winter, I informed my husband that I thought I'd get another horse in the spring and I thought I'd get an appaloosa. I had an appy when I was a teenager until he was euthanized at age 28. Since then I've always had a soft spot for an appy. Well, sometime during the winter, I came across the Casey Creek website and I looked through the pictures of the 2002 foals. They were all adorable but there was that one appy that just took my breathe away. I tried to get the babies out of my mind but the whole situation just kept tugging at my heart. I had spoke with Jeannie who told me they occasionally got appys but that the foals were mostly colts.(I wanted a filly) I decided I would go ahead and fill out the application and just see what happened. Well, about 2 days after I sent my application in they got Cash and Chance and I was so excited when I saw Cash I couldn't stand it. I contacted Jeannie to let her know I was interested. She said she had received my application but there was no fee included. In my haste to get the application off in a hurry, I had forgotten to include the application fee! Then Jeannie told me that they really wanted the colt and filly to stay together. They are 1/2 brother and sister and they had been together for their short little life and they really didn't want to separate them. Well, I really didn't want a colt but I sure did want that filly, so I told Jeannie to let me think about it. After a long thought..........about 5 minutes, I decided I could handle them both. After all that was settled and my application was approved, all that was left was to arrange to pick them up.
We sat several dates and it snowed and snowed and snowed some more. We were afraid to set out on the 5 hour trip so we'd cancel. Finally, we set another date and it snowed, but it didn't seem to be sticking on the road, so we set out about 6 a.m. We got there about noon and met the two little deer, numerous goats, turkeys and others. But where were my babies? Jeannie said, "Can you back the trailer in to the stall, so we can just run them right in the trailer?" That was my first hint that I was in deep doo-doo! Watching John putting the halters on that I brought with me was enlightening, also, and as he tied each one in the trailer, Jeannie assured me that John had been working with them that week and "They were coming around." Oh, well, I was so excited to have these two babies and I was sure I could handle those little squirts. I took treats for them and was a little disappointed when they would have no part of eating them but the deer loved them, so they didn't go to waste! After the deer picked all of my pockets, we set out on our trip back home. We stopped once to make sure they were okay. Other than jumping out of their skin, when I tried to touch them, they were great. I thought after a few days, they would settle down. I had to leave 12 foot leads on them for about 3 weeks. The only way I could catch them was to step on the lead strap and pull them to me. I had to start with just putting my hand on their withers and leaving it there until they settled down. Then we moved on from there. I envied the posters who had bucket babies who thought they were their mamas. Oh, how I wanted mine not to be afraid of me.It broke my heart everyday when they wouldn't come to me. Cash settled down first and decided I was her buddy. It took quite a bit longer for Chance, but now he talks to me all the time. I don't need to tell you guys how I felt the first time I walked in the field and they left the other horses to come to me.
Today 4 of us went riding and we left Cash and Chance in the barn with an old gelding babysitter. We were still within sight of the barn when Cash let herself out and came running to us. She completed the ride with us--just tagging along behind. It was too cute. So that's where I am with Cash and Chance. I say a little prayer everyday and thank the Lord above for bringing me these precious two via Ken, Jeannie and John. I'm so thankful that our paths have crossed. I'm also very thankful for all the support I've gotten from Foal Rescue. You guys have given me so much encouragement whenever I get discouraged. You've helped me get over several humps and for now, anyway, my road is pretty smooth. I believe Cash and Chance will be showing people for years to come what nice horses come from Casey Creek. |
