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A
Promise Fulfilled
Recently
a group of local, and not so local horse enthusiasts helped give one
special horse in Colorado in need the happy ending and the second chance
at life that she deserved.
Promise,
was a 3 year old filly, the equivalent of a 9 year old child. when she was
found some years ago wandering the streets of
Longmont
,
CO
. She was found with several physical disabilities and it was uncertain if
her injuries were caused by human abuse or whether they were with her
since birth. She was partially blind, her face distorted, causing her
teeth to grow in an abnormal fashion and her eyes were somewhat misplaced
giving her an unusual appearance.
Promise was rescued and brought
to a local shelter where, at least for the time being, she was safe. But
due to her past life trauma and current appearance, Promise continued to
experience challenges. Because of her special needs and reputation as a
dangerous horse her chances of finding a home were virtually zero.
In
the summer of 2008, Helen Dryland, a horse trainer and horse rescue
founder with 30 years of experience, attended a Reach Out to Horses
Holistic Horsemanship Course run by Reach Out to Horses' Founder Anna
Twinney. The clinic is designed to create an environment for people to
learn all aspects of holistic horsemanship while giving back to the horses
in need.
“It’s a way to give them the
second chance of a loving home,” Twinney states, “the training helps
the horses become more adoptable as well as connecting students to
individual horses. So often the rescued horses rescue us.”
This is exactly what happened
between Helen and Promise. While hardly anyone could touch Promise, Helen
was able to do a great deal of training with her, including starting her
under saddle. It was during this gentle trust-based training that the two
connected.
After the course, Helen returned
to her home and the Equine Sanctuary she created in
France
, but for the next year she couldn’t get Promise out of her mind.
Helen returned to
Colorado
in August of 2010 for another 2-week course and she and Promise
immediately picked up where they left off.
Here
was a horse, reluctant to open up to humans, suddenly performing miracles
with Helen leading the way. In less than an hour, Promise accepted her
first rider. Within two days
she was taking a rider all around the property, very proud of her
achievements. Each lesson was taken in her stride and those looking on
were truly amazed.
Promise had finally found the
one person ready to accept her, warts and all. And Helen, now a graduate
of the Reach Out to Horses Program, was up for the task of adopting her.
And so, led by Anna Twinney and
Reach Out to Horses, people from all around the world who were touched by
Promise's story raised over $10,000 and on Friday, September 24, 2010
Promise calmly and coolly boarded a transport truck, the first leg of a
journey that would take her to her new life in
France
. On October 26th after a month of travel and quarantine, she arrived safe
and sound at her new home with Helen in
Southern France
. She is currently thriving in her new environment where she and her
incredible story continue to be an inspiration to many.
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