Today, out of the blue, I got a message from the mother of the girl that you chose to have your primary horse, Josie. It was a year ago today that Emily and her family came up from Clermont, FL to pick her up, and it seems that they have developed an amazing bond and are continuing with Parelli and excelling at jumping. She included some wonderful pictures of Emily and Josie.
I broke down and sobbed, both in sorrow and in joy. Sorrow for the reality of your absence and the circumstances that led to you letting her go. But also joy for the satisfaction of seeing the obvious bond between the horse and that young girl - something that you longed to happen. You had already agreed to sell Josie to someone else when Jill and Emily found you; and you followed your heart to place Josie with Emily. Perhaps you saw something of yourself in her excitement and potential.
Later, I found myself looking through pictures of you and Josie over the years. You did so much with her and came so far from where you started! You gained her trust and confidence in you as her leader and brought her to a “Level 4” Parelli horse. Along the way, you did so many different events and disciplines with her: trail riding, jumping, obstacle challenges, extreme cowboy events, Nassau County Sheriffs Mounted Posse, dressage and even Polo.
You invested time, love, and part of yourself into that horse. And now all that lives on and continues to evolve in a new chapter with Emily!
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