There really is no other way to explain it except...she picked me.
It was May 11th 2013 and I was on my way to my then 7 yr. old daughter Tessa's field trip. Following behind that big yellow bus complaining to my friend and co worker on the phone about how much work I had to do and really did not want to be going on this darn field trip.
Her words... "Enjoy your daughter, she's in first grade, in another couple of years she will not want you to go on her field trips. Relax and just try to enjoy your day with her, work will be there when you are done."
It was a beautiful Spring day, sun was shinning bright the trees were in bloom. So with a deep breath and an admittance that she was right, I drove my car through the gates of Long Meadow Rescue Ranch. Determined to put work aside and just spend this time with my little girl.
Long Meadow Rescue Ranch is a unique facility that is part of the Humane Society of Missouri. Horses, cows, pigs, and the like call this place home until someone comes along and adopts them. It really is quite a beautiful place. Tessa's class had raised money and collected old blankets to bring to the rescue ranch.
And for some unforeseen reason, as I passed through the gates I felt a sense of calm. It really was a remarkable layout and the day couldn't have been more perfect. OK so maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
We started our day off with a group picture and the presentation of the funds the 1st grade classes had raised. Everyone was smiling and I was doing my best to smile along with them. Trying to relax was not going to be easy. Then we broke into groups and I was given the kids I would be in charge of for the day. We met our volunteer tour guide for the day and Tessa looked up at me and smiled and I smiled back. I remember thinking...OK let's do this. Get through the day, enjoy spending time with your daughter, pray they give you the group of good kids, get back to work...check!
Tessa took me by the hand, gave a little tug, and we were off. First we were given a little information about Long Meadow and their adorable Barn Buddies you can sponsor, the kids were really enjoying themselves.
Then it was time to go visit the horses in their stables. I admit, they were nice horses, some even beautiful, but not once did I think, "Oh, let's get a horse." In fact I had told my older daughter repeatedly over the years that we were not getting a horse. They were too expensive, we had no where to keep one and it was a huge responsibility and we were novice at best as to even taking care of a horse.
Our kids were always good at talking us into pets, "Oh we will take care of it!" then you ask them to clean up the little nuggets in the back yard and that promise is out the window. So saying no to a horse over the years and those "apples" they leave behind was a no brainer...no.
As we were walking through the stables the children all gathered around this one particular horse. His name was Twist of Fate, Twister for short. He was a beautiful horse and was a permanent resident of Long Meadow Rescue Ranch.
Several years prior there was a horrible accident on Interstate 44, a tractor trailer was bound for the slaughter house when in a twist of fate their was an accident which Long Meadow Rescue Ranch helped saved many of those same horses lives, one of which was the Thoroughbred mare pregnant with the colt now known as Twister. horrific tractor trailer accident on Interstate 44
And OK, I admit, it was a very touching story, and I was truly thankful that those horses were spared, but I still didn't have an urge to get one.
We walked around and learned about the Barn Buddies, the history of Long Meadow Rescue Ranch and how they have expanded over the years and visited the other horses.
Once we finished looking at the other horses our tour guide let us know that it was our turn to take a hay ride. Again, I remember my thought then, "Oh great, a bumpy ride down a dirt trail, oh joy." But we piled into the trailer and off we went.
By this time Tessa was starving and I was sneaking her a snack when the teacher wasn't looking. We were admiring the beautiful pastures with the bright yellow flowers and green grass which looked to go for miles. I mean it really was picture perfect. The sky even looked like it had been painted just for us. Hmmm, this is turning out to be a pretty good day.
There really were so many horses in the fields and with the sun out and the back drop the way it was, I just had to take a few photos. Tessa was having a good time and I was enjoying watching her face light up. OK so maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
I mean aside from my backside hurting from sitting on the wood bench in the hay trailer. What is it, the older you get your fat just gets redistributed, but for some reason mine has left my back side and landed on my middle, which in this case did me no good since I needed the padding underneath my seat.
When we were done with our hayride our tour guide took us up past the stables to another area that housed some adorable little piggies and random farm animals. We took more pictures, the children in my group were posing and Tessa and I held hands as we walked out of the structure. OK so those little piggies were kind of cute.
Once we got back down the hill we headed over to another pasture area. And yes, I did grumble to myself a bit..."I better make a mental note to check Tessa and I when we get done for ticks." And on we trekked over to the pastures. To be honest I wasn't looking ahead but instead down at the ground desperately trying to stay away from the tall grasses.
Then all of a sudden the kids started running toward the fences to pet the horses. I heard them saying, "Wow, look how pretty! Do you see that white one?!"
It was then that it happened. It is a moment I will never forget. And an instant that forever changed my life.
There along the white pasture fence was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. And I felt the most powerful pulling from deep within me, it was a feeling I have never had before.
The kids all made a b-line for her and their hands were up in the air trying to pet this horse, one even said "It looks like a unicorn!"
I couldn't take my eyes off of this horse, for the first time all day, I wanted to pet a horse, and not any horse...that horse! There had been other white horses at the ranch, plenty of other horses, but there was just something different about this horse.
And as I walked closer I realized that it was as if she was ignoring the kids and just looking at me and Tessa. Tessa tugged on my hand and said "Do you see that horse mommy? Isn't it beautiful?" All I could say was "Uh huh."
Tessa and I made our way over to the fence, but there were so many kids there that we couldn't get close enough to pet the horse. So I said to Tessa "Let's go a little further down the fence and look at some of the other horses, when they get done we will go over and pet the horse." Reluctantly she agreed and actually I felt the same way, a bit let down. I grabbed her hand and we walked down the fence line.
She took my breath away and I was in awe. I held my hands out to the side and then slowly pulled them in and started petting her. As I was stroking her long soft face and trailing my hands up and down her blaze on her forehead, I realized I was crying.
Just then our tour guide came over and said "You two just had an amazing moment. I have never seen anything like that before. I believe she just picked you. You are meant to adopt her."
Through my tears I muttered "Oh my gosh, so you did see that. I am so glad someone else saw it, and that it wasn't just me thinking it all happened. I have never felt anything like this before. She is so amazing." She again said..."You need to adopt her and take her home." I remember saying, "But they would never let me have her, I have no where to keep her, and I don't know the first thing about horses...but..." And in the back of my mind I was also thinking "She thinks I have sucker written on my forehead, this must be how they get all of their animals adopted." But at the same time I could not deny the feeling I was having. It was coming from deep within my spirit and I knew that this horse was supposed to be in my life.
Then the words came from Tessa..."Mom, can we adopt her? Please!"
I looked at the tour guide and then at Tessa who was still petting her and said, "Sweetie, we have to ask your daddy."
Now I have said those words before, fully expecting that whatever the kids were asking me for was not going to happen, but this time, I was hoping and praying that it would. So...I sent him the picture of Tessa with her. I mean how could he say no?
My text read "Can we keep her?"
His text read "LOL"
His next text..."wait are you serious?"
My text read "Um I think so."
Long pauses now between my last test and his...
He said..."We will talk when you get home."
I could only imagine what was going through his head at that point. I mean, I had a heck of a lot going through mine!
I turned to the tour guide and just started shooting questions at her...I wanted to know more about her.
What's her name? "Her name is Berta." I thought oh yeah we have to change that!
Where did she come from?
How old is she?
What is her health history?
Where is her stall?....
She smiled, as if to say "Yup, you're adopting her."
The rest of the group walked away and she smiled and said she would get me some information and walked away with them.
Tessa and I stood there taking more pictures and just admiring her beauty. Then two other horses came by and playfully kicked up their back legs at her when they went by as if to say...come play with us. She looked at them then looked at me and I said "Go ahead girl, go play." She whinnied and ran to the back of the pasture with the other horses. I felt her go.
Tessa looked up at me and said it again, "Mom, can we adopt her? Please!" I told her I would find out what I could and we would talk to daddy. Then I told her we had to catch up with the group, of course the kids in my group had went on with the teacher, so at that moment I was a horrible parent chaperon.
Just as we started to walk away I looked out at her in the back of the pasture and kind of gave her a wave and mumbled bye Berta. And it was as if she heard me. She lifted her head up high, whinnied again and full galloped back to us at the fence, threw her head over and into my chest again. It was the validation I needed. She did pick me, I didn't imagine it and no matter what this horse was going to be a part of my life. Whether for a reason, a season or a life time...she picked me and I couldn't deny the feelings I had.
I walked away crying and our tour guide was waiting for us off to the side. She simply said, "I saw that again, and yes, she did pick you. That's how it happens."
We broke for lunch and all I could think about was that horse! My gosh she was beautiful and I felt that she was sent to me from above, why? I have no idea. But I knew that even if it was to help pay for her stay while she was here, I was supposed to be a part of her life.
During the lunch our tour guide had left to go eat her lunch and when she came back she had a business card of whom I needed to contact about Berta. And after lunch she showed me her stall. Tessa and I put a few dollars in her box and read the description and my head dropped. They were never going to let me have her.
For one, she was labeled as a red star which meant experienced horseman only. I am pretty sure that my two or three trail rides I have taken over the last thirty years or so don't count.
Two, you have to have a place to keep her or have someone staying on the property where she is. I don't think it is in our subdivision indentures, but I am pretty sure my neighbor might have something to say if I brought a horse home and kept it in our backyard.
Three, she was in the training program and progressing nicely, oh wait that doesn't sound bad. I turned to the tour guide with a what does that mean look and she proceeded to tell me that...oh yes, wait for it...she has never been under saddle, but is progressing nicely.
She told me that I would have to make an appointment with the trainer and he would go over everything with us and determine if we were a good fit for her. Crap!
What the heck am I thinking! I do not know anything about horses!
But at the same time I felt completely confident it was going to happen, she was going to be adopted by us.
TO BE CONTINUED...
It was May 11th 2013 and I was on my way to my then 7 yr. old daughter Tessa's field trip. Following behind that big yellow bus complaining to my friend and co worker on the phone about how much work I had to do and really did not want to be going on this darn field trip.
 |
| On our way to Long Meadow Rescue Ranch |
Her words... "Enjoy your daughter, she's in first grade, in another couple of years she will not want you to go on her field trips. Relax and just try to enjoy your day with her, work will be there when you are done."
It was a beautiful Spring day, sun was shinning bright the trees were in bloom. So with a deep breath and an admittance that she was right, I drove my car through the gates of Long Meadow Rescue Ranch. Determined to put work aside and just spend this time with my little girl.
 |
| Passing through the gates of Long Meadow Rescue Ranch |
Long Meadow Rescue Ranch is a unique facility that is part of the Humane Society of Missouri. Horses, cows, pigs, and the like call this place home until someone comes along and adopts them. It really is quite a beautiful place. Tessa's class had raised money and collected old blankets to bring to the rescue ranch.
And for some unforeseen reason, as I passed through the gates I felt a sense of calm. It really was a remarkable layout and the day couldn't have been more perfect. OK so maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
We started our day off with a group picture and the presentation of the funds the 1st grade classes had raised. Everyone was smiling and I was doing my best to smile along with them. Trying to relax was not going to be easy. Then we broke into groups and I was given the kids I would be in charge of for the day. We met our volunteer tour guide for the day and Tessa looked up at me and smiled and I smiled back. I remember thinking...OK let's do this. Get through the day, enjoy spending time with your daughter, pray they give you the group of good kids, get back to work...check!
Tessa took me by the hand, gave a little tug, and we were off. First we were given a little information about Long Meadow and their adorable Barn Buddies you can sponsor, the kids were really enjoying themselves.
Then it was time to go visit the horses in their stables. I admit, they were nice horses, some even beautiful, but not once did I think, "Oh, let's get a horse." In fact I had told my older daughter repeatedly over the years that we were not getting a horse. They were too expensive, we had no where to keep one and it was a huge responsibility and we were novice at best as to even taking care of a horse.
Our kids were always good at talking us into pets, "Oh we will take care of it!" then you ask them to clean up the little nuggets in the back yard and that promise is out the window. So saying no to a horse over the years and those "apples" they leave behind was a no brainer...no.
As we were walking through the stables the children all gathered around this one particular horse. His name was Twist of Fate, Twister for short. He was a beautiful horse and was a permanent resident of Long Meadow Rescue Ranch.
 |
| Twist of Fate aka Twister being petted by his admirers |
 |
| Twister and Tessa |
Several years prior there was a horrible accident on Interstate 44, a tractor trailer was bound for the slaughter house when in a twist of fate their was an accident which Long Meadow Rescue Ranch helped saved many of those same horses lives, one of which was the Thoroughbred mare pregnant with the colt now known as Twister. horrific tractor trailer accident on Interstate 44
And OK, I admit, it was a very touching story, and I was truly thankful that those horses were spared, but I still didn't have an urge to get one.
We walked around and learned about the Barn Buddies, the history of Long Meadow Rescue Ranch and how they have expanded over the years and visited the other horses.
Once we finished looking at the other horses our tour guide let us know that it was our turn to take a hay ride. Again, I remember my thought then, "Oh great, a bumpy ride down a dirt trail, oh joy." But we piled into the trailer and off we went.
 |
| Me and Tessa on the hayride |
There really were so many horses in the fields and with the sun out and the back drop the way it was, I just had to take a few photos. Tessa was having a good time and I was enjoying watching her face light up. OK so maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
I mean aside from my backside hurting from sitting on the wood bench in the hay trailer. What is it, the older you get your fat just gets redistributed, but for some reason mine has left my back side and landed on my middle, which in this case did me no good since I needed the padding underneath my seat.
When we were done with our hayride our tour guide took us up past the stables to another area that housed some adorable little piggies and random farm animals. We took more pictures, the children in my group were posing and Tessa and I held hands as we walked out of the structure. OK so those little piggies were kind of cute.
 |
| Little Piggy |
 |
| Tessa and the little piggy |
 |
| Tessa with a teeny tiny horse! |
Once we got back down the hill we headed over to another pasture area. And yes, I did grumble to myself a bit..."I better make a mental note to check Tessa and I when we get done for ticks." And on we trekked over to the pastures. To be honest I wasn't looking ahead but instead down at the ground desperately trying to stay away from the tall grasses.
Then all of a sudden the kids started running toward the fences to pet the horses. I heard them saying, "Wow, look how pretty! Do you see that white one?!"
It was then that it happened. It is a moment I will never forget. And an instant that forever changed my life.
There along the white pasture fence was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. And I felt the most powerful pulling from deep within me, it was a feeling I have never had before.
 |
| She looked like she had been sent to us from above... |
I couldn't take my eyes off of this horse, for the first time all day, I wanted to pet a horse, and not any horse...that horse! There had been other white horses at the ranch, plenty of other horses, but there was just something different about this horse.
And as I walked closer I realized that it was as if she was ignoring the kids and just looking at me and Tessa. Tessa tugged on my hand and said "Do you see that horse mommy? Isn't it beautiful?" All I could say was "Uh huh."
Tessa and I made our way over to the fence, but there were so many kids there that we couldn't get close enough to pet the horse. So I said to Tessa "Let's go a little further down the fence and look at some of the other horses, when they get done we will go over and pet the horse." Reluctantly she agreed and actually I felt the same way, a bit let down. I grabbed her hand and we walked down the fence line.
The other kids from our group waited to pet the horse and Tessa and I just stepped to the side and we were looking out in to the pasture. Then all of a sudden I looked over at the white horse and it was looking over at us. OK this was really getting weird. Then in one swift motion she pulled her head up away from the kids ran over to us and lunged her head over the fence and rested it in my chest.
 |
| Seriously, most beautiful horse I had ever seen. She let us just pet her and take pictures... it was like she was already part of our family. |
She took my breath away and I was in awe. I held my hands out to the side and then slowly pulled them in and started petting her. As I was stroking her long soft face and trailing my hands up and down her blaze on her forehead, I realized I was crying.
Just then our tour guide came over and said "You two just had an amazing moment. I have never seen anything like that before. I believe she just picked you. You are meant to adopt her."
Through my tears I muttered "Oh my gosh, so you did see that. I am so glad someone else saw it, and that it wasn't just me thinking it all happened. I have never felt anything like this before. She is so amazing." She again said..."You need to adopt her and take her home." I remember saying, "But they would never let me have her, I have no where to keep her, and I don't know the first thing about horses...but..." And in the back of my mind I was also thinking "She thinks I have sucker written on my forehead, this must be how they get all of their animals adopted." But at the same time I could not deny the feeling I was having. It was coming from deep within my spirit and I knew that this horse was supposed to be in my life.
 |
| Tessa and Berta (yeah I know, we would have to change that) |
Then the words came from Tessa..."Mom, can we adopt her? Please!"
I looked at the tour guide and then at Tessa who was still petting her and said, "Sweetie, we have to ask your daddy."
Now I have said those words before, fully expecting that whatever the kids were asking me for was not going to happen, but this time, I was hoping and praying that it would. So...I sent him the picture of Tessa with her. I mean how could he say no?
My text read "Can we keep her?"
His text read "LOL"
His next text..."wait are you serious?"
My text read "Um I think so."
Long pauses now between my last test and his...
He said..."We will talk when you get home."
I could only imagine what was going through his head at that point. I mean, I had a heck of a lot going through mine!
I turned to the tour guide and just started shooting questions at her...I wanted to know more about her.
What's her name? "Her name is Berta." I thought oh yeah we have to change that!
Where did she come from?
How old is she?
What is her health history?
Where is her stall?....
She smiled, as if to say "Yup, you're adopting her."
The rest of the group walked away and she smiled and said she would get me some information and walked away with them.
Tessa and I stood there taking more pictures and just admiring her beauty. Then two other horses came by and playfully kicked up their back legs at her when they went by as if to say...come play with us. She looked at them then looked at me and I said "Go ahead girl, go play." She whinnied and ran to the back of the pasture with the other horses. I felt her go.
 |
| Berta watching her pasture friend come up and ask her to play |
 |
| Berta at the back of the pasture with her friend |
Just as we started to walk away I looked out at her in the back of the pasture and kind of gave her a wave and mumbled bye Berta. And it was as if she heard me. She lifted her head up high, whinnied again and full galloped back to us at the fence, threw her head over and into my chest again. It was the validation I needed. She did pick me, I didn't imagine it and no matter what this horse was going to be a part of my life. Whether for a reason, a season or a life time...she picked me and I couldn't deny the feelings I had.
I walked away crying and our tour guide was waiting for us off to the side. She simply said, "I saw that again, and yes, she did pick you. That's how it happens."
We broke for lunch and all I could think about was that horse! My gosh she was beautiful and I felt that she was sent to me from above, why? I have no idea. But I knew that even if it was to help pay for her stay while she was here, I was supposed to be a part of her life.
During the lunch our tour guide had left to go eat her lunch and when she came back she had a business card of whom I needed to contact about Berta. And after lunch she showed me her stall. Tessa and I put a few dollars in her box and read the description and my head dropped. They were never going to let me have her.
 |
| The sign on Berta's stall |
Two, you have to have a place to keep her or have someone staying on the property where she is. I don't think it is in our subdivision indentures, but I am pretty sure my neighbor might have something to say if I brought a horse home and kept it in our backyard.
Three, she was in the training program and progressing nicely, oh wait that doesn't sound bad. I turned to the tour guide with a what does that mean look and she proceeded to tell me that...oh yes, wait for it...she has never been under saddle, but is progressing nicely.
She told me that I would have to make an appointment with the trainer and he would go over everything with us and determine if we were a good fit for her. Crap!
What the heck am I thinking! I do not know anything about horses!
But at the same time I felt completely confident it was going to happen, she was going to be adopted by us.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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