Horse Saga

The story has a very familiar beginning:

Many years ago, a skinny, too-young-for-her-age, social misfit was obsessed with horses.  Born that way, according to her mother.

She read every book in the local library on them.  Many times.  Went to every show at the local park that her parents would take her to (just to watch and hang around).  Rode at that same local park every chance she got, but usually just on her birthdays.  As a college student she was able, thanks to her godmother/aunt, to go to a wondrous place called Eden Hall Farm, begun by H.J. Heinz (yes, the ketchup man!) to give working girls a place to vacation.  They had really nice horses there,  and there were trial rides (twice on Saturdays) that included some wonderful gallops!  There she rode several horses over the years, but her favorite was a small, delicate, "red", 5 gaited Saddlebred mare named Firefly.  The girl's name was Barbara.

She went through a "wild spell" brought on by finding out she would not be able to become a vet, and also by getting involved in "theater".  At least she found out she could sing and dance.

Then she got saved and called into the ministry, mostly as a pastor/evangelist's wife, and for ten years (!) she was busy with the ministry - traveling a lot, among other things - didn't have much money, and didn't ride.

Beginning in 1988, for a few years, some generous church members let Barbara spend time with, and sometimes ride, their fine, fine horses.  She decided she wanted to -- somehow, because she loved him -- buy one of them, a racehorse rescue whom the people *did* want to sell --- but they suddenly sold him to someone else.

Heartbroken, she went home to her wonderful husband who said, "Don't worry, we'll get you an even better one!"  Though she was VERY touched by those words, she felt hopeless, because they were poor, and she had loved that one horse so much.  But...

After much searching and soul-searching, on Nov. 17, 1990, Pastor Barb bought a wonderful, 10 yr. old Arabian gelding, who was worth much more than she had to offer - which was practically nothing! - but his owner said "no one could handle him as well" as Barb, and she wanted him to have a good home more than anything else, so she sacrificed and sold him for an extremely low price!

He looked and acted almost exactly like the sweet little mare from Eden Hall Farm!

Here is one of the first pictures from the first month she owned him, with her son & husband.

Here's a picture of her jumping him in a local show a few years later, with more info on the horse.

Around that time the people who owned the farm where they kept him (cheaply, thank God!) had bought themselves a new horse...an older Quarter Horse gelding.  Pastor Joe grew quite attached to him, and became more or less his only rider for several years. 

Another church member, Linda, even leased another horse for a few months to ride with them.  There was one really heavenly summer before a lot of other boarders began leaving...

Then it was just Joe and Barb and occasionally some kids or adults for the church.

Here are more pictures of the Arabian (top ones) and the Quarter Horse (bottom ones) from early last spring.

However, the horses ran free most of the year there on about 31 mostly-wooded acres, and though the horses enjoyed it greatly, they began to "disappear" almost all summer ... especially any time the Kostelniks had time to ride, or wanted to have the farrier or vet visit!  They realized, sadly, that though they had had the use of the farm's horse for years, the situation had become that they had the use of NO horses, because they could never find even the one they owned.

So, they sadly made arrangements to move the one they owned (the Arabian) to another farm, with a smaller, cleared, pasture, which was 4 1/2 miles closer to their home and had just found out they needed to do something like board horses in order to keep their farm a farm (zoned agricultural.)  It was also "minimal care", so it was much less expensive during the summer when he could thrive on just grass and water.  They had to get a vehicle that could tow their 20+ year old 2-horse trailer safely anyway.  But Pastor Joe would unable to ride his old friend the Quarter Horse (QH) there, so they had to find him a replacement.  They had asked to buy the old QH, but he wasn't for sale or lease.  He always admired the coloring, size and personality of Belgian (draft) horses, as well as Palomino colored QH's.  He found white horses beautiful, too.

They tried to get a cheap pony for the church kids to ride that had been advertised as beautiful and sweet, but he turned out to be pretty and quite dangerous.  He bit Pastor Barb in the back of the neck ... quite hard.  Thanks be to God, she wasn't killed.  Thanks be to God, it was her and not a child.

They got rid of him fast and later moved the Arabian to the new farm.  He was so lonely! And Joe wanted a horse to ride! The Arab was too small for him, and it's not much fun riding without your trail buddy of 6+ years (and spouse!)

Along came another QH, but this one was young and extremely light (white?) Palomino.

Then Joe realized this horse was even smaller than the Arabian!  And true to his young age, a bit spoiled and unpredictable ... not really ready to just hop on and ride.

They visited the old QH and found him to be completely alone now, and seeming depressed.  (Found out later he was sick with a respiratory infection, too.)  They prayed and prayed.

Suddenly the owners called with an offer to sell him for a "rescue" price! 

He is now happily being pampered along with the other two horses at the nearby family farm.

Is it time for another chapter...???