The subject of the phone call from Lolo School was completely unexpected. I am very well acquainted with the school. I lease 20 acres of land from the Lolo School District and both of our sons had attended this terrific little K-8 neighborhood school. Many of the teachers remember me from my days of helping in their classrooms or assisting with their field trips (my favorite way to participate). So when I noticed Lolo School on the caller-id, I picked up the phone anticipating a request for a donation or support for an event or to discuss something concerning my land lease.
Instead, the assistant principle told me a very compelling story about a young girl who loves horses and who was being moved to Lolo to live with her grandmother. Nevaeh (heaven spelled backwards!) and her younger brother would soon be enrolled in the Lolo school. The school was hopeful of putting Nevaeh in contact with someone who might help her make this difficult transition to a new school and a new life a little easier by connecting her with horses. Naturally, I said that we would be delighted to meet Nevaeh and let things naturally unfold.
It took almost no time to understand that Nevaeh’s presence at Dunrovin was a a gift to us. Nevaeh is truly a remarkable young woman – resilient, kind, respectful, smart, honest, a terrific worker – just a lovely person to have around. Her first year with Dunrovin found her helping out around the barn, learning the names and personalities of all of our horses, and taking some riding lessons in exchange for her work. When she turned 14, Dunrovin hired her for the summer as a ranch hand to help get horses ready for guests, clean the apartments, feed the animals, move the irrigation pipes, and all the many, many manual labor chores that make a guest ranch hum. All the kids in our children’s program loved being around Nevaeh with her big smile and friendly personality. She was ever ready to help out during any children’s program, such as our Halloween Costume Party where any child who shows up at the ranch in costume gets a free ride. She did an outstanding job all summer long.
Several weeks ago, Nevaeh asked if she could use one of our horses, Romeo, as a 4H horse for showing at the fair this summer. I responded that I really could not afford to take him out of the guest ranch string – and that I thought it might be time for us to be thinking of getting a horse just for her. Clearly, Nevaeh is not in the position to purchase a horse – and while Dunrovin is anxious to help, we couldn’t rally afford to simply go out and purchase one for her either. So, I contacted my friend Jane from the Montana Horse Sanctuary to discuss possibilities.
BINGO!! Jane contacted Joan from Helena who had served on the board of the Montana Horse Sanctuary and who had taken in a beautiful registered Fox Trotter gelding several years ago. Joan was not really using the horse. She wanted the horse to go to a good home where he would be loved, well used, and well trained. His name is Sunny.
Dunrovin wants to get Nevaeh off to a great start with some solid horsemanship practices. So, another phone call was made to an expert horse trainer who emphasizes personal growth and responsibility in her training techniques – training that focuses on both the horse and the rider. Kathy Valentine of Heart Centered Equine Academy generously offered to mentor Nevaeh on her journey to becoming a horsewoman. Meanwhile Joan got busy right away to gather Sunny’s vet records, get his feet trimmed, and prepare him to be evaluated. Everything was falling into place! Everyone was available to gather in Helen on Sunday, April 12, 2015, to take the first step to connect Nevaeh with her own horse.
Too excited to eat breakfast, Nevaeh showed up at the crack of dawn to help get everything ready to haul a trailer to Helena. Kathy Valentine arrived promptly to meet Nevaeh, and we all jumped in the truck with BIG smiles on our faces to meet Sunny and to carefully evaluate him to ensure that he is the RIGHT horse for Nevaeh. Matching the right horse to a new rider is paramount for success. We wanted a safe and willing horse. He didn’t need to be perfectly trained as Kathy would work with Nevaeh to retrain him if necessary; but he needed to be physically, mentally, and emotionally sound. Nevaeh knew that we could possibly come home without Sunny if either Kathy or I had any reservations about him being the RIGHT horse for her.
But there was no need to have worried. Sunny passed Kathy’s evaluation tests with flying colors. Joan and her husband were lovely people who gave us the rundown on Sunny; and Joan found a complete set of horsemanship training books for Nevaeh to start her own library of horse books. With tears in all of our eyes, and hugs all around, we loaded Sunny into the trailer and headed for home – with a quick stop at the local drive-in to get some much needed food in Nevaeh!
All of the animals at Dunrovin, including Harriet Osprey who craned her neck to watch from her perch high above the pasture, excitedly watched as Nevaeh lead Sunny to his new isolation stall (to protect him for the herd until they get a chance to get to know him). Dunrovin, Nevaeh, and Kathy are all off on a great journey. It will be such a pleasure to watch and participate with Nevaeh and Sunny as they grow together in their partnership. We hope you will all join us in wishing Nevaeh the very best with her new horse – and stay tuned on our web cameras to watch first hand as Kathy works with Nevaeh to make Sunny the horse of her dreams.
We also hope that you will consider visiting the Montana Horse Sanctuary’s web site to make a small donation in Nevaeh’s name. It is a wonderful organization that emphasizes education and rehabilitation of equines. Jane and her board have worked very hard to develop a horse ranch and program that is fiscally sound and available to serve Montana’s equines in need. Thank you, Montana Horse Sanctuary, Joan, and Kathy for making Nevaeh’s wish come true!