I guess I was like every other “horse crazy” girl when I was growing up. I dreamed of the day I could sit upon one of these magical creatures, my long brown hair blowing in the breeze, as we galloped over hills and valleys. I relentlessly pursued my parents, trying to convince them to take me horseback riding. Usually, they just ignored me, but one day my father said to me, “You don’t know how to ride a horse!” Well, yeah, there was that! I was crushed! You had to learn how to ride? You couldn’t just know because you loved horses so much?
I was in the fourth grade and probably pretty annoying. Then the day came. I was going to my first lesson. I had my little black riding helmet, my saddle shoes, and my pockets were stuffed with carrots that I had “borrowed” from my parents’ refrigerator. The place was called Cherry Meadows and it was so wonderful! Actually, it was small and smack in the middle of a housing subdivision on Long Island. But they had horses! My dream was coming true. Once a week I would hop on my bicycle and pedal my way to Cherry Meadows. My lifelong obsession had begun.
Fast forward to today. I will soon be 74. My long brown hair is now short and gray. While the outside of me is different, the inside is still the same. I work twelve hours every day caring for the 55 horses that live at Rainhill. I love every one of them. I get up in the morning and look out my windows to see them at peace, grazing and relaxing as the sun comes up. I, too, am at peace, knowing that I have saved their lives. There will be no more auctions, no more rough treatment, no more mean people. They are home.
If you are a first-time reader of “It’s aHorses World,” let me introduce myself. I am Karen Thurman and I operate Rainhill Equine Facility, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit horse rescue/sanctuary. My special focus is blind horses, and I have 33 of them. There are also 22 sighted horses that have other issues that make them unwanted.
Rainhill operates on donations only. We receive no government funding but rely on the generosity of horse-loving strangers. If our stories have touched your heart and you would like to help by making a tax-deductible donation, we would be so honored.
The photo this month is of Big Mack and Maybelle. They came from a killer auction in Texas last June. They are best buddies, as you can see!
-Sincerely, Karen Thurman
Rainhill Equine Facility
11125 Ky. Hwy. 185
Bowling Green, KY 42101
270-777-3164
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