Harry & Kenny's Adoptions

Hillary Rodham Clinton said it takes a Village to raise a child. I couldn't agree more.

Harry and Kenny have been at the Rescue since April 2008. Harry arrived first, followed a few weeks later by Kenny. Both are very big boys. And both started palling around together shortly thereafter. I think Kenny needs Harry more than the other way around, but that's how I got to know Kenny in the first place.

It's no secret at the Barn that I've been smitten with Harry since the day he walked off the trailer. Harry is the Alpha in the pasture and quite a hand full. Kenny is the largest horse in the pasture and also low man on the totem pole ... go figure. As far as horse handling goes, I'm as green as they come, but was willing to take on Harry because I thought he had potential to be a wonderful horse. I guess I saw the inner Harry, so to speak. Well, Harry and I had our go-rounds. Harry likes to challenge and I wasn't much of a leader and couldn't challenge back, hence, Harry nipped me. It was a nip that took me 2 months to get over. But eventually I did come back to Harry and started working with him. After a couple good days - bad days kinda thing a friend suggested I work with Kenny because he was the polar opposite of Harry. The thought was that if I worked with Kenny and got my confidence up, then Harry would be more manageable. Well, it worked.

Getting to know Kenny was the best thing I ever did. My husband and I had started to sponsor Kenny by feeding him better grain. He was getting thin and I was getting worried with winter coming on that he would lose more weight. I had to do SOMETHING. Thus began my real journey with The Boys.

About a month passed after we started feeding Kenny and I noticed a change in his coat. I saw he was gaining weight and just looked better. That's when my husband suggested we adopt both boys. "Are You Crazy!" I said, but we are known to adopt in two's. Something about separating kennel mates, or friends just doesn't sit right with us, and we're fortunate enough to be able to do it. So, we thought about it, cried about it, talked about it, walked away from it, talked about it some more, took some classes on horse ownership, and finally came to the decision that it was the right thing to do. Our concerns centered around our ability to handle and care for two horses when we're both so green. But in the end we let Cheryl know of our desires, and after much discussion we officially adopted both boys as of October 1st ! We couldn't be more thrilled.

Even though I hadn't had much time with Kenny I got to know him quickly. He is without a doubt the sweetest, most gentle and loving horse I have ever had the pleasure to know. We put him on Adequan to help with his joints and got him a chiropractic treatment. I'm told he came trotting into the barn this weekend ! Kenny is my Gift From God, My Joy. It is an honor and a pleasure to care for him in every way. Harry has me on my toes. We have come a very long way in the last couple of months. With the help of a Village ( the barn people ) Harry just recently is looking at me as a Leader. He still challenges me, but I challenge back, and most times I win! We still have a long way to go but he is a very different horse from just 2 months ago. I love Harry, always will. He is becoming the horse I always knew he could be and I am blessed to have him in my life. I cannot imagine Harry in someone else's care. He is a Joy and he is My Boy.

I could do none of this without the love and support of my husband, who encourages me everyday and is always interested in the gains Harry and I have made each time we work together. So many volunteers have helped me on so many levels. It truly does take a Village to raise a horse too. I am so grateful to all those that ask me everyday how My Boy's are, and tell me how different Harry or Kenny is. It's in those brief encounters with someone that I get encouragement to continue my work with Harry and Kenny.