Tragedy Turned to Triumph

Living Love Gives Life

We love Spring! We love Summer! Longer days provide a great time to enjoy the warmth on our skin, the songbirds flirting with such lovely aria in sweet fragrant air. It makes Raven Rock Ranch the best place to be. Watch for the upcoming events @ the ranch.

Often, I’m asked, “How do you know when you get success”

I think one of our former clients summed it up best when he said, “Tragedy turned to triumph and trauma turned into trust when I spent a year at Raven Rock Ranch with my horse Roo.”

The story I tell today is one of that noble, courageous mare, Roo. When she came to us, she was just 3 months from certain death. So sick with a preventable virus, she found herself nearly lifeless, in a kill pen at a sale in Oregon. Three sisters Horse Rescue bought her for five cents a pound (though her weight was 300 lbs. less than normal) and took her to the vet at once. He found it necessary to drill a hole in her nasal cavity just so she could get enough air to stay alive.

When we met her, she was recovering from her experience, but still not sure if life was truly hers to grip. People had been untrustworthy. She must have wondered, “Why will these people be any different?”

It was a 7-hour drive back for us, but when we arrived home, she found her first good reason to hold a little tighter onto life- her best friend Rocky. He mentored her and soon we saw a difference in her eyes. She realized she was safe here, and that love abounded. Roo gained weight, her spirits lifted and she engaged in playing and romping.

When that young man came to his first session, there were many things they shared in common: betrayal, no trust and a feeling that life was not worth holding onto. The mutual healing began the first they met and Roo genuinely saw him. Roo became our go-to mare when someone just needed love and acceptance. No one rode her, and while all of our other horses are friendly and gentle, Roo defined the word kindness. She embraced these broken children in such a way that they felt as though they were the only person in the world. Perhaps she was teaching us what that kind of love looked like.

I use the past tense as we had to humanely euthanize Roo on June 22^nd because of her respiratory crisis due to her damaged respiratory system. Roo never assumed that the next day would arrive, but she celebrated each day as it did. She made the last 5 years of her life matter as she inspired so many of our kids that life has meaning and value.

There is a huge hole in our herd now as we struggle to find that same all-embracing personality that was Roo. We estimate that Roo was around 25, and we rest in the knowledge that love is never a zero-sum game. Perhaps she knew that the more love you give away, the more love you get in return. She goes to the rainbow bridge with a kind heart full of love and has a forever home in our hearts. Well done, good and faithful servant.

Thank you all so much for caring about our kids, families, horses and staff. We are here year in and year out and with your kind gifts we are able to keep the healing going on day after day.  

Please consider a mid-summer gift to keep our momentum going by clicking on the donation button below.

Blessings to all, 

Sandy