Press Release: For Immediate Distribution
Longmont, CO – November 16th, 2009
Imagine. You are 9 years old. You are lost and alone, wandering the streets of a strange, unfamiliar city; no safe haven, unwelcomed wherever you turn. You subsist on any remnants of food you can find, uncertain of when or from where your next meal will come… if it comes at all. No one seems concerned or willing to help and even the elements seem to be against you as you face extreme weather changes. And if all of this isn’t hard enough, you are hindered by physical disabilities as you do whatever you have to just to survive.This may sound like a doomsday scenario, unlikely to happen to anyone, but it was reality for Promise, a young 3 year old filly, the equivalent of a 9 year old child. As strange as it may seem, she was found some years ago wandering the streets of Longmont, CO. It is uncertain if her injuries were caused by the abuse of a human or whether she was born with these difficulties. She is partially blind, her face distorted, causing her teeth to grow in an abnormal fashion and her eyes are somewhat misplaced giving her an unusual appearance. But despite these maladies her heart remained strong, surviving and growing stronger with every challenge she endured.
Promise was rescued and she now lives with a group of mares who have been teaching her the language she never learned, the language of Equus. But her new life is not without difficulty and her journey to a happy ending is not yet over. Due to her past life experiences and current appearance, Promise continues to experience challenges. In order to survive her ordeal she built up mental and emotional armor that she is not particularly willing to put down. Because of this she has developed a dangerous reputation, known to lash out at well-meaning people and her chances of finding a true home were virtually zero.
Until now…
Less than a year ago, Helen Dryland, a horse trainer and horse rescue founder with 30 years of experience, attended a Reach Out to Horses Holistic Horsemanship Course run by Anna Twinney. Anna designed the clinic to create an environment for people to learn all aspects of holistic horsemanship while giving back to horses in need.
“It’s a way to give them the second chance of a loving home,” Twinney states, “the training helps the horses become more adoptable as well as connecting students to individual horses. So often the rescued horses rescue us.”
This is exactly what happened between Helen and Promise. While hardly anyone could even touch Promise, Helen was able to do a great deal of training with her, including starting her under saddle. It was during this gentle trust-based training that the two connected.
After the course, Helen returned to her home and the Equine Sanctuary she created in France but for the next year she couldn’t get Promise out of her mind.
Helen returned to Colorado in August of this year for another 2-week course and she and Promise immediately picked up where they left off. It was as if they were never apart.
Here was a horse, reluctant to open up to humans, suddenly performing miracles with Helen leading the way. In less than an hour, Promise accepted her first saddle, bridle & rider. Within two days she was taking a rider all around the property, very proud of her achievements. Each lesson was taken in her stride and those looking on were truly amazed.
Promise had finally found the one person ready to accept her, warts and all. And Helen, now a graduate of the Reach Out to Horses Program, is up for the task of adopting her.
Promise’s journey has been a bumpy ride, to say the least, but has finally taken her to the one place where her person could find her and there’s only one more trip to the happy ending that she deserves.
But we can’t finish that happy ending without your help. It is a long and expensive way between Colorado and France. It costs $10,000 to safely transport her to Helen’s sanctuary in France. It’s hard to imagine that a horse who started her journey on the streets of Longmont, alone, injured and scared, could find the love and the sanctuary she deserves, but we are only one step away from turning an amazing story into a reality.
During this Holiday Season, I can’t think of a better gift than helping a troubled soul find her way home. If you would like to help Promise join Helen in France, click on the Donate button below and give whatever you can. Every donation, no matter how big or small, gets Promise one step closer to her new home.
For more information or to help Promise contact Anna at anna@reachouttohorses.com or
Thank You for your Compassion and your Generosity,
Anna Twinney
), and Chris contributed the theme music. Mara has started a blog and posted a lovely short trailer of the footage. Follow this link to read and view:
