Shiloh and Freckles

Tangle Ridge Farm welcomes two new members.  Introducing:  Shiloh and Freckles

These beautiful young horses belonged to my Uncle Jim.  Uncle Jim, my Dad's youngest brother, loved horses, hunting, and most of all his family.  He touched many lives in a positive way, and will be sadly missed by us all.  He was the type of man who made people feel good about themselves, and brought out the best in others.  He loved to laugh and tease.  Growing up, he was the most handsome man I knew (besides my Dad).   I used to tell him I wanted to marry him when I grew up.  I hope he is looking down at us today, smiling, and knowing his horses have a new home where they will be cared for and loved.

For us this was a big step, one we could not take lightly.  Caring for horses is a big responsibility, especially for novices.  I was at first a bit apprehensive about it, simply because we are still lacking much needed infrastructure such as permanent fences and horse friendly barns.  We already have our hands full with sheep, goats, chickens and dogs... Everyone else in the family was excited, and deep down, so am I. 

I had experience owning a horse a long, long time ago when I was young - from about 12 to 16.  In the end, allergies and other growing up priorities got the best of me.   I remember wanting a horse so bad I could taste it.  Mom and Dad finally gave in, and Dad took me horse hunting until we found the perfect boy.  His name was Bobbie's Echo, a well trained barrel racing Appaloosa who had been injured in a battle with a barbed wire fence and could never race again.  I had no formal training, but in my years of preparation, I read every book I could get my hands on about horse care, breeds, riding and training.  In elementary school I eagerly anticipated the bi-weekly arrival of the book mobile (our version of a library), grabbing all the horse books I could find, reading cover to cover.  I read Black Beauty at least 20 times and cried every time.  After all the horse books were read at least twice, I moved on to the dog books.  I guess its no surprise that years later I have my own version of Noah's ark, LOL

We travel this trail several times a day every day, usually by gator but occasionally on foot.  I can't help but wonder if it is coincidence or destiny that today, the day two very special horses arrive, we find this rusty horse shoe lying in the middle of the road.  I hope it means good luck and this is where the horses are supposed to be.