Drjinva
From AlexBrownRacing
Contents |
Bio
I've lived in northern Virginia for almost 20 years. I grew up in western Pennsylvania. I've always loved animals. When I was growing up we always had dogs and cats. Currently, I have two cats who were adopted through SPCA.
Horse experience
I really don't have any horse experience. Growing up, I had a pony, but rarely rode him. He used to wait for me by the fence when I came home from school and I'd feed him cookies that I had saved from my lunch.
I have to say that since I've been spending so much time with the Maryland Six, I'm much more comfortable with horses. It's interesting watching the herd dynamics and getting to know the personalities of each of them. It's really neat how they come over to spend time with me. Even though Hannah/Fanny is the head of the herd, she's the gentlest when it comes to feeding her treats. She really touched my heart one day when she just stood in front of me, deeply breathing and then gave me a gentle kiss on the cheek. Biko/Lennox is really smart. He's low man on the totem pole and will stand behind the others waiting for the signal, a come-here motion with my hand. He comes right over for his treats. Frankie is a clown. There was a lead rope kept on him at the beginning because he was hard to catch. Somehow the rope would get draped over the fence and he'd think that he'd been tied up. He would paw the ground and call out until someone freed him. He was the first one to ever call out to me when I arrived at the farm. Izzy/Paris is the sweetest. She likes her treats like everyone else, but just wants to hang out and get some love too. Earl/Roper can be a loner at times, but other times he's come to me because something was wrong. One day he'd gotten a gash on his shoulder and just stood in front of me until I went in and saw that he was hurt. All I could do was shoo away the flies, but made a call so that he could be treated. I didn't get to know George well because he now lives with a little boy who does 4-H. But the first day I went to meet the horses, I was helping groom Earl and suddenly felt someone beside me. It was George standing there. He reminded me of a big puppy. I love each and every one of them.
FOB activities
Because of Barbaro, I found this website and learned about horses from the U.S. being slaughtered. I check out the horse rescue board practically every day and contribute to various rescues.
I visted Lifelines Farms during Bumpkinfest and again for a BBQ this past summer.
I've been very active helping out SOS Equines.
FOB Network
During a fundraiser for CBER, I met VABarb online. I discovered that we both live in northern Virginia. We both fell in love with George, an older horse on the feedlot. She paid his bail. Barb offered to be a backup home for some of the other horses there. In the end, she agreed to take Roper (now Earl), Lennex (now Biko), Frankie, Paris (now Isabella) and Fanny (now Hannah). With all the weather delays in getting them shipped from Washington state to Maryland, I started to wonder if they'd ever arrive. But finally one Feb. 17, 2008, Barb called me. It was after 10 P.M. and the horses were an hour away. I wasn't able to go out to see them arrive, but went out the following day. Since their arrival, I've gone out to visit them every weekend. On the first visit, I got my first lesson in horse grooming. I helped Barb groom Earl, George, and Isabella. I can't describe the feeling of seeing, meeting, and actually touching horses that I had a part in saving. Since I'm their godmother, I get to spoil them. So, I'm always sure to take carrots and even homemade horse cookies. I wish that every unwanted horse would get the chance that these six have been given.
Questions from other FOBs
This this space available for FOBs to ask you questions. Answers can then be worked into the above content if appropriate.
