Refuge Farms (www.refugefarms.org)

This is a recent picture of our Operations Manger, Kathy, and Halima, an elderly Arab mare who has been at THE FARM since the fall of 2001.

Halima came to us because her first and only baby was too large for her slender hips and so the baby's birth caused permanent damage to her hips. Also, the owners had started to notice "lumps" everywhere and so no longer had a need for her. Hence, her life at Refuge Farms began on a cold, drizzly day in October, 2001.

Once out of the trailer and in to a stall at THE FARM, I removed the blanket she had been wearing. What lay beneath that blanket was so very, very sad. Halima was just a little skeleton and, without that blanket, immediately shivering from the cold. With no body fat to keep her warm, the blanket had been a necessity.....Now I understood why a winter blanket on a horse in October.....!

Kathy loved Halima right from their first meeting. You see, Halima talked. Yes, I know that's a horse in the picture with Kathy, but that horse talked. All you had to do was walk in her general direction with a bucket - a bucket of any kind! - and that little mare talked and talked and talked! And the closer you got the louder she got!

Kids always, always laughed at the sound of her talking! And we many times would use Halima's talking talents to "break the ice" with someone who was a bit unsure of getting so close to a horse. Halima was a good ice breaker.

Grown-ups would smile at her talking, too. But you could see the faces of the adults register the concern at sight of those lumps. Almost a wince. Many of the lumps were growing and very obvious to an adult. Isn't it interesting that the innocence of children caused those lumps to not even be a part of the conversation? The children didn't even see those bumpy, ugly lumps. To children and to Halima herself, the lumps were just a part of her - nothing to wince or grimace about! Halima treated her lumps like she treated her nose - a most important lesson to teach all of us, don't you think?

Halima spent a glorious afternoon of sun and rest in the corral yesterday. And when it was time to go back to the barn for the evening, there was an even nicer walk with Kathy. Nibbling a bit of green grass here....a bit more over there....looking over here....looking a bit over there.... In no particular hurry, but instead enjoying the company of Kathy and the warmth at the close of a beautiful spring day. Halima was being spoiled and she was soaking every bit of it in... not wasting a morsel of it! She knew she was loved here. She was well cared for here. And she was told that she was very special, indeed.

Once in her stall, Halima laid down and crossed over. The entire act was peaceful and I know in my heart that Halima was ready to move on. And so she did. At her own time and at her own place. She chose when and where and she did so knowing that she was loved and well cared for.

And I know, too, that already she is running and kicking and using those hips that failed her so very long ago! She is whole again and chasing big DukeDuke like he's never been chased before! And both of them are smiling! Smiling at each other. Smiling down on The Herd here below. And smiling down on us.


Oh, Halima, the joy of knowing you! The comfort your voice brought to us for so long! The laughter you caused with your talking! And now, the peace that you give with such a gentle and calm crossing. Thank you, my little Halima, for all you gave and taught in your little bit of time with us. Run hard and run fast, Halima!

Enjoy the journey of each and every day,
Sandy and Kathy and The Herd