Sometimes when I think about my family and how many animals we've rescued...
It's really like a farm.
I'll never forget a girl my mom would nanny for that was friends with my brother growing up (they were toddlers then) was so disappointed when she came to our house for the first time (this is back when we lived in Virginia) and there were no farm animals anywhere...
"But yall are Farmers... Where are the animals?"
So cute right?
Well, Kaelyn, your dream came true.
Two cats, Two dogs, a fish AND a horse.
What?!
For Throwback Thursday today, I was looking through my photo album on my iPhone and kept finding all these photos of our beautiful horse, Rhett.
Rhett has a really special story that can make me tear up at times.
December 16th, 2012 he became a rescue horse at RVR Horse Rescue. He originally came from another "rescue" that was taking donations, using the money for other things, and essentially starving him to death. They had found him wandering aimlessly prior to being placed in that rescue.
December 16th, 2012 changed my life.
It was the very first day my mom and I traveled to this horse rescue we had heard about to simply just check it out. She had been conversing with the owner, Shawn who I now ADORE, but we didn't see her when we arrived.
A woman named Kit found us wandering up the front drive and gave us a tour of the ranch; showed us all the horses and told us their stories of how they got here, what their personalities were like, what progress they were making, and so on.
We made our way through the rescue side, the adopted side, and then to the round pen where all the brand new rescues are placed when they first arrive.
Rhett came in with another horse, Tornado. They were literally skin and bones, no joke. It made me sick to look at, with their ribs and hips protruding so far, and their sluggish movements from being so malnourished. I was drawn to Tornado at first, I'm a sucker for the old guys. He was far older than Rhett, and was very docile and sweet. Unfortunately, Tornado has since pass on and I hope his spirit is watching over my boy, Rhett, from heaven. However, my mom was immediately drawn to Rhett, who certainly had a twinkle in his eye behind the skeleton that was his body then.
When I say "Skin and bones" I really mean "Skin and bones"- Dec. 2012
Look at how gentle yet playful this face look- Dec. 2012
My mom and I were in love. With the rescue, with the idea of helping these sick animals, and with Rhett.
I was home for winter break and had to return to school soon, but I wanted to keep coming back. Over the next couple of months, my mom and I spent more and more time (her more than me but whenever I come home for breaks or a weekend RVR is my first priority of places to see). Our bond with Rhett was really unexplainable. Other volunteers encouraged us to bond with other horses- it reminded me of women don't know if they want to buy the first wedding dress you try on because its only the first one they've tried or if it's because they actually love it.
But we knew. We knew all along.
So my mom took that advice, tried to bond with another horse, a gorgeous mare that was still with her baby. That other horse just didn't compare in my mind. I was head over heels for this little Paso Fino that was getting stronger and healthier every day. He is so lucky that he was able to bounce back in the time he has. His personality starting shining through more each day that he wasn't forced to only think about survival. He's quirky and bossy, and a brat at times, but the sweetest, most gentle little lover you can find.
Looking less and less like a skeleton. This was taken Feb. 2013
Talk about personality! He's such a funny little boy. This was taken in March 2013.
About four months later I knew it was time to make a move. What were we waiting for? Why hadn't we already signed the adoption papers? The pressure was on in my mind. Could we live without him- if someone new came in and felt the same way we did about him and made the first signature?
My dad was apprehensive at first, as he had never even been to RVR. Why did we need a HORSE? I laid down the law though. My Dad is a huge car fanatic, he races Porsches and I cant say that is a cheap hobby to have, but we've always supported anything he wants to go after.
This isn't a hobby though- this was an addition to our family. So I made him come out to meet Rhett, to see the whole ranch and really understand what made my mom and I such "horse fanatics" over the course of a few months.
In May of 2013 we signed the adoption papers.
Rhett is ours.
Rhett and I- taken in May 2013
I wish all the time that I could be with my parents and Rhett, that we could all be closer than Tallahassee and Tampa's four hour drive. Unfortunately, I had no interest in beginning my career back home and was offered an AMAZING job here in Tallahassee.
I die over the pictures I get weekly from my mom of Rhett and her taking riding lessons. Or if she's just stopped by on her way home after work to help with feeding them all (that is QUITE the task when you have that many hungry mouths to feed!) and to just bond with him. It's been the greatest journey to watch him get back to good health, have his spirits rise again, and to watch him react to being loved unconditionally. Who knew if he ever knew that before?
This is the photo I instagrammed today for "Throwback Thursday"- A true testament to what amazing things you can do for a broken spirit.
I'm so grateful that Rhett came into my family's lives. We were able to provide him with a rock solid foundation for a better life, but he's the one that made the bigger difference.
He has forever changed me for the better, and for that I will always be grateful to him.
If anyone ever has the chance to go through the adoption process for an animal, not just a horse, I suggest doing so. It is the most rewarding thing you can do for another life.
Rhett isn't the only happy ending to a rescue story. My family has a long history of rescuing and adopting animals.
We have two kitty cats, Darcy and Piper- Darcy being my brothers and Piper (the devil) being mine.
This pretty much sums up their relationship with one another..
Darcy is the gray tabby and Piper is the calico
I do have to post a photo of Pipers face though, simply because of her black mustache spot.
Kitler??
We adopted a dog from the Tallahassee Animal Shelter one weekend my parents were visiting- Bailey. Talk about a stage 20 clinger. She's the sweetest little girl ever. Needs to be touching you every second you're home. If you ever need a cuddle bug on the couch, it's her.. Just don't expect her to share a pillow with you. Only my animal would use a pillow like a human..
Mom, Dogz haz turkey too?
In May and June of this year I wasn't doing so well personally. That's an understatement- I was a wreck. I've mentioned this before, but I was not adjusting well to my new life; I apparently do not handle change well.
On July 4th weekend I rescued Mayley. This little girl has been such a blessing to me. I couldn't have asked for a better companion. She's my buddy for everything- for when I'm blogging in bed, when I've had a bad day at work and someone needs to lick the tears off my face to make me giggle, to make me worry about if she's doing okay at home alone, to crack me up consistently over her obsession with her squeaky duck, to clean up her vomit after every single car ride.. it goes on and on.
She's exactly what I've needed to make an attitude and perspective change in my life.
Our first day together after rescuing her from Brooksville. She was exhausted to say the least.
Our drive back to Tallahassee. Isn't she just the cutest?
My little cuddle bug. I'm so happy I get to wake up to this precious face every morning.
She just cracks me up. The vets think she's a mix between Golden Retriever and Cocker Spaniel.
Well they're all wrong.
She looks exactly like a little white fox.
Well now that everyone thinks I'm an animal freak... I'm really not, I just love to help give someone a better life. I adore my bunch and their personalities. I encourage everyone to find something that makes them feel this good, simply volunteering is enough. Donating is enough.
If you ever feel compelled to help RVR Horse Rescue, you can check out their "Ways to Help" page on their website here. Every little bit helps save these horses lives.
So sorry Sarah McLachlan... But you ain't got nothin on me.
Love,
K
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