Just Darling
One morning in July of 2014 I sat down with my coffee, opened up Facebook like I do every morning, having no idea my life was about to change. Someone had tagged me in the GERL Newsletter on an article titled “Critical Need, The Rehab of Quickstep”. I don’t know why I was tagged other than the story touched a friend and knowing my love for horses and rescue they thought it would touch me too. The article did more than that.
I had just purchased a Warmblood, Charming. Once he was at my farm I discovered he liked to play with my other gelding and our goat very roughly . So, now they needed to be pastured separately. Charming was not happy being alone, but I did not want or need another large horse.
The article on Quickstep kept nagging at me so I reached out. Tamma Trump was fostering the pony at her farm and answered what seemed like 101 questions graciously. She had questions of her own, wanting Quickstep to go to the right home. We scheduled a meeting and I took my horse trailer just in case the meeting went well. Ha! It was love at first sight and I couldn’t get that pony on the trailer fast enough! When the little mare’s hooves hit the ground on my farm both geldings fell in love too.
For the first few days I kept Charming and Quickstep separated, to meet over a fence line only. I will admit I was a little worried about the size difference from 17 hands to just over 11. In those days I did something a lot of horse people will disagree with, I changed her name. Quickstep did not suit her. She was, is, and forever will be, Darling. Once Darling and Charming were turned out together, they were an instant herd with an inseparable bond. Neither have ever kicked, bitten, or harmed the other in any way.
Seven years later and their little herd has grown. There are now three goats and a solid black barn cat that seems to lay about in whatever pasture they are in. I call them the “Misfit Herd” because no two are the same species or size. It doesn’t bother them, they love one another all the same. A lesson many people should learn.
Speaking of learning, I have written a children’s chapter book titled Tails from Southern Seasons Farm. The first book in the series is called Ryder and Piper the Puppy, to be released in fall of 2021. The book is dedicated the Georgia Equine Rescue League (GERL) and the Feral Cat Program of Georgia (FCPGA). Darling is one of the characters in the first book and she will be returning in future books in the series. Part of the proceeds from the book will be donated to both charities. I believe in paying it forward and I cannot think of a better way to thank GERL for the love, laughter and companionship that has been given to us with the adoption of Darling. She has made our life better and will be cherished forever. After all, she is just Darling.