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Big J had a very interesting session at the therapy farm.

One of the horses, named Caruso, is a very young one, only about 5 years old.

He is described by the owner as "a distracted adolescent who doesn't focus well and is bullied by the others in the herd."

(sound familiar??? LOL)

Big J would walk towards him, Caruso would take off around the paddock. J would stop for a while until Caruso calmed down, then walk towards him again. After about 20 minutes, Caruso finally let J get to about 2 feet away. I could see that J was actually talking to Caruso, and the horse's ears were flicking towards him.

Then J started to walk away, and Caruso started to follow him like a big puppy. After about 10 feet, Caruso caught up and J stopped. Caruso rested his head on J's shoulder and enjoyed a jowl scritch. (note to ES, only the non rodent four footers get scritches)

For the next 30 minutes, Caruso would not leave J's side. He nuzzled him, and followed him wherever he walked.

The owner said she had never seen Caruso respond to someone like that. He is usually very nervous of people and other animals.

I was very very proud.

I was thrilled for James when you first posted about his contact with horses. I hope he can continue it, and if not, I'm sure the experience will stay with him forever anyway. I'm proud of him too.

SportsFan68 wrote:I was thrilled for James when you first posted about his contact with horses. I hope he can continue it, and if not, I'm sure the experience will stay with him forever anyway. I'm proud of him too.

Although all the available funding is now exhausted, I talked to his Dad and my folks and we are going to all get the money together for another series for him. I have rarely seen him so passionate about something, and the farm and horses are his passion.

a1mamacat wrote:

SportsFan68 wrote:I was thrilled for James when you first posted about his contact with horses. I hope he can continue it, and if not, I'm sure the experience will stay with him forever anyway. I'm proud of him too.

Although all the available funding is now exhausted, I talked to his Dad and my folks and we are going to all get the money together for another series for him. I have rarely seen him so passionate about something, and the farm and horses are his passion.

Heck, Saucy, have him do what the kids around here do -- go to work on a dude ranch for the summer and make college tuition while they're at it! I bet he'd be great.

I loved the story Saucy.

Maybe the farm (or whatever the location is appropriately called) will see that James could help them and hire him. If not for atual money but possibly for volunteer hours.

Very nicely done, Horse Whisperer Big J!

We have a place here called Storybook Farms - all the animals are named for storybook characters.
It's a place for therapy for kids with chronic or terminal illnesses, disablities of all kinds not just a
physical disability, or suffered a loss. My friend Patty grew up in a foster home and just this
week was appointed to the board of Storybook Farms.

They have a DVD they use in their fundraising. I've seen it several times and I still cry every time I
see it. You can help just by "sponsoring" a horse a month, which is just enough money to take care
of one animal. There is no charge to any of the kids that receive the therapy. The success stories
are so heartwarming.

The Auburn football team volunteers on a regular basis as do other civic groups in the area. They have
a website if you're interested in taking a peek.


http://www.story-book-farm.org/index.html