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~Testimonials~ I have vivid memories of being 3 years old and begging my mother for a horse. By 5 we moved from Oregon to the wilds of Alaska and my chances of getting a horse were reduced to nil. Every time I came south to visit relatives I never missed a chance to ride. Any relative or friends of relatives that had a horse I would ask to ride. More often than not this ended badly in my going over their head or getting bucked off as they were mostly spoiled backyard pets who had not been well trained or ridden in years and I knew nothing about horses except that I wanted to be near them. Still, I persisted as the smell of horse is to me like the smell of roses is to some people. The smell releases a good chemical in my body. After over 40 years of wonderful Alaskan adventurers my husband and I decided to move to Idaho. I told my husband that if I was moving out of Alaska, I was going to have a horse. I had no idea of the adventure I was about to embark on. I found someone to begin to teach me to ride. It was at this time that I understood how much fear I had of riding. The horse would sneeze and my knees would turn to jello. The woman giving me lessons did have her work cut out for her. After a few months of lessons, I got my first horse. He was “free”, 18 years old, blind in one eye and hadn’t been ridden in 16 years. They told me he would be going to auction if he didn’t find a home. He taught me a lot, but with every ride, when I climbed off, I was relieved that it had not ended in a train wreck. I realized I was finding excuses not to ride. I had looked at thousands of horses for sale on Craigslist and Dreamhorse. I had looked at about 10 horses locally over the last couple of years that were for sale. For some reason each of them did not seem like the right horse for me, people asking a LOT of money for not broke, lame, ect... Then a few weeks ago I saw Pocito’s ad on Dreamhorse. Something about this horse moved me. It was with trepidation that I went to meet Susan, Louie and Pocito. I was praying that all that they said about themselves and this horse were true and that God would guide my decisions about this horse. Guess what? It was!!!! And he did!!!! The time I spent with them changed my life. They are the most honest, warm, insightful, God loving people I have ever met. It was as though they had raised and trained this beautiful, intelligent, willing sensitive horse just for me. Pocito is like riding laughter. Pocito has changed my life in ways I never expected. I ride my old horse with a new confidence. My husband is getting the gaits he paid for out of his horse now that he rides with a horse that can keep up, I look forward to riding everyday rain or shine, and we have wonderful new friends, Susan, Louie and Shari and her family. The adventure just keeps getting better and better with Pocito. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!!! I contacted Susan and Louie late summer of 2008 about a horse that I had watched a video of on their website. Well I took to long to think about it and the horse was sold by the time I called back. Thankfully I asked about future prospects and Susan said Spring/Summer of 2009 they would have some available. This time-frame worked into my schedule perfectly. Out of the 4 we talked about, I selected a horse they then called Hollywood, a palomino mare. While my real selection was not final for a few months I truly believe my heart picked her from the start. This is the beginning of how I came to have "Faith" true faith. All my life I have wanted a horse I could have faith in, truly connect with; something told me this horse was it. I consider myself a novice level rider even though I have ridden horses off and on most of my life (I am in my 40's now). To make a long story short the reason being is I have had some bad and very trying experiences with many different horses, not to mention being lead astray so to speak by some not good people or people that thought they knew horses but actually did not. In other words I "had" some confidence issues, but for some reason I still had the passion. Then on February 15th, 2006 I was in an auto accident that left me with some physical issues pertaining to my skeletal system. I am very blessed as I can truly say that through hard work, physical therapy, and prayer I am doing wonderful. Susan and I talked for many hours through the fall and winter of 08/09 on what my physical needs where, what I wanted from my horse and my confidence issues. Susan and Louie trained my horse with me and my needs in mind. For lack of better words it was an extraordinary experience. At last the time came to pick a date to go out to Windwalker Ranch and meet my girl. My 16 year old daughter KaLeigh and my 7 year old daughter Hallie Jo came with me. We left Minnesota for Oregon on June 15, 2009; I can't even begin to describe how excited I was to finally be on the road. However, I also knew that despite our best efforts that once I got there that it might turn out that this horse and I were not a good fit and I would not be coming home with this particular horse or maybe not even a horse at all. But deep down inside I just knew it was going to be fine, I had faith. The first time I saw the horse will forever be ingrained in my mind because I truly knew in that instant that she was mine, I can't even describe it; it was one of those moments in life that you just live. We felt so at home as soon as we got there, Susan and I had talked so many times for hours sometimes on the phone that I felt like I already knew her well and I felt she was already a very good friend to me. Louie was very easy to get to know and we all built a great friendship the two weeks we spend in their home, I would not trade one second of it for anything. The day after we arrived was my 1st ride on her; it was just Susan, Louie, and I that went. I must admit I was a bit nervous. But Susan and Louie took it slow and calmly helped me learn to ride again. They both have such a gentle nature that it's easy to relax and just enjoy, and learn. The ride was amazing on this amazing horse, by the end of the ride it was a done deal for me, this is the horse I have been waiting for al my life. All I could do was cry, say thank you to Susan and Louie with hugs to go with it, suffice it to say I was not disappointed, if anything, it turned out even better. Over the next two weeks we went out almost everyday for a ride, my daughter KaLeigh went with us every time after that and Hallie Jo went with us a couple of times too; she rode on the back of Louie's horse in an attached kiddy saddle and has a blast. One time KaLeigh and I went out with just Louie, as Susan had an appointment in town. KaLeigh started out on a buckskin gelding and Louie was riding a buckskin mare named Design. The gelding KaLeigh was riding is very laid back and was not very challenging for her, KaLeigh is a very accomplished rider; she was admiring Design as she has a bit more spirit then the gelding. I could tell she wanted to ride Design and mentioned that and Louie said sure you can ride her. KaLeigh and Design hit it off they seem to have a very especial connection right off the bat. That is how we came to buy Design as well, and we are so glad we did she is a wonderful horse too. My horse's name is Faith and after reading this story it should came as no surprise as to why. I have true Faith in her and in Susan and Louie, they did a remarkable job training Faith for me and I will always consider them my friends. I thank God for blessing me and leading me to Windwalker Ranch, and my family for being so supportive of my passion for this horse that I kept searching for. What Susan and Louie do is very special thing;if you want a horse that is very well trained and not over the hill already then this is the place to get it. If you are a person with special circumstances then this is the only place to get your horse. Thank you Susan and Louie for everything and God bless you always in everything you do. Kari Kay
Hello Susan & Louie Good Mornin, I am soooooooo Hi Louie and Susan, Hi Susan! Hope this reaches you OK. I got your email address from Mom so I could fill you in on how Cody is doing. Louie & Susan, Louie & Susan, To Louie & Susan
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