Horses Loved and Lost

Rosie

February 12, 1999, was the last day of life for a wonderful elderly mare named Rosie. Before Rosie arrived at Kimberly Farms, she had been abused and neglected. It took her years to trust people again, and for years she seemed surprised that food was always forthcoming at dinner time and at the close of the day some loving person was always there to bring her in from her pasture. In time she became the most trustworthy mount ever to be straddled by a child. She treated human children with the gentle protectiveness that she lavished on her own foals. A four-legged babysitter, she would take tiny riders as young as two and never try to take advantage of their lack of strength or expertise. Hundreds of riders thank Rosie for their first time in the saddle.

Ginger

Ginger was the most stubborn little mare ever to look through a bridle. Uncommonly clever and very opinionated, she initially avoided work by being impossible to catch in the field. Under saddle she employed many tricks designed to dislodge the unwary rider. After a few months of working as a guide horse, Ginger decided she actually enjoyed going out on trail rides, and mellowed out to be one of the best beginner horses we had. She was deeply in love with Sonny, and she was content to go anywhere as long as she was following him. Ginger was also very vocal, squealing and whinnying and hitting such unusual notes, human listeners couldn't help laughing. For all of her pushiness, she was also a very affectionate friend who would put her chin on a human shoulder and stand there with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Ginger died on Easter morning, 1999.

Libby

Little Liberty, popularly known as Libby, was a pinto Shetland mare who became the Kimberly Farms mascot. She was very intelligent and opinionated, and was instrumental in the Kimberly Farms lesson program and summer camps for years. We mourn her passing.