Koa, our gentle giant
Our first look at Freya and her dam
8 months old and already 15 hands high (the size of a full grown horse)
The beginning: It was the weekend of White Sulphur Springs Advisory Committee (11-13 November 2022.) As part of my presentation to the committee, I projected a photo of Koa, our gentle giant, on the wall behind me. Koa, our Belgian Draft, is aging out of our horse program, I told them. Many know the story of Koa, how he was rescued from a kill pen at a local horse auction. He and another draft were pulled out of the pen to be rehabilitated by a PA horse woman. Both were so malnourished that the second horse she rescued later died in his pasture. However, Koa survived and came to live at WSS in February of 2018. He was given the name Koa by one of our interns and its meaning is ‘warrior.’ Over time, Koa put on 500 pounds to come back up to his healthy weight and then enter our string as a trail horse. He still bears the scars from his harness during his years as an Amish work horse. But now, four years later, he’s beginning to slow down. One of the hardest parts of our horse program is knowing when to retire a horse from our line. At that point, we’ve shared so much history with the horse, God has knit them into our psyche.
That same weekend a guest came to Emily, our barn manager, with the idea that she would like to donate her Belgian Draft filly. Emily and I quietly shook our heads in amusement. The Lord is at it again. It’s become clear to us over the years we’ve worked with the WSS horse program that the Lord loves horses. After all, Scripture tells us that He will return to earth on a horse. Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:11-12.
Adopting a young, untrained horse is different than finding a mature horse whose been trained under saddle and is accustomed to riding. Anyone who has ever owned a puppy knows the difference between the behavior of an adult dog vrs a puppy. Now think 1,000-pound puppy! That brings the image closer to reality. As my dad told me once, all mobility, no brains.
But on the other side, the Lord put skills and knowledge into our minds and hands. What would it be like to train a horse from the ground up? We began to pray. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
Our hearts are so full of prayer. And honestly, some fear. And a lot of joy. Coming soon: Freya, the little big horse. With all my heart, Susanne
Our horses are a community affair. Would you consider donating for hay, farrier care, repairs to tack, medication, or even sponsoring Freya or your favorite horse? Please join us on the the horse adventure!
Love your words and giving God the glory for orchestrating such a plan. My heart is happy Freya has such a prayerful home.
Renee, God bless you and your family this Christmas. Thank you for the gift of Freya. Despite the frigid temps outside, she is adjusting very well. She’s accommodated to her pasture mate, Daisy. She’s still in the barn until the temps rise. She is actively learning/learned 1) wearing her blanket 2) ground tying 3) leading 4) yielding to pressure, etc. She is a quick study. A couple times, when I have messed things up, her eyes gently transmit, “Hey silly, you’re doing it wrong.” So sweet.