“My heart just sang with joy”

My dog and I were attacked by two huge dogs in our neighborhood. Shortly after, my dog died of cancer. It left me an overwhelming feeling of fear and sadness. I didn’t go for walks, didn’t feel happy around the grandkids, I was a hidden mess.

One day, we were driving past some horses and I reached toward them and cried out loud. When we got home, I asked my niece if she knew someone with horses. She introduced me to Jamie at Three Willows.

The first day I was uneasy and awkward. I had a horse forty years ago but needed the pointers that Jamie gave me. I remember walking under the willow trees and looking at Granite Mountain and just taking it in. It was like the trees and all the surroundings were giving me the courage to walk out in the pasture. The horses and I just walking around in the pasture together. It wasn’t long before I was hugging them. I can’t explain it any better than to say, my heart just sang out with joy! I hadn’t felt that in a long time. I sobbed, but this time, with joy. Pure joy. I wasn’t trying to make anybody happy but myself.

I’ve been going to Three Willows weekly (and sometimes more) for months now and I feel better than ever. It’s so natural and real, just lots of animals, like mini donkeys, hilarious goats, and these horses have a natural love for humans. They seemed to know what I was going through and wanted to help.

Three Willows will always have a special part of my heart and spirit.