Hector called one morning and wanted to come visit the ranch. He had an interest in adopting a horse for his family. Hector is a business man and a transplant from Puerto Rico, who grew up with horses and missed them greatly. Now living in the states, his wife and family reside several hours away. They did not hesitate to make the drive to visit the farm.
Hector brought his daughter, Raquel, son Eddie, and wife Marianne. Marianne is a city girl through and through. She stood watch over everyone as they went horse crazy looking at all the little ones. Hector and his daughter picked a beautiful tri-colored filly that we had named Noel. Eddie had his eye on Cavalli. Several hours went by as they decided between the two. It was Noel that eventually stole their hearts.
They spent the entire afternoon with us as we discussed with them the need to rescue the horses. Marianne had been taking Premarin and was totally stunned to hear that the drug she had been prescribed was produced from these pregnant mares. Having learned of this news she immediately picked up her cell phone and started calling her girlfriends from the pasture to inform them of what she has just discovered! We are proud to say that the horses have a new advocate and supporter, a city girl who never had the slightest interest in being a horse mom yet alone taking a drug that caused them so much grief.
Hector on the other hand grew up with horses, and he was looking forward to the day that he would be horse owner again. His childhood story is magical as his father surprised him one Christmas morning when he was a very young boy in Puerto Rico. We woke up and was lead from his bedroom by hoof prints that "Santa Claus" had laid out the night before. He followed the hoof prints that lead him to the Christmas tree where he found a racing saddle. The prints lead him outside the house where he found his very first horse! This was the very beginning of Hector's total admiration for horses.
He rode, trained, and became an expert horseman during his youth in Puerto Rico. His wonderful experiences growing up with horses, was something that he dreamed of for his own family.
Hector and Marianne's children, both young teens are the most polite and respectable young people that we have met. The adoption of Noel has brought them together in a very special way. Hector brings the family every weekend to the ranch where Racquel and Eddie are both taking riding lessons under Jennifer on stable mates, Commander and RC. Both horses have had years of Parelli work under trainer Jennifer, and are suitable beginner mounts for our riding program. Hector enjoys watching the kids advance in their weekly lessons during this time he works with Noel. He actually came clean one evening during a BBQ at the ranch and told us all that he had really adopted Noel for himself. But we already knew that! None the less Hector is one proud father.
On Father's day Hector let Raquel and Eddie decide that they would do with their afternoon. The choices were to attend a baseball game or to spend time with the horses. Much to his delight, the kids without hesitation opted to spend the entire day with dad and the horses. So up they came for a weekend at the ranch.
For the time being Noel is being boarded here to grow up with her pasture mates. The family arrives early weekend mornings and spends the day riding, grooming, washing and playing with the horses. Hector often brings lots of food to the ranch. We are getting a taste of Puerto with his fantastic dishes and are always entertained by his childhood horse stories.
Thank you Hector, Marianne, Raquel and Eddie for being a part of our family. We all think the world of you and are thrilled that you saved Noel. We all look so forward to seeing you on the weekends, having you enjoying the country life and sharing your memories, hopes and dreams with all of us!
Happiness is Raquel and her filly Noel!
