When you move to property as expansive as we were fortunate to do, it becomes quickly apparent that extra hands will be necessary. And it's not just the property size that is taken into consideration; the number of horses housed on that property can largely determine how much help you'll need.
Mustang rescue and adoption is a life-long commitment. Many of these horses will be with us for their entire lives. We love that. So we don't just have an initial exchange and then move on to something new and different; we stick with our commitment. This is one thing we loved about working with Taryn King of Horse & Hearth as our realtor; she didn't just find us our dream property and say, "Good luck!" Instead, she said, "I'll see what I can do to help you organize a day for volunteers to come out, and we will get you the help you need to get things in order." This commitment from her also included more gigantic muffins than we could count...and watermelon! Umm....YEAH!
From moving panels to make enclosures more well-suited to working with and gentling Mustangs to fence repair, mucking, moving wood, and creating a track system for our pastures, we had folks show up with their excellent attitudes and dedication to service.
The weather was cooperative, albeit a tad windy; it kept us cool on an otherwise very warm day. Patches of clouds floated overhead as they watched us carry on about our work to make this place into the best possible location for these horses.
We are grateful not only for our volunteers and for Taryn but also for this new place that we can call our home. It was absolutely worth the wait, and we are finally ready to settle into our OWN location that we know is going to be home for a very long time.
While it was my girls who brought the horses into my life, I knew it was my job to help make their dreams a reality because making their dreams come true is one of my very own. No two girls are more dedicated to these animals and to caring for this massive undertaking. They have shaped my future in a way I never expected and brought me head-on into my life's most important work. To my girls, I am grateful.
To my husband, Tom, you never knew you were signing up for this, but look how far we've come. You have supported us every step of the way, and we love you for that! Thank you for spending your Father's Day weekend helping us with the herds and the property. The sacrifices you make on a daily basis do not go unnoticed. You are at the very foundation of For the Love of Aria, and we adore you for how amazing you have allowed us to make these animals' futures.
To all the helping hands and hearts that showed up to serve, even amidst heaps of red ant piles, thank you! We recently shared a quote that said something along the lines of "never underestimate the power of a group of people working together for a single cause." I witnessed the greatness of people's efforts when they come together and are driven by a passion and a heart of service.
So, thank you to everyone for everything. We couldn't have done it without you. New panels in place, t-posts posted, muck mucked, and many other things were attended to...WE DID IT!
Here's to our new home with a view...and to everyone who helped make it a reality.
Thank you!
To donate and support any or all of the equines in our charge, please click the button below.
If you wish to sponsor a particular equine, please indicate to whom you would like your funds to be allocated in the comments section on the donation form.
Thank you!