Raising wild Mustangs

As I sit here pen in hand, I am flooded with memories of my childhood. I grew up the child of a single father with the occasional stepmother sprinkled in. I am reminded of all the things we did together, and how much I loved them. Like the memory of my father teaching me to fish on the bank of the Salmon River, and daring, then bribing me to eat a worm. Of course he never paid me, I should hit him up for those thirty bucks, but I am sure he has long forgotten.

I am remembering all the things I wanted to be when I grew up. Until high school, they were all centered on horses. I wanted to be a jockey or a vet, but most of the time a horse trainer. Those were simpler times and I was able to believe anything is possible in life. We all grow up eventually, and reality sets in. We become parents and possibilities are put on hold for necessities. We realize our happiness now is found with the safety and well being of our children, and we do everything to protect their innocence, and foster their dreams.

I have two beautiful girls, and their smiles are pure sunshine on the rainiest of days. Their laughter is music in a world of shouts. Their happiness is pure and real, and the ease we sell the world of possibilities to them should be shameful. There is no shame however, as they accept the possibilities that become realities, and joyfully excuse the possibilities that disappear like smoke into think air.

My oldest daughter and I dream of raising wild horses, the rescued Mustangs. We dream of gentling them, and we study the techniques so we are prepared for the time our possibility turns into reality. She starts sentences “Mom, when we have our wild horses…” and finishes whichever way she sees fit that day.

I have a friend whose mother got a grant from the government to run an equestrian program for special needs children. This is what we want to do with our wild Mustangs. We would like to create a program to help rescue these majestic animals from being euthanized, and to find a way to give back to our community as well. I don’t know that we would be able to get a grant from the government, but that does not change what we would like to do.

I want to put an educational program together to teach local groups about the Mustangs and the challenges this majestic and mysterious breed is faced with. I would like to work with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and local area schools, by forming an outreach program. Sometimes all a child needs is a direction in life to help to keep them from ending up on the wrong one. I know I needed a direction in life as a child, and I found that with our horses growing up.

I want to create a program that can bring jobs to the community I live in. So many people are being forced to go farther from their family and homes to find work. Working with horses is such a rewarding experience, but it isn’t a huge financial windfall. It’s hard work, and dedication. It is a true form of love.


You can help me to make beautiful memories for my children to grow up with. Everything worth having in life is worth working for. That being said, giving us this house is giving us hard work we are ready, willing, and able to do. You will be giving us the key to make our dreams come true, but the hard work that will make it real is still up to us. This house and it’s property will be valued and loved, as will be evidenced by the hard work that will follow.

We dream of wide open spaces, and now we have stumbled upon this house, and this essay contest, our dreams seem almost within reach. Our possibilities seem almost possible, and our hearts are filled with joy.

We were in Idaho today, and spent the entire time marveling at the beauty. We sat in the shade of the trees on the bank of the Bear River, and talked about how much we wanted to win this house, and how happy we would be if we did.

As a small child I grew up in the Spokane area, and we spent time in Coeur d'Alene at the lake. I loved it so much when we would get out of the city. My father was a construction worker, so it was rare he had a whole weekend in the summer to get away, so these were usually day trips. He always made the time though, and it was great to be so loved.

I live in Ogden, Utah with my girls now. Our house was recently robbed by gang members, and our peaceful safety was shattered. I want so much to get back the piece of mind you have from living in a home you feel safe in. I want to give wide open spaces, and beautiful childhood memories to my children. I want them to grow up with the innocence that children deserve, and not the fast paced life that is being forced upon them. Please help change our lives for the better and make our possibilities sparkling realities.