Announcing the Winner of High Country Stables Story Contest...

[miamiphillips]

If you hadn't noticed, we have been running a contest on

Paulding.com and on our blog at http://highcountrystables.com

for free tickets for four to our Fall Family Festival to be held Oct 17th.

 

Unfortunately - we have apparently waited too late for this fall festival...

and must postpone until Springtime.

 

As much as we were looking forward to it - the weather is not

cooperating with us!

 

The forecast for Saturday is a high of 51! Plus we have had so much

rain that the ground is just too wet for anyone to be on and not get

soaked! We really don't think it would be a good idea to get kids and

adults out in the pasture and play in the mud - especially when it

was cold!

 

However we are pleased to announce the winner of the 'Best Story'

contest. And even though the winner can't bring the family to the

cookout- we will award two full hour lessons instead! ($100 value)

 

All of the entries were very good, and a few were exceptional - but

the contest judges agreed the best written story was from Maureen

Hallford and the prize is awarded to her for telling a very moving story,

and writing it very well.

 

Special mentions go to:

Kathy Caniff, Josephine Lau, and Ginger

 

In case you haven't had the chance to read it - here it is!

 

Thanks for all the entries! And we look forward to a 'Spring' Family Festival...

 

Mere Words Cannot Describe…

by Maureen Hallford

 

I've fallen in love…with a place where dreams blossom. A place and a

people where your disability, affliction, or addiction can be freed. The

smell of the barn, the sound the water, and the breeze on your face

wrap every inch of your soul and body. To walk with horses by your

side, to watch them run and roll in the pastures now covered with sand

fills you with an uncommon found energy in your spirit. I love this place…

 

Mere words cannot describe…how a dream came to life.

 

As a small girl growing up in Wisconsin, I dreamed of a life with horses.

But as most parents do…a childhood dream that was expensive wasn't

one that was going to happen. With occasional trail rides and a year of

lessons when I was 13 would have to do. Dream done….

 

After having two children I witnessed with my own eyes, the dreams and

imagination of a child. I never knew what it meant to "live thru your child's

dream," until my daughter blessed me with hers. There was a sense of

completeness…fulfillment….calmness and love when she was able to ride

her first horse. How sweet and innocent the love a child when they begin

to breathe the dream.

 

Mere words cannot describe…how God led us to this place. In search for a

dream we hap haphazardly stumbled upon a place like no other. My daughter

constantly talked about riding an Appaloosa. She had a picture of one in a

book and pointed to it, "Mommy, what is this horse?" "That's what I want."

The dream had a name.

 

As we drove down the long drive to the barn, not knowing what we would

find, and without an appointment, the dream began to live. Her name was

Tessa, an Appaloosa Pony. How sweet the dream.

 

Mere words cannot describe….how the blood rushes thru my veins and my

soul breathes at this place. As I brush Callie, her eyes wide, watching me…

I feel her warmth. The flick of her tail, the stomp of her hoof as she shoos

away flies… I feel her speak. She is powerful and beautiful, yet gentle and

loving. I have fallen in love…with this place and it's people. The dream lives

here…at High Country Stables.

[celeste]

Yay Maureen!! Great story!