Every so often, I get the kind of assignment that allows me to tell an incredible and emotional story. It's a weighty responsibility, but I'm always thankful. These kinds of stories are my favorite, and it's an honor to share them with readers.
This is a story about three women, and the Quarter Horse mare that bound them together due to a strikingly similar tragedy in each of their lives. "Shirley" was a healing balm for these moms in their times of grief, and she continues to be an angel in the life of her forever home.
Sherry, Becky and Tracy shared their stories with me and I in turn shared them with AQHA's member magazine America's Horse. The result was a beautiful tribute to a sweet bay mare by the women who love her. The story got an incredible response from each woman's community--more than a hundred comments across their Facebook pages. I've never seen anything like it, but each woman lived through a hard time thanks to Shirley, and their friends knew it.
For Mother's Day, Becky's daughter made a gallery of the article and Becky hung it in a place of honor in her home. It is such a good reminder that stories like this are why I do what I do. Sometimes my work can have a positive effect, both on the sources, and on the readers. It was a privilege to share these women's story. It can be found in the January-February 2017 America's Horse.
