Another day into my Happy Appy campaign and I wanted to take some time to introduce Aspen again. This is the first post of my new blog, so please stick with me.
Happy Appy is a 5 year old Appaloosa, belonging to 11 year old Aspen. Aspen saw this horse on a website at a ranch where her parents frequently buy horses from. She played hooky from school to ride with her parents to the ranch to buy a new horse. Upon arrival, Aspen asked where the Appy was. She disappeared into Happy Appy's stall for the rest of the trip. Aspen had fell in love at first sight. When it was time to leave, her mom came and found a red-eyed Aspen, who was far from ready to leave. Dad was sent in next, the tears were flowing down Aspen's cheeks at the thought of leaving "her" Appy. Dad couldn't stand to see his little girl cry, he told Aspen to load the mare into the trailer, she could bring her home. We have to pause here… Aspen knows how to work her dad, and had probably planned this all along, BUT this was the start of a strong bond between little girl and her horse. Happy Appy was a halter horse and hadn't spent much time under saddle. 11 year old Aspen was in charge of finishing her training, and that is exactly what she did. She finished her training and started competing with her in barrel racing. Aspen and Happy Appy beat her (Aspen's) times on her 2 finished barrel horses. The week of May 5th, Happy Appy colicked…BADLY. The vet came out with meds and IVs. when this didn't work, Happy Appy went in to the vet hospital for surgery. They removed an enterolith (pretty much like a rock). There was a ball of some sort of string as well. According to the vet, it could have been something she ate YEARS ago. Happy Appy was given 60% chance to live. Appy handled anesthesia well, was up and moving the next morning. She was alert. Later that day the complications set in. Ultra sound showed her gut was dying where the mass had been lodged. She had to be put down, while Aspen was competing at JR World at the Josey Ranch. Aspen's heart has been broken by the loss of her best friend. worse yet, while this young girl is grieving, and needing her family, everyone is still working to pay off Happy Appy's surgery.
I met Aspen's grandmother, Lynn, through a wonderful FaceBook group called Hags with Nags. On this page, everyone is very supportive of things that everyone is going through. Lynn was looking for support and prayers for her family when she posted on Hags with Nags. I wanted to do more! Last night I made my first donation to Aspen's family. It wasn't much, but that's not the point. I want to help, and so I've started the Happy Appy Campaign Everything that sells from Untamed Tack for the time being will go to helping Aspen. All profits are going to them!
Messaging with Lynn last night, we came to the conclusion, that we wished there was a group that would do this for every little heart broken cowgirl out there! Now, I'm not there yet (and I don't know if I'll ever really be there), but I'm starting with Aspen. If you want to help, you can place an order or donate directly to the family!
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