This page is dedicated to the memory of special friends who have passed on.

Cricket, the Grande Ole Lady!
1964 - 2007
We will miss you.

In memory of my daughter,
Elizabeth Bagley Robinson, 1963-2007
Joan Lombardi Fournier
Acworth, GA

Scooter
Faithful Friend of K. Janulis, Sugar Grove, Il
Rainbow Bridge 01/11/08
"He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion." Unknown

In Memory of Barbie

Donation from Karen Oates of Lawrenceville, GA in memory of a horse she saw on Animal Planet that was euthanized and her duaghter's horse, Barbie, who crossed to the Rainbow Bridge in January 2007

In Memory of Scoobie and Henry

Both Scoobie and Henry passed away this year they were a big part of the Flesher family and will be missed greatly. Their mom Dina Flesher has one of biggest hearts I know. She is also one of your volunteers along with her daughter Hannah. Hannah is following right along in her mother's footsteps. I am so happy that Dina has become an asset to our family.

With love in honor of Scoobie and Henry,
Melanie

I thought you might like this beautiful picture I found going thru our files. Ironically this picture was dated 09-06-1999. He passed away 09-06-06. He meant the world to us. He taught me patience and understanding of the horse language. And he taught both Ash and I unconditional love. These are gifts that live on forever.

Deb

Baron was my best friend. I loved him very much. I thank God for all the years we had together. He will live forever in my heart. Now I just have to figure out what I am supposed to do without him....after 25 years you just get used to him being there. Bonnie

Bonnie donated to the HRRRFI in honor of Baron. Her friends also donated in honor of Baron. She has good friends who understand her loss. It makes our hearts heavy to lose our beloved horse. They are so much more than a horse to us. They are a friend, a companion. They are where we can tell all our hopes and dreams, our disappointments and our fears. Horses have a special intuition to understand how we feel. We love them so much for that. They keep us rooted in the earth. Now baron is running in the heavens. Rest in Peace, Baron.

"we have to speak for them", Dr. Ken Marcella

Horse, thou art truly a creature without equal, for thou fliest without wings and conquerest without sword.

The Koran

Sugar was sold at an auction for a meat price because she could no longer be ridden, have babies, or be used in some way for the benefit of humans. She was very frightened, swayback and underweight. I will never forget her eyes, they were so cold and hard with no life in them. When we led her out of the auction, everyone laughed at her and wanted to know what we were going to do "with that old horse". We informed them that we were going to "take her home and give her lots of love".

She was so frightened she would squeal and pee if you came near her. This behavior went on for a long time. The vet could not find anything wrong that would make her behave like this, so we determined that she was just frightened and mistrusting of humans. She was also very underweight and had ringbone and arthritis in her back and hindquarters. We would sit by her stall and talk to her, not trying to touch her, but just to let her know we weren’t there to hurt her. She responded to us as if she knew we had saved her life. Soon her eyes got softer and brighter and had life in them. With time, patience and good care Sugar turned into a beautiful and healthy horse.

At first she didn’t make friends with the other horses, she was also afraid of them, but soon she began to bond with a little miniature horse named Gidget. She had a fascination with Gidget and would not let anyone get near her. She tried to protect her and they went everywhere together and did everything together. Sugar seemed very happy and content with her new life and this relationship with Gidget. She loved her peppermints too. Every time she would hear the wrapper coming off one her ears would go up and her eyes would light up!

She never trusted everyone, but that’s ok. She didn’t have to be trusting to deserve our kindness and love. She deserved it just because she was Sugar. We knew each other’s wants and needs and were able to give each other space when needed and give affection when that was needed too. The past few years she had known only love, kindness, rest and peace. But at the end those eyes were also very tired and her body was failing.

We feel privileged to have had the opportunity to share in her world. Our time together seemed so very short and now the barn, with so many horses, seems to have an emptiness that can’t be filled and is a constant reminder of how much we deeply miss and love her. I can still hear that soft little nicker and see those big liquid eyes light up when I would walk into the barn and call her name. We miss you and will always love you Sugar Bear.

Mama Kathy and Mama Betsy

Stevie was a fat quarter horse. When he came here he was severely undernourished. He was found in a pasture with two overweight sheep. Apparently, the sheep got all the food and Stevie, being blind, had to eat what he could find. The owners didn’t want him anymore so we brought him here. When the trailer stopped near the barn, Stevie immediately knew he was surrounded by horses. He began to whinny in joy. He, like other horses, are herd animals. He’s been roaming around the barn and yard for 2 years and has made friends with all the animals, big and small.

He was a wonderful, gentle horse. Now, he gets to roam and run will all the other horses across the rainbow bridge and into green pastures.

Brigette with Hokey

Brooke at Ponyclub with Hokey

Donation by Jacqueline Tyson of Alparetta in memory of her Morgan horse Crickett

Rebecca Harper of St. Simons Island, GA memorial donation for Beth Taylor

Jonathan Kiger of Atlanta in memory of Pete, owned by Kim Hanson of Unionville, VA

Randy

1967 - 2003

Passages

Animals never belong to us, they pass through our lives
on journeys of their own.
They ask no more of us than
that we love them
and then let them go on in dignity and peace.

Animals come and go
with lessons to learn and lessons to teach.
So, we love them and learn.
We accept the pain of their going
as we received the joy of their coming.
All of it is a blessing.

--Shirley Thayer

Look up past the clouds. He may be hard to see because of his beautiful white coat so look for the soft, loving eye. The gentle eye of Wiser, the draft horse. He was truly a gentle giant, friend to other horses and to people big and small. He never intimidated anyone with his huge stature, his kindness always came through. We were lucky to have him with us for the past few years. He will be missed by all. Thank you to his loving caretakers, Dawn and Courtney who have a special place in their hearts for him.

We lost our dear beloved horse "PJ" last Monday January 27, 2003. Mary Butler had owned PJ for the last three years and nursed him DEVOTEDLY through his founder in 2001 and his Cushings disease right up to the end. PJ had been in my life for 18 of the 20 years I was married. He was such a gallant guy: I had a blast eventing him...when we'd get ready to go cross country he'd get all excited and pull his head up high and take a big long gaze at all of the other horses around him. He loved all the excitement; he was so balanced and enjoyed galloping through the woods...he was a presevervationist too and took good care of himself to not get hurt...I always felt safe on him. His other moment of glory was in the Paralympics in Atlanta in 1996..he was ridden by a blind woman from Ireland and won a bronze medal in the musical freestyle competition. I never saw him make such perfect 20 meter circles! I have fond memories of him and will miss him terribly but I know he had a wonderful life... Betty