Mercy Trails Ranch

“We have some horses here that might be what you are looking for.  Why don’t you come and check them out?”

We had first met Adam and Cyndy last year when they answered an ad for a horse for sale.  Cyndy loved horses and at 36, had been finally ready for her first horse. After months of searching, she met a beautiful painted draft cross horse that we had for sale.  It was love at first sight and he became hers.  After moving to a larger property, Adam decided that he was interested in a horse as well. 

A friendship had begun after the sale of Cyndy’s horse and we had many conversations with them, especially Adam, on the phone and in person.  He had told us he was an atheist but was very interested in what we did with kids and families and horses.  He expressed many times that there was a sense of peace and hope at this ranch that he could not explain.  Many times he asked us to tell him how and why it was different here, but could we please leave God out of the conversation?  After we shared how that was impossible, that we were only who we are, and this place is only what it is, through the grace, love and peace that God brings into our lives, he began to open up. 

He had been struggling for many years with overwhelming depression and anxiety.  He and Cyndy had only been married a few years and his burden was threatening to tear their marriage apart.  Voices in his head bombarded him with many lies- that he was completely worthless, no one could ever love him, his past was too much to overcome, he should end his life and take away the burden of himself from others.  His bondage was so great that often the only way that he could make through the day alive was to stay on one couch in their house.  He knew that if he did not leave that couch while the voices in his head were raging, he would not do himself bodily harm.  This had happened several times a week for many years.  Through his care for Cyndy’s horse while she was working- he worked from home- he slowly came to realize that while he was in the corral, doing chores and feeding, his fears were lessened, his bondage was eased. In his hope, he came back to us, to find a horse that could set him free.

“We have an overwhelming situation here.  We have 40 horses that are starving and need immediate help.  Do you have any room at your ranch for a group of them?”

I got off the phone with the sheriff’s deputy with my heart saddened, but with the pull to help in any way we could.  We were bordering on full with horses at our property, but I knew that we needed to help in this situation.  A horse “rescue” about an hour away had been finally shut down after the abuse and starvation became public knowledge.  The horses and other animals were in horrific condition with bones and ribs protruding.  For most, this was their only health issue.  The woman that had run the rescue had hay just outside the fence.  She just chose not to feed it.  These horses were tortured by the smell of the hay right outside their corral with no way to get to it.  5 horses, 2 ponies and a little jack donkey arrived at our house and slowly and weakly moved to their pens and dove into large piles of hay. 

Over the next few weeks, as the weight began to be put back on, the life came back into their eyes.  They began to play in the pens and their personalities became more evident.  One little gelding emerged as the clown, always starting games of chase with the other horses.  One gelding was sweeter and more mellow, always ready for a scratch.  Two were mustangs and their fear was very strong at first.  As they realized that our arrival meant hay and grain, they began to whinny and call when they would see us come.  Our mornings were greeted by the little donkey’s bray.   They all had come with their own names from the rescue and we prayed about what their new names should be.  For the first time, new names did not come easily.  For the time being, we decided to stick with the names that they came with. 

Adam and Cyndy arrived to check out the horses.  The horses had put most of their weight back on and were ready for new homes.  We walked through the herd and talked about the different needs of each horse that was available.  One horse in particular stood out to Adam.  He followed us around as we walked and was ready for attention at all times.  Adam asked us if he could consider him more carefully.  Adam and Cyndy spent the night with us that night and Scott had the opportunity to share the plan of salvation with Adam.  He did not make a decision but his face was thoughtful as he headed off to bed. 

The next morning, he came to us and told us that he felt like God had told him to take that horse.  I looked at Scott in amazement.  He knew what I was thinking and as I turned back to Adam I said, “I find it tremendously amazing and a sign of God’s love toward you, that God told you to take a horse named Freedom.” 

Adam has come to visit Freedom several times since then.  The last time he was here, he stayed for five days.  As he was preparing to leave, he fought back tears as he shared that he had not had a single struggle with fear or anxiety while he was here.  It was the longest stretch he had ever gone and he was afraid to go home.  His heart had felt peace and he did not want to go back to the bondage that he had been under before.  He knew that God had given him what he needed to break his bonds, and yet he was still afraid to reach out and trust.  

Freedom goes to his new home with Adam and Cyndy this week.  Our prayer is that through this little horse, who was in bondage himself and set free, that God will shower His grace and love on our friend whose bonds still linger. That the unconditional love of this horse will mirror the unconditional love of God.  That through a little horse named Freedom, those iron bands will be broken forever.

John 8:32

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.