And the winners are......

[lyn_j]

First place and winner of Savannah is Skylar, Melissa Bynums neice. She has won Savannah. I have talked to her and her Auntie Melissa tonight. Here is her touching Essay.

Hey my name is Skylar. I am 9 years old. When I was almost two my mother went to get me some food. When she was on the highway she ran out of gas and a car behind her ran into her. They took her to the hospital.they said they could not do anything for her so they bared (buried) her. As time passed I got older my Nanny told me she had died and what happened to her. My dad can not take care of me so Aunt Melissa and Uncle Clay took me in. When we got there I did not now (know) nothing about horses, but they told me and I new (knew) like that! I always wanted a mini my mini and feed it and groom it, brush it, show it, breed it and all that good stuff. All I think about is minis. I look out the window and watch them. I help feed them and all that. I will grom her a lot. I will love her, feed her, show her and give her lots of hugs and kisses. The reason I should win her is because I need a mini to talk to when I am happy or sad. Horses are good animals and good listeners. I lost my mother and I will love Savannah like I did my mom. There are days when I am very sad and horses and minis make me happy. My dream dream is to spend time with my very own mini. Last year we joined 4H. I want to learn how to show. I think she will be just right for me so that I learn good and well. If I win this mini I will do everything with it. When it comes I will ask Aunt Melissa to put she in 4H so that I can practice with her. I will see that she is fine and healthy. I dream about horses every day of my life. I fell(feel) like I could do a lot with her each and every day . When I sad she would cheer me up day after day and she would keep me running all the time. When I have a headache she would make it go away. When I lived with my dad I never new where I was going to sleep or eat or live. I would not want any children to go through what I went through as a child when I moved in with Aunt Melissa and Uncle Clay I found out that horses are good therpy. Savannah would have more love than she would ever need from me.

Skylar

 

[hhpminis]

Oh my! snif snif.

It sounds as if they have been meant for each other.

Kudos to you Lyn for doing this.

 

[Chamomile]

Oh Man! I'm all teary! I can't imagine if something happened to me and my boys were left alone... This is so touching. I can see why she is the winner!! :aktion033: Congratulations to Skylar!! Yea!

 

[lyn_j]

Second place and the gelding Tucson goes to Stepahnie Serres Here is HER essay.

Dear Lyn

My name is Stephanie Serres, I am 15 years old, and I would be honored to own Savannah.

I would like to assure you if I were to own her she would be in the best of care. I live on 10 acres of land and about 7 of it is pasture. She would have her own stall and would have routine exercise.

I also would like to show her in our local AMHA AMHR shows. I was able to show a miniature stud this last year in IMHC (Indianhead Miniature horse Club) But I was limited to only their fun shows because he is not registered and I could not show him at our WSCA show because I am under age to show a stallion. If I owned her I would be able to show AMHA AMHR.

Not only did I have a great time at the 2 fun shows I was at but my father also enjoyed being there with me and helped me quite a bit. I have shown before on big horses but he did not show the same enjoyment with the larger horses as he did with the miniatures. Savannah would also bring my father and me closer together if I were to own her.

Savannah would be in $h with me as well. This year our county has added a miniature horse section at our fair. I would love to show her in halter obstacle, showmanship and or jumping. I would also like to enter her as a horseless horse project ( this project allows exhibitors who do not own a horse to work with a horse and show it at the fair). I signed up to do this 2 years ago with my mother's quarter horse and when I shared him, so to speak, it made me so happy to see the girl who rode him that whole summer5 win first place at the fair. I would like to offer Savannah as a horseless horse for more timid exhibitors who love horses but are frightened by their size.

Whe I saw that you wrote that Savannah's son was a therapy horse it gave me the idea. Maybe she could be one as well. In Prescott we have a retirement home, Riverhils Assisted Living Retirement Homes. I would like to bring her there in the summer time and let the elderly pet her and groom her, I think that would make them very happy. I have visited there many times before and almost all of the men and women were farmers or owned livestock at one point and Savannah would surley bring back happy memories of thier life on the farm.

Not only would Savannah have a show career but also if she is pregnant I have the resources to take care of her and her foal. I know many experienced breeders of miniatures and regular horses. SAvannah would be monitored constantly around her due date and it would give me an educational experience if she were to foa. I promise she and her foal woould be well taken care of and pampered beyond belief.

As you can see Savannah would be a big part of my lfe and loved dearly. She would never go hungry and always have a job to do. Whether that would be showing, visiting the elderly or just being loved.

sincerely yours.

Stephanie Serres.

 

[backwoodsnanny]

Congrats to the winners great essays.

 

[lyn_j]

Because there were so many good essays and deserving kids.... I thought I would add another prize. I have been looking for the right family to have my ASPC gelding colt Michigans Red Mazeratti. Many of you have see Redi on the boards here. Because he isnt a mini, and he is a little "advanced", and I wanted him NOT to end up as a backyard pet, I have decided to give him to the Sleeper children Ed and MiKaela. I have talked to their mom Jodi and we have decided this is the best thing for everyone. I am excited for Redi.

Mikaela wrote:

My name is Mikaela Sleeper . I am eleven years old. It would be a woderful oppurtunity to have a horse of my very own. I have a horse that I part pwn and tried to show. She really didnt like it, but I would like to show more but in order to do that I would need another horse. I would really like to get a horse but I dont have any money, the hourse I have now I part own with my grandmother. I am one of four partners in Maine Pride Miniatures and I try to get to the barn every day, and I do, for the most part so I would see her a lot, the reason I dont get there sometimes is because they dont want me to go when it's below zero outside. Where I would like to go in miniature horses is I would really love to ve one of the worlds top horse breeders and someday make it to nationals. Horses have taught me many responsibilities like, you have to feed them every day and they need attention every day or it will affect your relationship with them. They're not like hampsters you should clean their stalls everyday or every other day, they love unconditionally. I've seen many foals bornand prepared foaling kids for all of these births and I've also helped with mare stare and I've sort of enjoyed it. If my essay is chosen I would want to show Savannah and I would possibly breed her to our BTU grandson.

Sincerely Mikaela Sleeper

Her brother Ed wrote:

Hi my name is Ed Sleeper. I am 13 going to be 14 in March.

I think I deserve your mare because I love animals, more horses than any other animal. I work in my grandmothers barn 5 out of 7 days a week. I have ADHD and the hrses are a comfort for me because they calm me down and I feel like I can relate to them and they make me ver y happy. When I am with them nothing else matters.

I have wanted my one horse since my nana got her first 2 minis, and I just havent been able to have one because I didn not know any think about them. Now 4 years later I feel like I am comfortable with them and know a little more about them. I have lived on a farm sense I was born and have had animals my whole life and I am ready to have my own horse.

I can give her more love and attention than any one else can. My nanas barn is all set up to have a foal if she has one. We have cameras and a foaling stall and I will make sure she has the best care that she can have. We sit up all hourse of the night to make sure that she will have the baby alright.

So far I have not shown but have been the groom for my mom and sister and have helped get thier horses ready for the ring. I have decided to try it myself but dont have a horse to show but I have learned from a trainer while watching my sisters classes so if the little mare isnt bred I would like to try obstacle in hand. I would give her a forever home.

I think you are a wonderful person for giving me a chance to own a horse thats all mine.

Thank you

Ed Gerard Sleeper

I just wanted to say again thanks to all the kids that entered. I wish I had 9 horses to give away. I wanted to explain why I chose the way I did.

Savannah can be very motherly and she isnt a gorgeous show horse but has two great shoulders to cry or lean on so I chose her for Skylar.... she loves being a momma.

I chose Stephanie for Tucson because he is capeable and able to be shown something she wanted to share with a friend and he has the nature and temperment to also be a great therapy horse. I think he would fit her needs better than Savannah and she his because while he is sweet and easy he isnt trained but trainable by this young lady. Our kids friends used our horses for horseless 4h projects so that struck home with all of us.

And lastly, I have been sitting here , wishing I had a couple of teenagers to help me arouond the place and felt like Red and even my beloved GQ are missing out on some great kids attention.... it just felt like the right thing to do to call their mim Jodi and see if they could share him, if they had a place to show a shetland who might or might not stay mini sized..... it just felt right....

GEEZ I just love Christmas dont Y'all??? I think we shoould have it more often than just december!

Thanks parents for allowing these kids to have this opportunity .... Thanks Michele for adding Tucson you are so great at planing surprises! We do that really well together dont we?

This was the most fun I have had in a loooooong time!

Lyn :aktion033: :aktion033: :aktion033: :aktion033:

 

[Scoopiedoo]

Lyn,

I am still at a loss for words! I think its because I feel so many things tonight. When I hung up the phone, it dawned on me that I have so many things I WANT to say, but I need to collect myself first. You can count on many pictures, stories and progress reports! I am going to let the kids post their own thoughts and feelings tomorrow, but tonight I can say, for both of them, THANK YOU!!! Redi will be SO loved and cherished!

It absolutely does feel like Christmas in Maine tonight!

HUGS AND THANKS!!

Jodi

 

[backwoodsnanny]

Lynn

Both of the grandkids are so very excited and making plans to find out where Redi can be shown this summer. Ed has already been here to ask about where Redi will be put when he arrives here for his quarantine time and also where he will be once he comes out of quarantine. They both work in the barn with Jodi and I for spending money and Mikaela earned her half of the horse we co-own by doing just that barn work. She has shown locally and Ed was the groom for both of them last year and also helped the days of the shows with running errands but guess Im losing the errand boy now as he will be in the ring. This is a wonderful thing that you have done and I cant say enough about the incentive this will give both of them to be more involved in the barn now. Thank you so much.

 

[REO]

Congratulations to the lucky kids and horses! It was wonderful reading the essays and they were great. Thank you Lyn for doing this. It does my heart good to see things like this happen. There's too much I'd like to say, but put simply...........

I'm very happy for all! CONGRATULATIONS! :aktion033:

 

[ChrystalPaths]

My eyes are brimming and my heart is so full it almost hurts. THIS is why mini horse people are special. Congratulations to one and all and what lucky little horses to be so very loved by their current moms and their owners to be! I salute you all! :aktion033:

 

[FairytailGlennMinis]

Okay, I am waaaay over-emotional...sitting here just bawling!!! Great job kids....and Lyn...what can I say but God bless you?

-Amy

 

[lilhorseladie]

Wow Lyn! When you say Christmas you go all out! I am appalled by your generosity! You have gone above and beyond the call of duty and should be commended by all this is very exciting for all of us, but I can't imagine what those children are feeling at this very moment! Praise God for caring people like you!

 

[lyn_j]

As I told one of the moms last night.... I dont want acolades for this.... These horses are a gift FROM GOD through me to these kids. I believe that when He blesses me with things my job is to see to it that others are blessed by me.... All the things I have here on earth belong to God and are only on loan to me . My job is to share with others. It really was so very much fun!

Lyn

 

[kaykay]

congrats to all the winners! im so touched by the essays! way to go lyn and everyone who sent in essays

 

[lovinarabs]

Great choices and very well thought out essays!

 

[EnJay]

YEAH!!! :aktion033: :aktion033: :aktion033: Congrats to the lucky kids and enjoy your new friends!

Lyn, thank you again for such a thoughtful offering, what a wonderful experience for all the kids

 

[lvponies]

:aktion033: Congratulations to the lucky winners!!! You all should be proud of the wonderful essays you wrote!!! :aktion033:

Lyn......

:

 

[MBhorses]

Lyn,

We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. When you call to tell us Skylar had won Savannah, you all should have see her face(it looked like a christmas tree with alot of lights)Skylar ask me everyday about Savannah.Savannah will very well care for by Skylar. Skylar thinks she will be sleeping with her outside.My neice Skylar has been through alot winning Savannah has made her day. I want to tell you all a little about skylar.Skylar mother died when she was about 2 yrs old in a car accident.We have had Skylar for over 2 yrs now she has been a blessing. When we got Skylar she was with her dad(my brother)(My brother is on and off again using drugs) living on the streets, hotels and cars where ever they could. Skylar never knew when her next meal was or were she was going to be in the morning.Skylar didn't know what having your own room was until she moved in with us.Skylar has not see her dad in 2yrs,because he will not stay straight without drugs.Skylar don't know he uses drugs. We told her he is not able to care for her,because he is needing help. When we got skylar my brother had shaved all her hair off,because he didn't want to mess with her lice she had at the time :no: .The whole year it took for skylar to grow her hair back was very hard on her in schools and in people eyes(she wore a hat must of the time during that time). Skylar has had her up and downs.Before skylar moved in with us she had never see a horse before. Skylar has really shared her feeling with the horses. I am so grateful for what Lyn has done for Skylar. I can't thank Lyn enough for what she has done for Skylar. I hope in the future I will be able to do the same. God BLESS You Lyn for being a very caring person to help others.THANK THANK THANK FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS LYN.YOU GOD SENT. GOD WILL BLESS YOU. I am going to share a photo of skylar with a little hair back then and now.

Skylar with my daughter ashley(skylar is the one with very little hair, he hate folks calling her a boy)The SECOND photo is skylar this year.God Bless Lyn. Skylar will love Savannah more then you know,SKylar will have savannah so spoiled.SKYLAR SAID GOD BLESS YOU FOR ALLOWING HER TO WIN SAVANNAH.Tears come from my eyes last night.

THANKS AGAIN,

MELISSA AND FAMILY

 

[RJRMINIS]

Congrats!!!!!!!!! to all of you!!! :aktion033: Lyn, what a wonderful thing for you to do!

Skylar's story brings tears to my eyes! I can't wait to see pics with her and Savannah!

:

 

[Mona]

:aktion033: CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners!