How have animals been generous with one another in remarkable ways?

ANGEL, OUR HERO HORSE
By Judy Moratis

In 2003, my husband and I started looking into raising miniature horses on our hobby farm. I remembered when I was in my 20s, I saw a tiny miniature horse at the Minnesota State Fair. I began reading about them. The more I read, the more interested I became. I looked on the internet, hoping to purchase a miniature horse but without any success.

It wasn't until the summer of 2004, while I was at work, that I found an ad for miniature horses. When I called, the man on the other end said, "Come take a look."

When the weekend arrived, my husband and I took a drive to look at the horses. To my husband's surprise the address belonged to his old friend, Wayne. Before I knew it the three of us were trudging through Wayne's swampy field to get to his herd of miniature horses.

There were so many of all sizes and colors. As we visited with Wayne and talked about the horses I told him that I didn't know how to pick from so many. Just after saying this, I felt a nudge on my back. I turned around to see a brown pinto mare. I told Wayne and my husband, "Well, guess she's saying 'pick me'." This horse broke the ice, and I was able to pick a few more minis. Yah know, you can't have just one.

We finished visiting and made arrangements for delivery. On the way home I told my husband, "The horse who nudged me on the back, her name is Angel." I don't know why, but the name just came to me.

When the horse registration papers came in the mail, I couldn't help noticing that Angel's birth date was the same as my youngest sister, Jackie. My sister had passed away unexpectedly. My mother passed away a year and half later. Life wasn't the same without them. In my grief of losing them, I had only memories. My sister loved all animals. After my she passed away, my mother began collecting angels.

I think back to that afternoon of being out in that pasture with all those horses, and Angel nudging me on the back. I believe the Lord was telling me my mother and sister's spirits were with me. And this horse has proven to me that she truly is an angel.

Angel saved a newborn foal in Spring 2009. One of my mares was a first-time mom who was having her foal early. She didn't have enough mother's milk, and her foal was getting weak. With only minutes to spare she needed more mother's milk. I was afraid we'd lose this filly.

I remembered that our veterinarian said, "A mare may let another foal nurse, but it rarely happens." I thought I'd see if Angel would let this newborn filly nurse on her. With Angel's own colt on one side and the filly on the other, it made for an awesome sight. The filly soon was standing strong and able to reunite with her mother.

Angel has given us beautiful foals. She has become our herd angel master over our other eleven horses. When we are outside Angel stands modestly in our pasture. She gives a soft, subtle whinny, telling us she is near, and everything is alright.

BIO:
Judy Moratis lives with her husband and their two Labrador retrievers on their hobby farm near Ottertail Lake, Minnesota. She has two grown children and five beautiful grandchildren. Judy enjoys writing in her quiet time. She and her husband have raised numerous pheasants as well as other birds and elk. They have twelve miniature horses who give her much joy, and Angel is Judy's special horse. Judy looks forward to having new foals born each spring. She loves to share their animals with family, friends, and others and enjoys the great outdoors.

SOMETHING TO THING ABOUT:

How have animals been generous with one another in remarkable ways?

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Angel Animals Network
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