It Was Meant to Be: Epona’s Journey

 

Epona is home. 

We went to get Epona on Saturday, before the temps get much higher, as they’re expected to be in the 100’s today and through the week. 

She was exactly 4 weeks at our trainer’s. That’s not a lot of time to start a horse, and we hadn’t done much to prepare her. Surprisingly, it turned out that Sarah got a long way with her anyway, even starting from zero.

Backtracking for a moment, my daughter learned to ride, and also started Epona’s mom, Cowgirl, with this same trainer. At the time, my husband and I had worked out a deal with Shiloh that we would pay half of Cowgirl’s training fee IF she worked side-by-side with our trainer the entire time. 

It forged a bond between Shiloh and Sarah, and laid a foundation of trust. So, when Sarah asked my daughter if she wanted to hop up and ride Epona Saturday, and I expected her to decline, Shiloh instead said yes, … without any hesitation.

I was shocked. 

But off they went, walk, trot, and galloping.

As a mother, I cannot tell you the emotions that came up from inside me watching Epona and Shiloh blend together and melt into their work. 

Everything the two of them have been through! I didn’t expect that either of them would be able to meet this moment. Not only did they meet it, but they each surpassed it. 

Epona seemed to relax as soon as my daughter took the reins. There was a complete shift in her attitude from when our trainer had been demonstrating on her. 

Sarah was surprised, too. 

It truly seemed meant to be. That’s the only way I can describe it. Meant. To. Be. They were flying on the wings of many angels. 

Here is their backstory. 

Shiloh found Cowgirl on Dream Horse 20 years ago, all by herself. She was 12 at the time, and had just lost the yearling she had been raising to a broken shoulder. She bought Cowgirl with her own money she had saved and, until she turned 18, had to pay for half of her upkeep. 

Fast forward a few years, and Shiloh admired an amazing Thoroughbred stallion Sarah acquired, super smart, sweet, and gorgeous, you’d never have known he was intact. Shiloh swore she would breed Cowgirl to him someday. 

Unfortunately, he was an older stallion when Sarah got him, and passed away before Shiloh was ready to breed Cowgirl, but, surprise, surprise, Sarah acquired his son, an appy named Mr Tom Horn. 

When I took Tweed down for his training (see how everything is connected?), Shiloh took Cowgirl down with him for company and a little tuneup. 

While Cowgirl was there, Sarah’s stud made a big scene crying for her. It was almost embarrassing, and we all laughed quite a bit. Mr. Tom Horn made his desire well known, and it planted the idea for Shiloh. After a couple weeks thinking about it, she decided to breed Cowgirl.

Cowgirl was a maiden mare at 17, and the vet had to help her go into heat (I can’t remember how, exactly, but something had to be removed). Whatever he did worked, and she went into heat immediately. Sarah brought Mr. Tom Horn over to live-cover Cowgirl everyday for a week, until Cowgirl naturally rejected him, and she got the job done.

Cowgirl came home pregnant and happy. 

The rest is history, and you all know it well (pharyngeal dysfunction), but to say it’s a miracle that Epona is here today is a huge understatement. 

She is here for a purpose, and that purpose is to help heal my daughter’s heart.