Marley's Wish List

Photo by Katherine Payne Photography

Here we are with 13 days left before we head up to Fort Collins for the Extreme Mustang Makeover event.  Has it really been almost 90 days?  I knew saying goodbye to any horse was going to be difficult, but I’ve done it many times before, and it has always seemed to work out, but saying goodbye to Marley will be completely different.

All horses have a history, and most of them include several homes and people moving in and out of their lives.  Most of the time they leave a special mark on the people they end up with and enrich the lives of the people who love them.  Why is it that when we get a dog, we commit to caring for it indefinitely, yet a horse is bought and sold numerous times during its lifetime?  Sometimes it is in the best interest of the horse to move on, sometimes it is in the best interest of the human.  Sometimes a match is perfect just the way it is, which is why I want to keep Marley, forever. 

Keeping Marley was never part of our plan.  Sure, those of you who know me will probably roll your eyes and say “could have seen this one coming” but Marley is not my first project horse, and we are definitely not in the position to be acquiring any more family members, especially big expensive equine ones, but then, I’ve never been one for taking the easy route. 

As most of you know by now, I’m a student with a year left before graduation, and keeping a horse is not written into the budget.  About half way through this process, I started getting suggestions to solicit sponsorship for Marley to enable us to keep him for the next year until we can undoubtedly provide for him on our own.  With some help, I developed a “wish list” for Marley, though it was never published, partially due to pride, and due to us constantly going back and forth as to whether keeping Marley would be good for Marley.  I can answer that with a resounding yes, and truly hope that those of you who have followed our progress would agree.  With less than two weeks to go before Marley is auctioned off at the EMM in Fort Collins, I am officially launching our better-late-than-never campaign to allow Marley’s forever home be right where he is. 

For starters, one of our greatest supporters and lifelines through this process has been Katherine Payne of Katherine Payne Photography.  Many of you have enjoyed her photos and videos of Marley, and she is generously donating a free photo session which includes 5 digital files for every $150 donated to Marley’s wish list.  Katherine’s sessions are $350 before prints, so this is an awesome opportunity to have some great photos taken of your own horse or family while helping us reach our goal!

I am in the process of setting up a bank account in Marley’s name, though at this time any donations to Marley’s wish list are free-will donations only, and are not tax deductible.  All of Marley’s sponsors, private or business, will receive a gift representing Marley and his journey courtesy of Katherine Payne Photography. 

Marley’s Wish List

*5 40lb Bags of Beet Pulp (one bag every 2.5 months)

*Farrier services – every 6 – 8 weeks

*De-wormer

*Vaccinations

*1 Yearly Dental exam/teeth float

*Coggins Test

*Monthly Board @ 300.00 per month

*Emergency Vet Fund

In the coming week, I will be visiting horse related businesses who if are interested in sponsoring Marley will be listed on our blog and Facebook pages as a sponsor.  If anyone knows of businesses who may be interested in donating products or services, please feel free to contact me or have them contact me directly, my email is on the right hand side of this page. 

Marley’s donations will be used strictly for Marley, and receipts and bank statements will be available for any of his sponsors upon request.  I will also continue to blog about Marley’s progress and our adventures should we bring him home in two weeks.  We will strive to promote the adoption of mustangs to help enrich the lives of those left in holding facilities. 

Thank you everyone for your continued support in following our progress and for your encouraging words as we come to the end of this 90 day journey.  Regardless of what happens, whether we are able to keep Marley or not, this has been one of the most incredible experiences of my life.  My only hope is that one horse, out of thousands still left in holding facilities, is better off for it.  For all of the horses who have left their own mark on me as an equestrian, none has touched my heart like the little dread-locked wild horse we have come to know as Marley.  

Day 1 - Very wary

Photo by Forever Yours Photography

Nothin' but Love

Photo by Katherine Payne Photography