Sometimes a story comes across on e-mail, and you just have to stop what you are doing and take a closer look. While I typically read all my e-mails throughout the day, many are discarded as ads, or placed in a file for future reference. Every so often, though, a story comes across that deals with such happiness you have to stop what you are doing and investigate.
Such is the case of the story of Casper the horse. Upon arriving at Wheeler Ranch and Feed in Biggs, I was immediately greeted by a beautiful white Arabian horse, Casper. While I knew from the information I had received that this was indeed the horse I had read about, it filled my heart with happiness to see what appears to be a healthy, happy horse watching me attentively as I walked into the store.
The horse I came to visit looked nothing like the one in the written description sent by Kari Wheeler, owner of Wheeler Ranch and Feed. This horse was obviously excited to have a visitor and met me and my camera at the front of his enclosure. Taking photographs can be difficult when your subject wants to be right in front of you looking you in the eye, and this was the case with Casper. Casper had no fear of me or my camera, and it took some time to get far enough away from him to take his picture.
After the pictures were over, I was able to spend time with this beautiful animal, and while I know next to nothing about horses, I can honestly say Casper was genuinely happy to have me there and spend time with him, scratching his back, and talking to him.
What makes Casper's attitude remarkable is what he has gone through in his life. Many of us would not be able or willing to show the forgiveness to people Casper displays. If I had suffered his hardships, I definitely would have no desire to be around people.
This is Casper's story, as repeated from Kari Wheeler's e-mail.
Casper is a 19 year old Arabian horse that has been through more sadness than most horses have ever endured. For many years Casper was neglected and abused, he was tethered to a rope to graze on nothing but an occasional weed and given very little water but enough to keep him alive. His life was very sad and lonely. No one ever came to pet Casper or brush through his tangled and matted mane. Casper's coat was very thick and dirty from lack of worming medications and basic hygiene. The person that housed Casper had many other horses just like him, basically discarded. Casper was unfortunately one of the most neglected, because he was on the bottom of the feed chain and let all the other horses eat first.
Luckily a Northern California horse rescue organization caught wind of the abuse Casper and the other horses were going through. They tried very hard to rescue all the remaining horses including Casper but incurred legal problems in doing so. At this point Casper was hanging on by a thread and the group offered to buy Casper knowing that there would be a place to take him for rehabilitation in Biggs, Ca. All parties agreed and Casper was loaded up in a horse trailer heading for Wheeler Ranch & Feed in Biggs, Ca. When Casper arrived, Kari Wheeler, who has been around horses her entire life had never seen a horse in such horrific shape. Casper was very weak and had hardly any life left in him but there was something in his eye telling Kari, “Don't give up on me.”
From the very first moment Casper arrived at his new home, the entire staff at Wheeler Ranch & Feed treated him like a King. Casper received his medications, electrolytes, and quality Nutrena Life Design horse feeds.
They started out slowly and soon had him eating unbelievable amounts of horse feed. Casper cleaned up his plate every feeding and in between feedings with the occasional horse cookie given by the many admirers that came to visit Casper.
Its been five months now since Casper arrived at the Ranch and he has tugged at our heart strings. He still remains very kind, which is amazing for all the abuse he went through. He frolics and plays in the arena and that sad eye is now full of life and happiness. Casper is still on the road to recovery and is almost a completely healthy horse. The staff at Wheeler Ranch & Feed has been rewarded with watching this once sad, emaciated horse turn into a beautiful Arabian.
Visitors are welcome to stop by and visit Casper at Wheeler Ranch & Feed in Biggs. He is a very friendly horse, and is not at all camera shy. In fact, Casper is quite happy to let you scratch his back for as long as he pleases. You don't have to worry if you are hitting the right spot, he will adjust his position for you to make sure you get all of his favorite areas.
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Sometimes a story comes across on e-mail, and you just have to stop what you are doing and take a closer look. While I typically read all my e-mails throughout the day, many are discarded as ads, or placed in a file for future reference. Every so often, though, a story comes across that deals with such happiness you have to stop what you are doing and investigate.
Such is the case of the story of Casper the horse. Upon arriving at Wheeler Ranch and Feed in Biggs, I was immediately greeted by a beautiful white Arabian horse, Casper. While I knew from the information I had received that this was indeed the horse I had read about, it filled my heart with happiness to see what appears to be a healthy, happy horse watching me attentively as I walked into the store.
The horse I came to visit looked nothing like the one in the written description sent by Kari Wheeler, owner of Wheeler Ranch and Feed. This horse was obviously excited to have a visitor and met me and my camera at the front of his enclosure. Taking photographs can be difficult when your subject wants to be right in front of you looking you in the eye, and this was the case with Casper. Casper had no fear of me or my camera, and it took some time to get far enough away from him to take his picture.
After the pictures were over, I was able to spend time with this beautiful animal, and while I know next to nothing about horses, I can honestly say Casper was genuinely happy to have me there and spend time with him, scratching his back, and talking to him.
What makes Casper's attitude remarkable is what he has gone through in his life. Many of us would not be able or willing to show the forgiveness to people Casper displays. If I had suffered his hardships, I definitely would have no desire to be around people.
This is Casper's story, as repeated from Kari Wheeler's e-mail.
Casper is a 19 year old Arabian horse that has been through more sadness than most horses have ever endured. For many years Casper was neglected and abused, he was tethered to a rope to graze on nothing but an occasional weed and given very little water but enough to keep him alive. His life was very sad and lonely. No one ever came to pet Casper or brush through his tangled and matted mane. Casper's coat was very thick and dirty from lack of worming medications and basic hygiene. The person that housed Casper had many other horses just like him, basically discarded. Casper was unfortunately one of the most neglected, because he was on the bottom of the feed chain and let all the other horses eat first.
Luckily a Northern California horse rescue organization caught wind of the abuse Casper and the other horses were going through. They tried very hard to rescue all the remaining horses including Casper but incurred legal problems in doing so. At this point Casper was hanging on by a thread and the group offered to buy Casper knowing that there would be a place to take him for rehabilitation in Biggs, Ca. All parties agreed and Casper was loaded up in a horse trailer heading for Wheeler Ranch & Feed in Biggs, Ca. When Casper arrived, Kari Wheeler, who has been around horses her entire life had never seen a horse in such horrific shape. Casper was very weak and had hardly any life left in him but there was something in his eye telling Kari, “Don't give up on me.”
From the very first moment Casper arrived at his new home, the entire staff at Wheeler Ranch & Feed treated him like a King. Casper received his medications, electrolytes, and quality Nutrena Life Design horse feeds.
They started out slowly and soon had him eating unbelievable amounts of horse feed. Casper cleaned up his plate every feeding and in between feedings with the occasional horse cookie given by the many admirers that came to visit Casper.
Its been five months now since Casper arrived at the Ranch and he has tugged at our heart strings. He still remains very kind, which is amazing for all the abuse he went through. He frolics and plays in the arena and that sad eye is now full of life and happiness. Casper is still on the road to recovery and is almost a completely healthy horse. The staff at Wheeler Ranch & Feed has been rewarded with watching this once sad, emaciated horse turn into a beautiful Arabian.
Visitors are welcome to stop by and visit Casper at Wheeler Ranch & Feed in Biggs. He is a very friendly horse, and is not at all camera shy. In fact, Casper is quite happy to let you scratch his back for as long as he pleases. You don't have to worry if you are hitting the right spot, he will adjust his position for you to make sure you get all of his favorite areas.
