JessesStory

It has been about a year now, since I first recieved her letter.
A request for some help getting a 7 year old little girl an old used saddle.
The following is a little bit about this couragous little girl, and how her story
ended up on this site. Jesse is now 8 years old.

"Jesse"
Is a 7 year old little girl, with a love for horses, and a Dream of riding..
Who wrote a very grown up letter to "Cowboys n Cowgirls",
asking simply for a saddle.

Through an exchanging of some emails
I am able to share with you a little about Jesse.
And hopefully someone out there will be able to help this wonderful little girl with
a heart of gold, and the courage to match, continue on and fullfill her dream.

Jesse, was asked to be a part of a theropy research program, that uses horses as a
form of physical theropy for specail needs children.

Through the efforts of the program,
Jesse, not only realized and developed a tremendous love for horses.
She has also, grown stonger physically and emotionaly as a result.

The Program, that Jesse was able to participate in, is now over.
Her family though rich in faith and love, do not have the means to provide the
very expensive equipment needed to help their daughter continue to flourish.

I am posting this, and a very grown up letter, that I recieved as Plea,
To help a special child.

Thank you.

The Following is a copy of the letter I recieved from Jesse
The only "editing" I have done, is to remove her last name, and her location,
as is our policy.

My name is Jessica,

I was born in 1994 with Spina_bifida and while I am wheel chair bond,
I can use my legs with the aids of braces and cruthces, but only walk small steps at
this time.
This year while I was in the first grade
I was ask to be part of a horse thearpy research program at All Star Equistrian.
I love animals but still was alittle afraid when they brought this big ole red horse
named Lucky
and told me that was going to be my ride.
Well with eyes wide open and my heart beating as fast as I have ever felt I got on
that horse and did not want to ever get off again.
I love horses and riding horses now, and for the next six weeks I was riding and
building strong muscles as my mom says. I did
walk better after that too. When the six weeks came to an end I was very
sad, I told my mom some day I want to ride in special olympics, and win a
gold medal on a horse just like my Lucky.
I haven't gotten to ride since because mom says we just can not afford the thearpy
and I have to have my own saddle because I am hard to fit and they
did not have one for me that fit, so I rode bareback with a harness and two side
walkers when I rode.
I am a big 7 year old and need a big saddle but with small adjustments for my legs.
Mom looked and looked but we just could not afford what it cost to buy one
and have new stirrup legs put on them.
I am hoping maybe someone in the horse world will read this and have an old
saddle they might want sell cheap or donate so I can continue to take the
thearpy. We are trying to find scholarship money and mom says it will come
in time for me to be patient, so I would like to have the saddle to be ready
also.
Then in a year when I turn 8 years old I maybe can compete in special
olympics and get a gold medal, and who knows when I get big enough to afford
a horse of my own I might just be the first girl with spina-bifidia to win a
big quarter horse show. Mom take me to the Fort Worth Stock Show and I
watch the other kids ride and dream that someday I might just be there too.
Sincerly
Jessica