INSPIRING STORY OF THE WEEK – DUSTY GETS HIS REWARD by Melanie Sue Bowles
INSPIRING STORY OF THE WEEK
DUSTY GETS HIS REWARD
by Melanie Sue Bowles
This is an inspiring story of a lucky horse, saved just as time was running out, by a most compassionate soul.
From the moment Melanie first set eyes on this pitifully abused little horse, she felt broken hearted. But she also felt a surge of love. Melanie didn’t know it yet, but she was about to found a sanctuary where abused and abandoned horses could live out the rest of their lives in peace and dignity.
Melanie paid a handsome sum to the owner of this emaciated grey horse. She knew she had overpaid, but she also knew she was saving him from a trip to the slaughterhouse. Clearly Dusty felt her love and compassion.
Once they arrived at that place which would soon become Proud Spirit Horse Sanctuary, she led Dusty to a freshly bedded stall. He just stood there, motionless, with his head down. She tried to give him chunks of apple, but he wouldn’t even open his mouth. Melanie began to stroke his forehead and rub all around his ears, all the while talking softly to him. She had to kneel down to reach his head, which was hanging close to the ground. He just stared at her, never taking his eyes off her face. She continued to rub his nosee and softly tell him that he was okay now. No one would hurt him, ever again. Finally he let out a huge sigh and closed his eyes.
Dusty Finds a new home
After about fifteen minutes, he dropped to his good knee and with great effort, managed to lay down. He let out an enormous shuddering sigh and shut his eyes.
It had been an emotionally exhausting day so Melanie stood to leave. But when she put her hand on the stall latch, his head shot up and he nickered ever so softly. There were tears in her eyes as she stroked his neck and eased his head back down. As he lay flat once more, he kept opening one eye to be sure she was still there, and then it would flutter closed. He was so tired, but was clearly afraid she would leave if he fell asleep. Finally, Melanie cupped her hand over his eyes and slowly stroked downward, until his eyes closed and he fell into a deep, deep sleep.
This story is now published in
Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection
(Gifts of Compassion)
