Love is a 15-year-old Shetland Pony and the mother of Shanti. She is the leader in her family, which is made up of Shanti, Light, and Karuna. Love is the mother of Light, making Love the grandmother of Karuna. Love also lives with the others in the pony herd and is close friends with Sahaja, Squirt, Aural, Amigo, and her boyfriend Rico. Rico was once wild and loved to take care of his family and babies. He was in search of this again on the sanctuary land and Love has welcomed him into her family, as well as into her heart. Rico helps to care for and protect her and her children/grandchild much like a dedicated and compassionate stepfather. It is amazing to watch her and Rico’s bond, as it feels it was meant to be.
Love is sponsored by Katie Forde and family, and she is looking for 6 more individuals to fulfill her full sponsorship team of 7. We are committed to offering Love a forever home here at I AM HERD, but we cannot do it alone. I AM HERD is a non-profit and depends on public support to care for this herd. Sponsorships are $50/month and receive Gifts of Gratitude and updates from Love throughout the year.
If you feel a connection to Love, please consider becoming her Sponsor.
Read on to learn more of her story …
Pictured above, you can see Rico and Love enjoying their quality time together while caring for the rest of their family including, Karuna (in between him and Love), Light (coming up behind Love), and Shanti (entering the photo from the right). You can feel the love between them by looking at this photo. Love and Light were both pregnant and in need of rescue so we brought them to the sanctuary. Love was always the strong one as it was her dedication to her own family that truly helped all four of them make it out of the situation they were in, and land here at I AM HERD. In fact, Love gave the milk that helped give her grandson, Karuna, the boost he needed to heal. Love has always been strong – because she had to be… But being the only ‘Strong One’ – well it was also a lonely place to be. When Mary first put Rico in with Love and her family, she pinned her ears and struck out at him. Rico just cleared the space by walking away. He did not fight back. He did not pester. He did not pick. Rico never has been the least bit aggressive in his ‘courting’ tactics. In fact, it would look like he was not doing anything at all, but Love surely saw something because it did not take long for Love to fall in love with that steadfast peace that is Rico. And now, it is just so beautiful. For the first time, Love does not have to carry the weight of being the ‘Strong One’ all on her own. But yet, Rico does not boss her around either. His way of being ‘Strong’ for Love is to show that they are equals, shoulder to shoulder, sharing the job of peacemaker and leaders of this pony harem of nine.
Here Love can be seen grazing with her older daughter, Light. The name Love comes from the love within her, and her strength to keep her family safe and healthy – a testament to her deep love for her family.
Pictured above are Love, Light, Shanti, and Karuna all enjoying fresh grass. When they first came to the sanctuary, they had to be kept in quarantine as they were sick. The time that this Shetland pony family was adopted by I AM HERD, was also the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, in which many of us were also quarantining ourselves. The similarities between what this pony family was feeling, sick, isolated from others, and fearful for their survival, is something that many people all around the world were experiencing as well. Thankfully, after a full recovery, this pony family is thriving and they are as happy and healthy as ever. We are excited to watch them continue to grow and continue to enjoy their life here with their new family in the pony herd.
Love is in need of Sponsorship. If you feel a connection to Love it would be our honor for you to amplify that connection by a direct contribution to her care.
Sponsoring an I AM HERD horse or pony is one of the most supportive things you can do for our work and mission. And the most amazing part is the way it truly connects the Caregiver TO the horse or pony they are Sponsoring! These wild ones just know and they are so grateful for Your help!
As a Gift of Gratitude for your Sponsorship, we will mail professional print on archival paper of your sponsored horse! We send out additional Gifts of Gratitude throughout the year as well as send you personal updates from your horse or pony!
Above all, you will know that your donation ensures that we can provide the best of care to this wild one that you feel a connection to. Sponsorships are a monthly donation of $50, the cost of a bale of hay, and are a one-year commitment. You may opt to have your monthly donation withdrawn automatically or you may pay in full for the year either via check or online credit card. The annual commitment begins the month you begin your Sponsorship (so a Sponsorship initiated in Feb 2020 will run through Feb 2021)
Blessings from this herd to your heart, there is truly a wild horse in all hearts that are drawn to them ~
Mary Miller-Jordan
910-712-4823
Programs@IAMHERD.org
I AM HERD
P.O. Box 3
Kelly, NC 28448
501(c)3 non-profit organization
EIN 47-3111624
