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| REFUGE RANCH |
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Meet Gideon!
Last fall, Refuge experienced a tragedy. Our hay loft, just loaded
with enough hay to get us through the winter, collapsed. Trapped
underneath was our beloved pony, Raya. Despite the efforts of our
wonderful volunteers, and the Pawnee Fire Department to get her
out quickly, her injuries were too severe to be treated and she had
to be euthanized. We were devastated.
One of the local news stations caught wind of the tragedy and did a
news story on the Ranch, the loss of Raya, and our need to rebuild
the stalls, as well as a hay shed that would allow us to store our
winter load of hay away from our main barn.
with enough hay to get us through the winter, collapsed. Trapped
underneath was our beloved pony, Raya. Despite the efforts of our
wonderful volunteers, and the Pawnee Fire Department to get her
out quickly, her injuries were too severe to be treated and she had
to be euthanized. We were devastated.
One of the local news stations caught wind of the tragedy and did a
news story on the Ranch, the loss of Raya, and our need to rebuild
the stalls, as well as a hay shed that would allow us to store our
winter load of hay away from our main barn.
A family, watching the news that evening, saw the
story and decided to contact us. They had a pony
their children had outgrown and wondered if he
might be a good fit for our program.
While Raya could never be replaced, we decided
that this little pony had plenty to offer and we
decided to take him.
Gideon has been here since November of 2008 and
just like Raya, he has become a favorite out at the
Ranch, particularly among our littlest visitors. His
small size is exactly what some of the young children
need to overcome their fear and approach or ride a
horse for the first time. He is gentle, patient, and
really just a complete sweetheart!
story and decided to contact us. They had a pony
their children had outgrown and wondered if he
might be a good fit for our program.
While Raya could never be replaced, we decided
that this little pony had plenty to offer and we
decided to take him.
Gideon has been here since November of 2008 and
just like Raya, he has become a favorite out at the
Ranch, particularly among our littlest visitors. His
small size is exactly what some of the young children
need to overcome their fear and approach or ride a
horse for the first time. He is gentle, patient, and
really just a complete sweetheart!
During the news interview I was asked if there was anything that I would like the community to know regarding
the Ranch and the tragedy that had occurred. I told them that if there was one thing I would like to say, it was
that as devastated as we were, we know that God can work great good out of the worst of circumstances, and
despite the sadness, we were trusting he would do just that.
Raya is still genuinely missed, but truly God has been faithful to His word. As a result of the news story we were
able to reach many families and children who would have never heard about Refuge otherwise. And of course,
there is Gideon. He has truly been a part of God's promise to work all things to the good for those who love Him
and are called according to His purposes!
Just like the Gideon of the Bible, we are trusting that God will use something small in the eyes of men to
accomplish great good for the sake of His Kingdom!
Welcome Home, Gideon!
the Ranch and the tragedy that had occurred. I told them that if there was one thing I would like to say, it was
that as devastated as we were, we know that God can work great good out of the worst of circumstances, and
despite the sadness, we were trusting he would do just that.
Raya is still genuinely missed, but truly God has been faithful to His word. As a result of the news story we were
able to reach many families and children who would have never heard about Refuge otherwise. And of course,
there is Gideon. He has truly been a part of God's promise to work all things to the good for those who love Him
and are called according to His purposes!
Just like the Gideon of the Bible, we are trusting that God will use something small in the eyes of men to
accomplish great good for the sake of His Kingdom!
Welcome Home, Gideon!
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| 3845 Delay Rd Pawnee, IL 62558 217-498-7679 email: refuge@refuge-ranch.org |
