A few years ago, the Forerunner Ranch was blessed to add a horse named Sprout to its herd. Sprout was a wonderful horse – good with people and an easy rider. She was also one of the fastest horses on the ranch. Yeah, she could get a bit ornery from time to time, but dealing with all those weird people day in and day out, who wouldn’t. Although she was a member of the Ranch herd, she really belonged to the Rogers family, and Robert had claimed her as his horse. On Saturday she got sick – a stomach virus of some kind. Naturally, she was immediately prayed for, anointed with oil and treated by the vet. We truly believed that she would pull through. But in the following days, she grew weaker and thinner. She fought valiantly to the end. I was with her all afternoon, giving her water, watching her stand up and thinking that was a good sign, hoping and praying for healing. But tonight at around 6pm, she finally faded away.
She was a faithful horse – Collette rode her on many prayer rides around the property. She carried so many children and adults on the trails and blessed them with the delight of a ride. I know the feeling of freedom that Robert always felt when Collette would let him “open up her throttle” and off he would go at full gallop across the big field. Her time came to quick… her life was too short. We hoped she was pregnant and we would have another colt or fillie in the spring. She might have been, we don’t really know. I don’t pretend to understand why all the prayers we prayed seemed to have no effect, or why God chose to allow this beautiful animal to die. But she is no longer with us, and she will be missed. Sprout, there’s a couple of cowboys that are gonna miss you girl.