If life is getting you down, and you believe that miracles are in short supply,this story may enlighten you to think twice before losing hope:

It all begins Sept 27, 2007. Usually, a parent would buy their daughter a car for their 17th birthday. But oh no, I was one of the lucky ones. I worked on a horse farm for 4 years and halfway through my career, my trainer brought a beautiful POA/Welsh cob mix into our farm. He was handsome, gentle, and had a sense of purpose in each stride; as if all he wanted to do was connect with people. Unknowingly, this horse bonded to me like no human or animal ever did. I could sit under his belly and ride him without saddle or rein. He would follow me around the farm without a halter, and knew the very whistle of my call or the motor of my car coming into the drive. He was not a horse to me, but my other half that made me realize the world was a beautiful place. With him by my side, I could come to the farm after a bad day at school and feel his nuzzle and know it wasn't all that bad. I had him, and he had me.

I spent a glorious couple of years with him, everything from competing in western shows to trail riding along our path on a crisp fall day. But then, as the leaves changed, my colorful world became dark and gray. The farm wasnt doing well, and things became entangled in a web of despair. I had to move my horse to another place. As the farm was heading downhill, so was my fathers health. And to make matters worse, the love of my life on two legs had no interest in my heart no more. I was losing everything at once...And that included the only thing that brought sunshine into my heart: AJ. My father and boyfriend both helped out with my love, and with them out of the picture, there was nothing I could do to save that love from leaving.

Bittersweet, I gave him to a beautiful family whose daughter had the same spirit as me when I was a kid. They were kind, and only wanted what was best for their daughter. Without a single bill in my pocket, I just gave him to them; being able to come and ride at my leisure if I pleased, but that wouldn't happen until I got back from Florida once I finished a job and settled back into this world without help from anyone. With a farewell ride and exchange of contacts later, my baby was in a forever home, and I was on my way to FL to get a job and start anew; happily awaiting the few months I'd be back and possibly get him back with the money I saved.
No calls ever came. No updates. The contact I had seemed to have been wrong or never returned. I worried but my life had to go on and there wasn't a thing I could do. A few months into my program, one day I get an email. She said her business with her husband was declining, and she couldn't keep him no more. My program wasn't expiring for another few months, and I had no means to end it just yet. I called and called, without a word...
I came back to NJ and saw no remains of that family or my beloved life.
Heartbroken and lost, life still went on. Years passed, things came and went. I thought of my four-legged love day in and out; searching for a trace of his hoofprints. And this is where today comes into play.

Fate and Facebook have an odd way to inform us or bless us with knowledge at unexpected times. The day after Christmas last year, I awoke with a sense of unease, like something was stirring. I checked my phone to relieve the anxiety. I didn't even know this person or the group, but somehow, in my feed popped up a picture from someone in a group I haven't used since my farm days.

This picture...

This picture looked like AJ-No..It couldn't be. I mean, I've seen a lot of look alikes thorough my hunt. Some that had his color, but there was always something out of place; hair was too short or the leg markings were too long...But those eyes, those eyes looked so familiar...
Something pulled me in to comment the picture. To just ask if his name was/has ever been AppleJaXs. It took a good tug at my heartstrings because I was afraid to get my hopes high and be let down like the other times. I found and email to that group, and messaged them to know if they got him from that little hidden house close to the school where I last saw my love...

I got a call back 20 minutes later. What I heard has been making me cry the entire day:
And it was...It was my AJ.

He's a horse at a therapeutic Program- A program I originalyl wanted to bring him to, but other people influenced me otherwise. "One of the best horses they have.'' they say.

To think that the love-The love I learned from him at my side, was being shared to others to make their lives and day a bit brighter. To know that my horse, the one who was with me through thin and thick would be there for others and care about their feelings leaves me in tears as I write this...

A week later I saw my sweet. I wore the same coat I wore many a times when I owned him. And to my astonishment, when he walked into the barn, his eyes locked right onto me. The woman who runs the program told me how those people neglected his care- feeding him cow food and starving him due to lack of money. It was so bad, that hid barn mate was passed away in the field when they got him.

Heartbroken I just wailed in tears. Here my boy was, fat and happy as he nuzzled into m coat and gave me a kiss on my neck-like nothing ever happened. I spend a good hour or so brushing him and talking of what happened in the years that passed us.

I began to volunteer on the farm, working alongside him- Still the same pony I known and trained. And I got enough hours to finally get on him.

And a few days ago I did.

He remembered every command, word and hand signal I taught him. 4 years- 4 years and this forgiving horse was trotting with me on his back like the time never mattered. We are a pair once more, and it is all thanks to a miracle of fate.

I hope we have some good years together still. Thank you AJ for bringing happiness into my life again.

Love, what was/is still and hope will always be,
Your Mommy, Rose