Cover me in Feathers
Chincoteague Minnow
So for some reason our last hay delivery came with an extra surprise….feathers! Almost every bale is strewn with white feathers. These feathers are ending up scattered all over the barn, in the isle ways, in the pastures, and in the stalls. Most of these feathers are in Minnow’s stall. Everyday when I clean out his stall he has more feathers than the day before, piled up in his little corner. In fact, he has more than any other horse in the barn. This is partially because the Dachshund likes to gather up a little pile and give them to Minnow. I caught him a couple times dragging them into Minnow’s stall. Very cute.
These feathers have a little bit more meaning to me – mostly since I learned of the Feather Fund several years ago. The Feather Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to continue the work begun by Carollynn Suplee to assist deserving children with the purchase and attendant costs associated with the acquisition of Chincoteague ponies, with the goal of helping each child learn about responsibility, care, love, work ethic, as well as the concept of “giving back to others” through the care and training of his or her animal.
Feathers in Minnow's stall
Carollynn Suplee was a cancer patient who began to see feathers in mysterious places. She believed that God was sending these feathers to protect her. These feathers guided her to purchase a Chincoteague Pony for a little girl (a stranger) in 1995. The pony became known as Sea Feather. As Carollynn’s cancer went into remission, she continued to seek out and purchase Chincoteague Ponies for deserving young children. Carollynn eventually passed away in October 2006, but her legacy lives on with The Feather Fund.
Everytime I see these feathers floating around the farm I can’t help but think about the Feather Fund. It makes me smile when I think of all the deserving young children that have received Chincoteague Ponies throughout the years. I myself know how special these ponies are. I am thankful everyday that I was fortunate enough to be involved with horses since the day I was born.
Perhaps the feathers have come to the farm for a reason. Maybe they are watching over my Minnow. As each day gets colder and colder I watch as Minnow’s limp (from a diagnosis of Ringbone in 2008) becomes more pronounced. Maybe the feathers have been sent to ease his pain and watch over him. Either way, I find them very peaceful as they drift in and out of the wind.
For 2010 I will be donating some of the Pony Paintings Profits to the Feather Fund. And I will be watching at the auction next year as some very lucky children enter into the magical world of owning a Chincoteague Pony.
-KD
www.ponypaintings.com
PSALM 91 vs. 4: “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”
Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all. – Emily Dickinson
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Equine and other animals can be used in so many great ways. I respect and love nature and all it’s beauty and to use this in such a positive way is a wonderful thing.