Carliss’ Dedication
It is hard for me to express what my horses have meant and continue to mean to me daily. My stroke was a difficult and frightening experience. I didn’t know if I could be myself, could be normal again. Recovery was slow. My horses have been the answer to my health returning. To have my horses in my life is as critical for my ongoing improvement and health as prescribed medicine or other health aids are to other individuals. I am so very grateful to the following people because they either helped me find my horses or have provided the help I needed to keep the horses in my life.
Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother - Both Joyce and I have a deep faith. On many occasions we have discussed and believe that God has been at the center of our dreams. We believe He brought us together. He has protected us and provided for us at times when it could only have been Him. We believe that Belle Rose Farm is a gift for which we are most grateful. Our farm therefore bears the name Belle Rose in honor of the Blessed Mother.
Jerry Henderson – My husband, Jerry, is a blessing. He has known all along that my dream was to someday own a black horse. Raising our family of five children, of course had to come first. Had the stroke not happened it might have been later that the idea of having a horse would have come up. Due to the stroke and therapy it suddenly wasn’t just a dream any longer it was a necessity. He told me I could have any horse I wanted and he has continued to support this dream even though it has grown beyond one horse to a barn full and even a new farm! I dearly love my husband and am most grateful for his support of my dream.
Jan Anderson – My friendship with Jan Anderson began when I bought Curaco from her as a young colt. Curaco is indeed the answer to my childhood dream. He is my black horse. Once I met Jan our friendship grew as I loved for her to tell me about the horses; her experiences with Robert Watson, the gypsy who was her friend and from whom she purchased the horses. Jan is one of the sweetest, most sincere women I have ever met. She is genuine and giving. I believe she saw immediately that my love of these horses was about the horse. She cared about me and my health and she understood what having the horses in my life was doing for me. As a result she offered Ambrosia to me. Mynah was mine practically before she was born as she is a full sibling to Curaco. Jan was letting me help name her foals as I loved doing that. I named Mynah and then Jan let me buy her along with my wonderful Angora. Piper was actually not supposed to be mine; yet over time it became clear to Jan that my relationship with Piper was not just good for me, it was good for Piper. He is my calm, my place of peace. When I don’t feel well or am upset all I have to do is to go in his stall and begin patting and stroking him and all my worries go away. I will always be grateful to Jan for making it possible for me to have these horses and for her understanding that they helped bring the return of my health to me.
Joyce Christian – If you read the “About Us” page you have read how Joyce and I met. I find it hard to explain, but our friendship is more like sisters than just best friends. In the beginning she listened and helped answer my questions about how to care for my horses. I would ask her about Bandit and we loved it that I had Curaco and she would ask me how is “Little Bandit” doing. I grew to love her horse stories and her passion for the Gypsy Vanner Horse. She is the one who introduced me to Jan. Without Joyce I would not have found Jan; I would not have Curaco. Jerry and I knew Joyce was retiring in a few years. We began to think about inviting her to come to our farm. It seemed right. We were so happy when she agreed to partner with us in developing and operating Belle Rose Farm. I love her excitement and energy in not only just loving the horses, but in sharing them with others and promoting the breed. I am grateful and give thanks for Joyce, my friend, my sister, and my farm partner daily.
Garrett McGaha– Garrett first began coming to the farm when he was ten years old. I will never forget the red hair and freckles nor will I forget what he said, “I think I have died and gone to heaven. I have always wanted to be in a barn full of horses.” The daily care and managing of horses is hard work. While I love doing it and it provides the exercise I need it is always great to have someone help with these tasks. Garrett has helped me with cleaning stalls, turning out the horses, and exercising them. I honestly don’t know what I would have done without him. Joyce and I both are grateful to him and are delighted that we can provide a barn full of horses that he can enjoy along with us.
