Honey Bandit - THE "REAL" BIG DREAM

THE BIG DREAM!

As usual, we want to thank everyone for being part of this, but now we
need even more help.  We have a dream (like so many others), but I
truly believe we can accomplish it together.  We have taken baby steps
towards it, but I just wanted to "throw it all out there", as I know
someone out there will help us figure out how to accomplish it.

The dream is this.  We have a sanctuary where the sick and injured
people and the sick and injured critters heal each other.  It is not a
new idea, but I read something the other day that brought me to quick
attention.  It states that if a dream is from God, it will be too big
to do by yourself, and you will know it is from Him because it will
take FAITH!!!!

Picture this, a place with a group of cabins.  I am talking simple,
back to basic cabins.  We would have a community shower house (very
clean!!  haha), a mess hall and a big huge dining room with a fire
place.  We would have cabins for the "volunteers/workers/partners
etc." to stay in, and we would have another set of cabins further away
that were set up more for families.  The single cabins would be for
our service men and women who return from war, or our injured
firefighters or police officers who simply need a quiet place to
decompress.  Ideally we would have a place with a stream, river or
lake where they could spend quiet time fishing etc.  The single cabins
would be for the people that were not ready to be "thrown back in to
society or the family" all at once.  The families could come and visit
and our soldiers could take whatever time they needed to integrate
back into the family.  We would have hiking trails, and "rolling
trails".  One of the blessings of having to use a wheel chair - if you
can say that - is that it definitely makes you aware of what will and
will not work.  We would make sure that there were smooth sidewalks so
anyone and everyone would be able to enjoy the facilities.  We would
keep the place as "down home and country" as possible.  Sick or
disabled kids could come and be a "cowboy" or a "cowgirl", and for
even just a day, they wouldn't just be a "sick or different".  Believe
me,  just sitting on a horse can be such a mind altering thing.  When
I sit on a horse, even if we aren't moving, I am not crippled for that
moment.  And even though it is extremely painful, I am free, and there
are so many people out there who would also get the same fulfillment
out of it.  Even for just an hour - no crutches, wheelchairs, etc.  I
know it isn't easy to imagine for those of you who are fortunate
enough to be able to walk, run or play without even thinking about it,
but there are so many out there who either can't walk at all, or maybe
just barely and it would be life altering.

We would  be set up for the disabled, the battered and abused, and
anyone else who simply needed a healing place.  We would have a huge
barn and covered arena, where eventually we would have enough suitable
horses for therapeutic riding.  Hmmmm, that would give some of the
older and not so "useful" horses a place to go instead of just to
"slaughter".   We would continue rescuing not only the orphan foals,
OF COURSE, but all the rest of the critters.  Studies have shown that
even in prison environments, animals have a huge healing impact.  They
also use therapeutic riding for many of the amputees and/or injured.
Animal therapy has been proven beneficial for sick and special needs
children and adults.  This would be a place where everyone is welcome,
no matter what their financial situation.  I truly believe that we do
not take adequate care of the people that take care of us.   I know
there are fabulous grant writers out there who could help with
funding, and there would be an endless amount of avenues to raise
funds through.  So while we were saving wild horses, abandoned and
mistreated animals, we would also be helping the people in our
community who needed it.  It would be a win/win situation and I truly
think it is time to focus on our "problems at home" where we can make
a huge difference.

So there it is - THE BIG DREAM - Can YOU help?  Obviously we need
brainpower, land, people who want to help, but most of all, we need
FAITH so we can "git 'er done"!   Honey Bandit was one of those
"impossibilities".  Apparently pretty much no one thought he would
survive, and he did.  So if he can overcome everything he went
through, I bet if we all got together we could do this too.  I am so
open to any thoughts and suggestions.  Shasta county would be a
perfect place to do this, although it would work pretty much anywhere.
 So lets start brainstorming and "git 'er done"!

God Bless!

Palomino

p.s.  Due to a family emergency, I had to go to Washington for a few
days.  When I get back we will have the drawing for the fabulous
Bailey Creek Fishing Lodge.  Thank you for your patience and
understanding.  Family emergencies wait for no one, not even Honey
Bandit and his raffle.