Willow and Joelyn

I hope you enjoy this story (even though some details had to be left out) as much as I do!

Willow (the white horse) was a Sergeant of the mounted police unit who had been stabbed by a man who was trying to get away from the police for domestic abuse). She was retired at a young age due to the injury. Amazingly, after the man served his sentence, he returned to the police station where Sergeant Willow had worked and apologized for injuring her.

It turned out that the prison where the Bill (not his real name) had served most of his sentence had an equine therapy program. He learned how to care for horses and, eventually, became a trainer of other prisoners to do the same. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree while incarcerated and, while he can't become a veterinarian, his degree in   Animal Studies allowed him to do the job of a vet tech while in prison.

When Bill was finally released, he moved into a neighboring town, a few miles from where he'd been arrested and sentenced.

For months, he sent letters through his P.O. to the arresting officer asking if he could come and see Willow. Nearly a year later an arrangement was made, and Bill came to the police station where he met the officer who had arrested him and apologized profusely.

Two officers and Bill went to where Willow was being kept at (she was now a therapy horse) and when the man saw her, he fell apart - crying and asking the horse to forgive him for hurting her.

Long story short, Willow was two months pregnant at the time. Bill wanted to 'make up for hurting her' so badly he began volunteering at the center nearly every day. Nine long months later, Willow gave birth to a beautiful filly. Bill was there from the time she went began labor until birth and stayed the night just outside her stall to make sure everything was okay.

The staff was so impressed by Bill's dedication (not only to Willow but to all the horses and staff members), they allowed him to name her. He chose the name Joelyn because that was the first name of the arresting officer and the first name of his mother.

This story touched my heart because we have a horse (Sergeant Buck) who served on the mounted police where we live when he was younger. He's now a therapy horse for our students!