Yesterday is a day to be remembered. I can’t remember such a time that I shared so many emotions unveiling themselves, unable to be contained.
First, I want to thank Amber Ray from the bottom of my heart for her support and her desire to reach out and help the animals in need here at the Domino Effect Rescue Ranch.
Amber spent the last 2 months planning and networking a benefit trail ride for the Domino Effect in Umatilla, Florida. Amber drew in supporters through a local feed store and other places of business that donated items towards the raffle for the benefit. Amber also made all different kinds of horse cookies for the horses for the day of the trail ride and also set up a table on the side of SR 42 to gain support. This day was a day like none other, but an eye-opener to how quickly the course of life can change due to a series of events that regretfully, I must say, set the wheels in motion causing a Domino Effect.
We started the day at 7:00 a.m. getting the horses fed and ready for our trip. As we were getting ready, Dave and Crystal, family from Solid Rock Christian Ministries, arrived at the ranch to babysit the animals for the day. They brought with them a truckload of bread for the pigs and spent the day teaching the attack rooster some manners, while Silver taught Dave the ropes.
Bob loaded Velvet on the trailer and then moved on to City Boy. City Boy did not want anything to do with loading on the trailer yesterday morning. For some unforeseen reason, it was not his turn to go yesterday. Bob and Dave loaded Velvet, My Josie, Smokey, and then Louie in City Boy’s place.
By this time, it was 11:00 a.m. and the trail ride was to start at 10:00 a.m. I had called early on to let them know we were running late, but called shortly after we left to no avail.
We traveled 80 miles to Umatilla, Florida, arriving right at 1:00 in the afternoon. We quickly unloaded horses, brushed, and got them saddled. I apologized to Amber for running so far behind that morning, as we had unexpected episodes that took place with City Boy’s unruly behavior.
We brought 2 extra horses that morning to accommodate 2 of Amber’s family members who wanted to join us for the ride. I explained to the girls the quarks that the 2 horses had, so that I could better place each girl on the right horse for their comfort. Mackenzie chose Smokey, leaving Louie for Natalie. The saddle did not sit right for Louie and made Natalie feel very uncomfortable, so Natalie chose to sit out for the ride and Amber’s step dad stepped in her place to take Louie out on the trails.
Amber rode Tyee, her boyfriend, James, on Chester, DJ on Misty, Amber’s little brother, Brandon, on April, Amber’s step dad on Louie, Mackenzie on Spirit, Bob on Velvet, and me on My Josie.
DJ on Misty, Dinelle (me) on My Josie, Mackenzie on Smokey.
Amber’s mother to the left, Shiryl, Brandon on April, Amber on Tyee, and James on Chester.
Me & My Josie.
DJ and Misty
Amber with Tyee and James on Chester.
Amber’s little brother, Brandon, and his horse April.
We had an absolutely great time riding the horses through the trails along the Ocklawaha River. I felt like a Queen on My Josie, as Josie was running in great strides with the other horses in the green pastures. It was absolutely beautiful, as the atmosphere was breathtaking.
Amber was riding Tyee and her step dad was riding Louie. Louie was a little nervous at the beginning, until he warmed up to his surroundings. They kind of trailed behind the rest of us, as the rest of the horses frolicked and played in front. Amber’s brother, Brandon, just 10-years old, kept up with the rest of us with the older mare April. I was thoroughly impressed how well he handled her, as if he had miles of riding experience under his belt. Mackenzie also rode like the breeze with Smokey.
We looked down to water on both sides of the trail. At one point, the guys came to a halt, just in time to see an alligator before it disappeared underneath the blanketed waters. A few yards down, we turned to the straightway towards the trails end. Right at the edge of the path sat a water moccasin curled up waiting to strike. We quickly got out of harm’s way to then hear crackling off in the distance. As we looked across the water and into the woods, there stood a black bear parting the bamboo as he was making his trail. Velvet says “Bear, BEAR, I saw a BEAR…..Time to go!!! She and the other horses high-tailed it down the trail and through the woods. It was a beautiful sight to see 8 horses running through the woods to the great big open pastures. We rounded the trails back to the starting point. I think the horses were just getting started, as they continued to run and play enjoying each other and the beautiful day.
We removed their tack and loaded our horses back in the trailer to head home. We joined Amber across the way, where they had their benefit table set up and their horses parked off to the side. Amber walked with me over to the little country store and café to grab Bob and I something cold to drink for the ride. There we met up with Natalie and more of Amber’s friends and family who were waiting for her arrival.
We were so very blessed to meet Amber and her family. After spending some time with them after the ride, it was time to say our good-byes, as dusk was coming quickly and they still had 4 horses to ride back to their home a few miles away.
Amber teased her little brother about someone else jumping at the opportunity to ride his horse, April, so he raced to jump in the saddle. DJ rode Misty and Amber’s boyfriend, James, rode Chester. Natalie chose to ride Tyee, leaving Amber to ride with her mom home in the car. Amber’s mom Sheryl walked with the horses across the busy, 2-lane highway to be sure they got across safely. We waved goodbye and turned to watch them leave with the horses until they were completely out of sight.
We went on about our way arriving safely back at the ranch. It wasn’t until after I got on Facebook that a FB friend sent me a message apologizing for not being able to join us that day because of her own horsey escapades that slowed her morning down as well.
She did take her girls out there riding that day anyway and may have been out there at the same time as us. She asked me if anyone had left on horseback that day and I told her about Brandon, Natalie, DJ, and James leaving together on horseback.
She told me there had been an incident that a young lady had been hit by a truck while on horseback, leaving the horse dead and the young lady being rushed to the hospital. Later she sent me a link confirming this accident.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20121110/ARTICLES/121119980/1455?Title=Horse-and-rider-struck-by-car&tc=ar
As I found out some details beforehand through networking, we knew indeed this was Amber’s niece who was riding horseback on Tyee.
I spoke to Sheryl, Amber’s mom, today to find out what happened and to see how Natalie was doing. Sheryl told me the story of the events that had taken place and to the best of my memory, here it goes:
She told me that all 4 left on horseback to bring the horses back to their home, just as we had left them. The horses had gotten some distance ahead of Amber’s little brother, Brandon, and his horse April, as April is an older gal and she was tired from the ride. DJ and his horse, Misty, went back to catch up with Brandon and his horse April while James and Natalie stayed behind to wait. The 2 horses, Chester and Tyee, that James and Natalie were on, were getting impatient and were ready to cross over the road. James and Chester went on to the other side and Tyee stopped in the middle of the road, as if he did not want to cross and wanted to wait for Misty. They saw a truck coming off in the distance about a mile off. Natalie could not get Tyee to move. James went to Natalie’s rescue. He realized the truck was approaching so fast, never slowing an inch. It happened so fast, suddenly were out of time, when the truck struck Tyee sending both Tyee and Natalie airborne, Natalie taking a nosedive into the dirt across the road and sending Tyee into the traffic oncoming traffic. After 2 blows, Tyee died almost immediately after impact. Natalie was rushed to the Orlando Regional where she received immediate care.
The distance was measured today, guessing that the truck was seen 1-mile off in the distance before striking Natalie and Tyee. It seems the driver should have had plenty of time to stop, but claims to have never seen the horse in the middle of the highway. It is thought that there may have been a substance that impaired his judgement, but this is to be investigated.
I was speechless to hear the news with no other response, but to send out a prayer chain. Facebook lit up, as they joined us last night in prayer for Natalie.
I spoke with Amber’s mom, Sheryl, this afternoon to find out how Natalie is doing this evening. She underwent surgery for her collarbone to receive plates and screws to repair the damage, this being her most serious injury. She endured bumps and bruises, broke her nose, cut her lip, and suffered a concussion. They thought the concussion to be serious and as the night progressed the swelling dissipated. They did x-rays and lots of testing. She will be seeing a neurosurgeon in the morning to check on some possible bone fragments to be sure it is of no danger to her.
Her grandmother said that family members joined her at her bedside to give their support last night. She said that Natalie was making jokes and cutting up with the doctors and nurses. She seemed to be in good spirits and progressing in a positive direction through this tragic incident.
When she asked about Tyee, she was told that Tyee did not make it, and she became very upset. The nurse assured Natalie that had it not been for Tyee taking the brunt of the impact, Natalie may not have made it out alive. Tyee was a sacrifice that saved Natalie’s life. Surely if the driver did not see a horse in the middle of the road, he certainly wouldn’t have seen Natalie standing alone.
*NOTE* The picture below is Amber (the owner of the horse) and Tyee right before we went out on the trails. It wasn’t until they went home that Natalie rode Tyee.
*NOTE* The picture above is Amber (the owner of the horse) and Tyee right before we went out on the trails. It wasn’t until they went home that Natalie rode Tyee.
As I scanned the article of Natalie’s accident, I saw a negative spirit that my heart could not comprehend. Comment after comment about whose fault it was, everyone playing the blame game.
This brings me back to a familiar metaphor. In the movie “Patch Adams” there is a gentleman who admitted himself to the mental hospital after he had learned more than his mind could conceive. He said “How many fingers do you see” Patch Adams replied “I see 4 fingers” The scientist exclaimed, “no, don’t you see, you must look beyond the fingers” Patch Adams gazed beyond the fingers, as 4 fingers then became 8.
I bring this metaphor to light for a reason. As we all tend to focus in on the “4 fingers” the problem at hand, whose to blame, who did what, how and why did it happen, we must look beyond the four fingers (look beyond the problem) to the unseen miracle right before our very eyes. This was a very unfortunate, horrific accident that took the life of a very beautiful, innocent horse and injured a 17-year-old young lady. Even as horrifying, as this may seem, this very special horse, Tyee, spared the life of this young lady. God took one of his angel’s home and spared this young lady from what could’ve been a fatal accident. It’s by God’s hands that Natalie is here tonight. I truly believe her life was spared for a purpose, His purpose and His glory. I do not believe in a coincidence and I believe that nothing happens without a purpose. I don’t always like what I see, but sometimes I must look beyond to the unseen. Some of us refer to this as a higher power or angels from above. I simply like to refer to this as the Almighty God who controls the whole world in the palm of His loving hands.
I want to thank everyone for keeping Natalie in your prayers. I want to thank you, Natalie, for joining my FB today. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers and I pray that God heals you 110% both physically and mentally without blemish.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”
Dinelle Ashcraft
Domino Effect Rescue Ranch
“People Helping Animals Helping People”
Robert & Dinelle Ashcraft
10370 Snowbird Avenue
Weeki Wachee, Florida 34614
(352) 596-3104
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