In Memoriam

When a horse finds their way to Wings of Hope they each come with a unique past and story. Below you will find stories of horses who spent their last years at the Ranch and we are blessed that God guided their paths.

Samson

Adopted July 2014

Passed February 14, 2023

Missouri Fox Trotter

16.3 hands

Samson was a big horse with an even bigger personality! He wanted to share his own story:

I stand in my stall and am filled with gratitude for the roof over my head, the hay and grain that seems so plentiful and my fresh water. Different humans seem to come and go here 7 days a week, every morning and every night to take care of us….I like them all! I especially like the little and medium size humans, referred to as “ranchers” here at Wings of Hope Ranch. I really turn on the charm when they come in the barn. I nod my head and pick up things with my mouth and make them giggle. I try to get them to pick me over the other horses to brush. It feels so good to get brushed. Sometimes I roll in the mud extra so it takes them a lot longer to get me cleaned up! If they only knew!

The ranchers (all sizes) are impressed with my size, strength, and markings. That is why they named me Samson! They named me after the big dude, Samson, you know, in the Bible.. He had long hair and could take on a whole army with a little bone as a weapon or kill a lion like it was a walk in the park. I have long luxurious hair too! You should see my mane and tail! Samson is a good name for me all right! Some say I look like one of those Budweiser Clydesdales…silly humans. I am a Missouri Fox Trotter, much more unique than a Clydesdale! The funny thing is, sometimes I hear the bigger humans telling the ranchers about me. Or sometimes they tell guests that are visiting the Ranch about me. I hear them whisper a lot. I can’t make out what they are saying but it is something about me being saved from being “put down”? I don’t know what that means, but I don’t like the sound of it. I guess that is why they are whispering about it. I came from a place where I had one human, not a whole bunch like here. I guess things got tough and she had to let me come here to live. While I miss her, I am glad to be here and am glad I didn’t find out what being “put down” means. I have a lot more living to do!

Well, I gotta get back to my job now, eating hay and making trouble around the ranch! Got to check that all the stall latches are clipped shut and if the feed room door is locked up tight. I also need to keep up my silly antics and let my ranchers brush me. I take good care of them. I only give the big humans a hard time, the ones that need to learn patience and confidence…those I nudge around a bit with my nose to make them react a little stronger, you know…”see what they are made of”. It’s fun being me. Thanks for reading my story and hope to see you at the ranch real soon!