Whisper Turns 20

 It is Whisper’s birthday this month and we are so proud that she is turning 20. There were many days that we feared she would never make it.  Rescued from severe abuse, Whisper had given up hope that life could be anything other than painful.  Her body was destroyed and so was her spirit and will to live.  We brought her home to The Gentle Barn and began the long road to recovery.  First, we healed her broken body and introduced her to our herd of rescued horses so she would not feel so alone.  Then, we very slowly started working with her to get the anger out of her body, give her a voice, and help her overcome her PTSD.  It took working with her every day for four years until she let her past go, embraced her second chance, and decided to give life and love one more shot.
Whisper today is one of our fan favorites when we host at-risk and inner-city children at the barn.  They relate to her anger and pain and are inspired by her strength and determination to recover.  The kids hear her story and then feed her carrots, telling her again and again how beautiful she is.  Whisper has many friends in the barnyard and spends her days flirting, relaxing in the shade, or grooming other horses.  She is definitely our beauty queen and we look forward to many more years of gentle nuzzles, warm hugs, and breathing each other in.
The Gentle Barn is home to hundreds of animals rescued from abuse and neglect. Once the animals are rehabilitated, we give them sanctuary for the rest of their lives, and when they are ready, the animals help us heal people with the same stories as the animals.  The Gentle Barn is open every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for guests to hug the cows, feed the horses, give the pigs tummy rubs, cuddle the turkeys and so much more.
Come visit Whisper and all her rescued friends; for directions and more info, go to www.gentlebarn.org.