By Leigh Ballard
The mid-south was recently visited by two intrepid sisters on horseback. The sisters, 23 year old Brandy Nelsey, and 21 year old Ashley Nelsey, started their ride on September 11, 2011, in West Branch, Michigan. By the time they arrived in Mt. Pleasant, MS, for a stopover at Point Pleasant Farms, they had travelled an estimated 900 miles on horseback with 3 additional packhorses and their dog, Tae.
Their journey began as a personal quest to improve upon a life of failed expectations, dashed hopes, and a general sense of lack of purpose in their lives. The sisters needed a renewal, and they had an idea of a cross-country ride, wanting to reenergize themselves in a new and changing environment. As they talked about their possible journey with others over the months prior to setting out, their personal mission developed into a mission for a higher purpose. After discussions with their pastor, they decided to help their church fulfill its mission goal of raising money and awareness for Haitian water wells. Information about the need for wells in Haiti and other places in the world can be found at www.haitiwaterproject.com
The elder sister, Brandy, has a history with horses since childhood. Since she was 12 years old, she has worked with youth camp ministries, and by the time she was sixteen, she was a trail guide in the camps. By age 21 she was ranch director at the YMCA Camp Timbers youth camp, and continued in that job until just before trip time.
Ashley, however, is a newcomer to riding, beginning her lessons with horses in the summer before their departure. She had peripheral knowledge of horses from her sister’s interest, and she liked horses, but had little experience. She was a quick study and has learned quite a bit more in recent months on horseback!
Deciding to make the trip didn’t come quickly. Brandy has a love of teaching both people and horses, so she was instrumental in helping Ashley learn to ride and understand the realities of maintaining horses on a long ride. Brandy had doubts about what they were planning; she knew what could happen to the horses’ hooves or tendons or digestive tracts. But Ashley had the exuberance of youth and idealism. Finally, they agreed to combine faith in themselves with a faith in higher powers, so they set off.
The first couple of months on the road were, by their admission, “a little tough.” Ashley began to realize the responsibility she hadn’t fully understood, and Brandy had to encourage her sister of her guts and ability for the trip. Both of them had to adjust to many uncertainties, and their horses had to adjust as well.
The horses are a hardy bunch, ranging in age from 6 to 15 years old. Febero (a variant of the Spanish word Febrero, for February) is Ashley’s long-time mount, the oldest and most experienced of the string. The rest came from varied backgrounds: a cutting horse taking a rest from competition, a broodmare brought out of the pasture after her foal was weaned, a half-broke mustang. None of the horses besides Feb had any prior road experience or history of long trips. Two of the travelling horses were acquired just weeks before the trip, and had to be conditioned quickly.
When asked about preparations for feeding, farrier work, and veterinary care and how they planned for these things along the road, Brandy grinned, “Well, it’s God’s ride, it’s a faith ride, and that covers everything that we could worry about. We trust that it will all come together and sort itself out, and so far we have found that to be true.”
Horse care on the rode has been relatively simple. At first grass was plentiful, and they stopped periodically along the road for grazing. After a time, one of the horses, Prince, began to show some weight loss, so they started packing grain for him; but the other horses maintained condition well. As winter approached and the farther south they came, their need for hay increased. Since they couldn’t pack hay bales on horseback, the sisters relied on the goodness of the strangers they met on the road for help find hay each night.
Everyday the sisters start their day not knowing who they might meet or where they will be by nightfall. But every day at least someone stops on the side of the road and asks them who they are and what they’re doing. Most of these people either have horses or know someone else who has horses and can offer them hay or a place to stay. In addition to their roadside encounters, they ride into gas stations or Tractor Supply parking lots, or churches after the service is over, and meet people who advise them about the location of shelter or veterinarians and farriers.
In northern Indiana, they met an Amish farrier who knew about the needs of hooves on pavement. He set their horses with shoes augmented by Drill Tech, a substance that is welded onto the shoe for added traction on slippery pavement, which also keeps the shoe from wearing out. One of their horses wore the same Indiana shoes (with resets) from October to January for 700 miles before they needed to be replaced. All along the ride, the Indiana farrier received compliments on his work from other farriers they encountered.
They’ve needed the services of a veterinarian only three times before arriving to Mississippi. A horse experienced a mild colic early in the trip, another horse had a tendon tear and was left behind to rest in Kentucky, and they paid a wellness visit to Old Hatchie Veterinary Clinic in Bolivar, TN, before coming to Mississippi. The horses seem to have adjusted their metabolism to the pace; they have maintained their weight, good health and attitudes, and seem “no worse for wear.” At the interview for this article, they were energetically exercising in the Point Pleasant Farms arena so they wouldn’t get stiff during their layover!
Brandy and Ashley have had so many memorable experiences and met many people on the trip that it’s hard for them to pinpoint a “best” experience. But, they say, the horses put a smile on everyone’s face. Children have ridden their horses at church and school visits, and in the gas stations and Tractor Supply parking lots. They’ve been able to direct eager future equestrians to youth camp sites online. They’ve raised awareness about the Haitian water crisis and the need for safe water around the world. And they’ve shared their faith and trust in higher powers to direct and protect them through their lives. They witnesses to the results of believing in the kindness of strangers and the hand of God.
The sisters plan to continue through north Mississippi and find a small town crossing over the Mississippi River. “We need a four lane road, “Brandy said. “We take up one lane, and we don’t want to stop traffic!” Sometime in March they will end their trek in Houston, TX.
More information about the Nelsey sisters, their church’s goal, and the Haitian water well project can be found at www.horsebackforhaiti.jimdo.com , www.haitiwaterproject.com, and www.nazarene.org
The mid-south was recently visited by two intrepid sisters on horseback. The sisters, 23 year old Brandy Nelsey, and 21 year old Ashley Nelsey, started their ride on September 11, 2011, in West Branch, Michigan. By the time they arrived in Mt. Pleasant, MS, for a stopover at Point Pleasant Farms, they had travelled an estimated 900 miles on horseback with 3 additional packhorses and their dog, Tae.
Their journey began as a personal quest to improve upon a life of failed expectations, dashed hopes, and a general sense of lack of purpose in their lives. The sisters needed a renewal, and they had an idea of a cross-country ride, wanting to reenergize themselves in a new and changing environment. As they talked about their possible journey with others over the months prior to setting out, their personal mission developed into a mission for a higher purpose. After discussions with their pastor, they decided to help their church fulfill its mission goal of raising money and awareness for Haitian water wells. Information about the need for wells in Haiti and other places in the world can be found at www.haitiwaterproject.com
The elder sister, Brandy, has a history with horses since childhood. Since she was 12 years old, she has worked with youth camp ministries, and by the time she was sixteen, she was a trail guide in the camps. By age 21 she was ranch director at the YMCA Camp Timbers youth camp, and continued in that job until just before trip time.
Ashley, however, is a newcomer to riding, beginning her lessons with horses in the summer before their departure. She had peripheral knowledge of horses from her sister’s interest, and she liked horses, but had little experience. She was a quick study and has learned quite a bit more in recent months on horseback!
Deciding to make the trip didn’t come quickly. Brandy has a love of teaching both people and horses, so she was instrumental in helping Ashley learn to ride and understand the realities of maintaining horses on a long ride. Brandy had doubts about what they were planning; she knew what could happen to the horses’ hooves or tendons or digestive tracts. But Ashley had the exuberance of youth and idealism. Finally, they agreed to combine faith in themselves with a faith in higher powers, so they set off.
The first couple of months on the road were, by their admission, “a little tough.” Ashley began to realize the responsibility she hadn’t fully understood, and Brandy had to encourage her sister of her guts and ability for the trip. Both of them had to adjust to many uncertainties, and their horses had to adjust as well.
The horses are a hardy bunch, ranging in age from 6 to 15 years old. Febero (a variant of the Spanish word Febrero, for February) is Ashley’s long-time mount, the oldest and most experienced of the string. The rest came from varied backgrounds: a cutting horse taking a rest from competition, a broodmare brought out of the pasture after her foal was weaned, a half-broke mustang. None of the horses besides Feb had any prior road experience or history of long trips. Two of the travelling horses were acquired just weeks before the trip, and had to be conditioned quickly.
When asked about preparations for feeding, farrier work, and veterinary care and how they planned for these things along the road, Brandy grinned, “Well, it’s God’s ride, it’s a faith ride, and that covers everything that we could worry about. We trust that it will all come together and sort itself out, and so far we have found that to be true.”
Horse care on the rode has been relatively simple. At first grass was plentiful, and they stopped periodically along the road for grazing. After a time, one of the horses, Prince, began to show some weight loss, so they started packing grain for him; but the other horses maintained condition well. As winter approached and the farther south they came, their need for hay increased. Since they couldn’t pack hay bales on horseback, the sisters relied on the goodness of the strangers they met on the road for help find hay each night.
Everyday the sisters start their day not knowing who they might meet or where they will be by nightfall. But every day at least someone stops on the side of the road and asks them who they are and what they’re doing. Most of these people either have horses or know someone else who has horses and can offer them hay or a place to stay. In addition to their roadside encounters, they ride into gas stations or Tractor Supply parking lots, or churches after the service is over, and meet people who advise them about the location of shelter or veterinarians and farriers.
In northern Indiana, they met an Amish farrier who knew about the needs of hooves on pavement. He set their horses with shoes augmented by Drill Tech, a substance that is welded onto the shoe for added traction on slippery pavement, which also keeps the shoe from wearing out. One of their horses wore the same Indiana shoes (with resets) from October to January for 700 miles before they needed to be replaced. All along the ride, the Indiana farrier received compliments on his work from other farriers they encountered.
They’ve needed the services of a veterinarian only three times before arriving to Mississippi. A horse experienced a mild colic early in the trip, another horse had a tendon tear and was left behind to rest in Kentucky, and they paid a wellness visit to Old Hatchie Veterinary Clinic in Bolivar, TN, before coming to Mississippi. The horses seem to have adjusted their metabolism to the pace; they have maintained their weight, good health and attitudes, and seem “no worse for wear.” At the interview for this article, they were energetically exercising in the Point Pleasant Farms arena so they wouldn’t get stiff during their layover!
Brandy and Ashley have had so many memorable experiences and met many people on the trip that it’s hard for them to pinpoint a “best” experience. But, they say, the horses put a smile on everyone’s face. Children have ridden their horses at church and school visits, and in the gas stations and Tractor Supply parking lots. They’ve been able to direct eager future equestrians to youth camp sites online. They’ve raised awareness about the Haitian water crisis and the need for safe water around the world. And they’ve shared their faith and trust in higher powers to direct and protect them through their lives. They witnesses to the results of believing in the kindness of strangers and the hand of God.
The sisters plan to continue through north Mississippi and find a small town crossing over the Mississippi River. “We need a four lane road, “Brandy said. “We take up one lane, and we don’t want to stop traffic!” Sometime in March they will end their trek in Houston, TX.
More information about the Nelsey sisters, their church’s goal, and the Haitian water well project can be found at www.horsebackforhaiti.jimdo.com , www.haitiwaterproject.com, and www.nazarene.org
