Im still in shock over this past Week. Ricos Story: On Oct 25th a bunch of us.headed to Pigeon Forest . To the Elk Hill Equestrian Camp ground.I had never been there before. So all of us met and headed down. Renee Pilcher. Lynn Carrick. Myself Kayla Henderson Carol Hesselink Eby Marcy Butkovich Terrie Slack Denise Conroy and Janeen Radtke. We get to camp unload horses saddle, I took Ricos halter off put around his neck, started to put bridle on. Rico backed out of halter . I tried to grab him he trotted over to next camp site where 2 horses were tied to pick line. Marcy and I were trying to get him. We got him cornered Marcy in front me coming up behind and thick brush beside him.. I got to him and said Easy Rico your ok.. he kicked me in my upper left leg with both feet.(which he had NEVER done before.) Of course I went down Rico pushed past Marcy and went towards woods. I jumped up from ground to try to get to him and he was gone. Marcy and I ran back to the others told then he took off through woods everyone jumped on horses went looking for him. ME being left and feelng helpless as i had no way to go help find him. There were 3 sites filled with horses and riders all got in there horses to look also. I walked around yelling for my boy. Everyone came back to check if he came back and headed back out. Carol. Called 2 guys from. A atv group (just lost the name in.my head) bout an hour.later the guys were there and stayed helping till the end. They headed out.on quads till dark.Everyone had to call it a night. I wasnt.leaving.. Renee Lynn kayla carol all stayed with me overnight. We all slept in trucks.. it was really cold out.. all the girls camping with horses brought blankets pillows. Hats gloves etc to keep us warm. Woke up next morning my husband Keith Frosland brought Lilly my 21 year.old mare truck and trailer for me. Now the word is out and already people are coming on foot. In vehicles. On horses to help search. We all ride all day Sunday and find Nothing. Brenda Lee and Al came down to help.its getting Dark im not leaving. I SAID Im sleeping in my truck. Everyone else had to head back to work.it was damp and cold. Brenda said Im not leaving you alone, there wasnt much room for comfort or to stay warm. I wanted her to go home.Nope she refused. MARCY called said she was on her way back with her horse and was staying with me. So she gets there pretty late . I WAS so happy to see her cause I actually got spooked being alone. Monday: we get.up. thundering .lightning. pouring. No way to get horses out to look.feeling sick Rico was. Out there in this and helpless cause we couldnt get out there.People were pulling in left and right what can we do? Roger Knapp and friends came from 3 hours away with horses and rain gear..headed out. MARCY and I saddled got ready to go. Heidi Sposito . Carol Brenda showed up to drive all over to.look. Marcy and I rode out to woods trails foot paths got to be bout 4:30 pm Brenda and Carol and our boys from fishweb *on the Quads found tracks 5 miles from camp at an Elk Viewing area so Brenda and Carol tracked Marcy and I down. We ran all the way back to camp loaded horses and headed that way where also a lady named Linda that lives there. They call her the Tshirt lady.was waiting. She had been tracking.on foot since the beginning. All.of.us looked all.over the fishweb boys heard a winney way up in the woods. Marcy and I headed that way it was getting dark. It was raining. Started thundering and lighting . WE had to call it a day I was so upset as we were so close and had to quit. All heads back to camp.Marcy tried her hardest to get someone to work for her the next day so she could stay with me.. No go.. Mike one.if the guys from fishweb said your going home with me. My wife and family said to bring you home to a warm house. Bed .shower and.hot meal. I finally agreed as.I.knew Rico was not going to come back to camp with storm. I Was filthy.tired (not that.i slept anyways) soaking wet. I walked into Miles home they treated.me like Family. Sent me to shower gave me.clean clothes to sleep in.Mikes wife took my dirty clothes washed them. TRIED to eat wasnt happening went to bed. TUESDAY MORNING: I.got.out of bed took advantage of shower again as.i didnt know wheny.next one would be. Mike and I headed back to camp His partner Mike and him headed on quads i stayed at camp to wait for people coming. A LADY named Michelle and Anne I think lol went to elk veiwing area where we seen tracks night before.I couldnt wait at camp any longer hauled my mare up there to join them. We headed out in woods. We got a call from Linda she had found. My saddle bags and a pile of fresh warm manure.said meet her back at trailers. Well we got turned around.in the woods . So their horses which were seasoned . Had alot of miles on them were plowing their way through the brush and trails. My old girl Lilly that went on a few rides through the summer but in no way conditioned for this and already put her through hell the days prior was struggling. I was in a panick cause I wanted to get where my boy was . The girls got us out of woods and back on track, but Lilly wasnt doing well. She was shaking.couldnt catch her breath eyes were rolling in back of her head. SCARED I was going to loosed her .I knew Lilly needed rest. When we got to the trail where fresh manure and saddle bags were found We were also joined by my friends Denise Conroy. Terrie Slack and a friend of theirs (I forgot her name as I.met do many people through this and was do overwhelmed) she had hauled her camper for me from Newberry. THEY headed on foot. Quads took off and Michelle? And Anne headed on horseback. I stayed back at trailer to rest Lilly. Tues was a day I woke up and for some reason I had a calming over me.. It.was.6.years ago that.i.had lost my stepson from my first marriage (that i considered my son and my daughter never thought if anything of him but a brother) I asked Seth to bring my boy home safe and to be his angel. I ALSO asked God the same. Ive.always believed in God but Rarely went to church or talked to him.. i did.this day. OK BACK TO TRAIL so.usually im pacing and nervous through this while waiting. I HAD. Calm peaceful.feeling over waiting at trailer with Lilly. A man pulled up in a truck. He said you Wendy? I said yes I.am I said you Verne? He said yes i am. I HAVENT slept all night since Denise beadoin called me about you and Rico. IM.JUST Sick for u.. Verne is a trail guided for that area and also an amazing horse.person. He asked me what the.maure and Saddle bags were found? I.told.him. Verne said well.he can only.go.back so far.theres a river and.a bridge. He said.he.cant.head towards camp through.here.its too thick and swampy. H.he said.im heading back this way ( back towards Elk viewing area) cause he is going to have to go back that way. DENISE Beaudion. JESSICA Keifer and Mariah horn were meeting him. They pulled up 10 mins.later asked me if.i had seen Verne. I SAID hes waiting.for.u up the.road . I said to myself i should.get.on.Lilly and join up with everyone.in the woods. SOMETHING told.me no stay right here. STILL.feeling calm and.peaceful. I start walking down the road whistling and yelling for Rico . I looked.up in the beautiful blue.sky ( which wad supposed to be cold and nasty.that day) I said Seth.PLEASE bring Rico back to me.now safe and sound. I asked God the same. I walked back to Lilly walked a.little ways up trail. I HEAR. Whisling and SCREAMING WENDY. I SCREAMED.BACK WHAT. AGAIN WENDY.. AGAIN WHAT..Im running back to the.road.I see Denise.Jessica and maraiah running on their.horses with Rico. IM SCREAMING OMG RICO.. I thought they had.him roped. Nope.the girls and Verne were just saddled and ready.to.go. Denise said Verne yelled Horse with saddle coming your way. Denise get on your mare get in front of him run him back to Wendy.and the.mare. Mariah said should I get rope around him Verne said no just run him back to trailer. I couldnt believe.my eyes Rico ran right to me and.Lilly . He sniffed her but snuggled right into me. I was trying to get halter on him I was shaking and crying I said Denise help me get halter.on him.She did. 2 trucks pulled up a man his little girl and son in one and.2 other sons in another. They were our baiting for deer seen Rico. Walked up with apple and corn. Rico.ate out of his hand. When he tried to put a rope around him. Rico Bolted. They chased him for over an hour ran him right into Verne and the. Girls which mind you they all got there no more then a half hour before running him back to me. Whether you believe or not I asked Seth and God to please bring him back to me and within 30 minutes I had my boy. I learned alot through this.people that know me know I have been going through hell the past year. I started loosing faith in people. I WAS very depressed. I learned there are Still ALOT of good people im this world.People that thank you just isnt enough. Found.out how many true friends i really.have. I feel this happened for a reason. Im beyound happy.to.have my boy back home Thanks to all.that helped xoxoxox ♥♥♥ (I typed on my phone so sorry for all the errors) I hope to meet all the people ( and there was alot) that helped find my boy someday i will never forget this.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:11:08 +0000
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