Three-year-old saddles up at benefit
Published: October 21, 2009
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Emily Donovan takes a ride on Shooter, led by his owner Melissa Smith, with additional help from Gretchen Backer, on left, and her mom, Janet, on right, at Norfolk Heritage Farm on Sunday. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
As she passed by the stable stalls, three-year-old Emily Donovan peered at the horses housed within. Her sister, Elizabeth, was petting a horse.
Emily paused and tentatively held out her hand as her mother lifted her up to give Diesel a pat on the head.
Then her attention shifted to a black horse with white markings in the stall next to Diesel.
Shooter was the horse Emily wanted to ride.
The three-year-old brain cancer patient visited Norfolk Heritage Farm, located just north of Montrose, during a benefit trail ride held in her honor on Sunday afternoon.
Emily was boosted atop Shooter. She took her time getting to know the horse and petting his mane before taking a short ride down the stable aisle.
Norfolk Heritage Farm owners Mary and Bud Sudhop bought the farm last year and now want to give back to the community.
“We’re not just here as a boarding place (for horses) but to be active in the community as well,” said Mary Sudhop.
The trail ride benefit is the first of its kind held at the farm.
Sudhop said she liked the idea of helping out Emily’s family because her sister has battled Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the past.
As for Emily, she is still battling her disease and will soon undergo more chemotherapy treatments. She is the daughter of Janet and Joe Donovan, of Montrose.
On the farm for a day, Emily said she liked her ride on the horse. “I held the rope,” she said proudly.
