Stella’s “Jack” fund

“Jack Be Nimble”

As many of you know, the Gash family recently lost the most special horse to their heart,  Jack, the horse with a heart made of gold, fought a terrible bought of colic recently and ultimately his family had make the hardest decision in the world and had to tell their beloved Jack goodbye.
Now, the worst part...He was their daughter’s horse. Her first horse. Her true love. She went from a beginner, timid rider, horse crazy little girl to a confident horse owner that knew she could trust Jack with everything. He was her best friend, her shoulder to cry on, her secret keeper. He took care of her through thick and thin and it also went the other way around. She never took him for granted and she was so incredibly proud to be his girl. His absence has broken her heart into a million pieces. As many horse owners know, this particular tragedy is an inescapable pain. Her world is shattered. Not to mention, Jack gave her the confidence to start Pony Club.
 Now, her passion and the love of her life is gone. Totally heart broken and being forced to leave behind this new journey she was so excited to be on. I think we all want to be sure this heart break doesn’t keep her from this lifelong love of horses and riding. The Gash family had just purchased Jack 9 months ago and now they’ve sunk so much money into trying to save him that financially, they can’t just purchase another horse for sweet Stella. We’re hoping and praying the horse community will gather around sweet Stella and the Gash family and help her find the means to find her next horse. Jack will never be replaced, but we hope that being able to find the room in her heart to share the love of another horse will help her heal and continue her Pony Club passion in honor of her “Jack”.

My name is Leslie Holden, I am a “A “pony clubber graduate and certified riding instructor. I had the recent pleasure of meeting the Gash family when I moved to Fletcher NC, I was immediately inspired and excited by the enthusiasm the entire family had for pony club And their daughters riding passion. I was then given an opportunity to teach at a pony club clinic where I met Stella and her horse Jack, I mediately recognized a special horse, and even more a special girl who deserved to be on a well suited horse. Stella came to help me at my farm and we got to bond over the love of pony club and horses and everything that went along with it. From my own personal experience, being a young girl and having a horse that helps you grow and blossom into a woman was one of the greatest and most potent Gifts my parents could’ve given me. I can’t imagine what my teens would’ve been like without my beloved horse, and to hear that Stella at the beginning of their journey has already lost her best friend just broke me down to tears.  I have approached the family and asked their permission to start a crowdfunding campaign to help raise funds to find a suitable mount for Stella to continue her pony club journey and her riding career.