Hello, my name is Kasey Ridenhour, five years ago, Charlene entered our lives as a high school student whom became great friends with our daughter. We quickly came to love Charlene and consider her one of our daughters. Unfortunately, Charlenes story hasn't been easy, and she has been through more than what any child should. She has had to grow up fast and make adult decisions as a child and young teenager. Please read her story below and considering donating to help us help her remodel her home and help with her father's hospital bills.

Hi, my name is Charlene Holt. I’m a 20-year-old kid enrolled at Martin Community College in the Equine Business Management and Equine Training program. I will graduate in May with two associates degrees. I may go on to enroll in a vet tech program, but I am unsure as of right now. Many times I have been asked how I got into horses, and really, I have to giggle. The circumstances about how I got started in this industry aren’t exactly happy, but I’m so glad it happened, so let’s talk about it.

When I was 5, my mom and dad went through a divorce where I decided to stay with my dad. From the time I was 6, it was just me and my dad. As a full time high school teacher who did lawn service on the side, he wanted me to have a hobby so I didn’t just sit around the house on the weekend, so he enrolled me in riding lessons. Now I always loved animals, but I never really loved horses before then. Sure, I’d point them out on car rides, but I wasn’t a horse crazed kid before then. After I started riding for a while, I quickly realized I wanted to go pro, and I was determined to make it happen. Even though we were tight on money, my dad made sure I was able to continue with my passion, and he very quickly became my biggest supporter.

In 2014, my dad had his first stroke, which led to him loosing his peripheral vision, which ultimately caused him to retire early from teaching. Now working a full time lawn service job, things were even tighter, but he still made sure I could continue riding.

In 2017, I ran at my first barrel race, and I was hooked from there. The adrenaline was so fun for my little brain, and my dad, although over protective and nervous, fed my passion.

Although I could go on and on about my rodeo career, I’m just going to jump to the chase. In 2023 I graduated high school, which was such a huge milestone. I was so excited for my future; college, horses, coming home randomly to surprise my dad, but unfortunately fate had different plans. 13 days after I graduated high school, my dad suffered a massive stroke. My entire summer before going off for school was spent not knowing if my dad would make it through the next week. He was left permanently paralyzed on his right side, making him retire from work and needing around the clock care. I so badly just wanted to not go to college and stay with him, but I was reminded my dad would still want me to go to school: so I did.

Now as I am a few short months away from graduation, I am having to face the reality of my situation. My childhood home was in shambles. It needed so much work done on it before I could move back home and start a career for myself. I know I can’t do it alone, so that’s where I started asking friends and family for help. Kasey and her family have done a great deal to help me begin this process, and are helping me work on this huge project while I finish my degrees and enter another year of the unknown.

The house needs to be gutted to be worth living in again. The floors have been in since the 90’s and are torn up from years of friends, pets, and life long memories. The trim outside for our roof has rotted, as well as the back porch that we built when I was a kid. As much as I hate to watch my childhood home fall into shambles, I know my dad would want me to restore it to its former glory and make so many more memories in it.

I know that I can’t do this alone, and I need all the help I can get as this is a huge financial commitment for me as a kid just getting through college, and that’s why I am asking for your help. Any bit will help me get closer to getting my childhood home back so hopefully one day I can move home and have my own family to keep making memories in those walls.

Thank you for taking the time to read Charlene's story.

~Kasey Ridenhour