When you rescue a horse, they return the favour many times over.
Such is the case for local woman Roslyn Jenkins and her beautiful mare Narla, who are frequent visitors to Narangba Village. If you’ve seen a bay stockhorse ‘parked’ in a car space near The Hideout Coffee House – that was Narla waiting patiently for Roz to have her coffee, then continue their ride.
Roz said she wanted her own horse from childhood, but it wasn’t until her more mature years that she had the opportunity. Roz had other horses and learnt a lot from them before seeing Narla at a horse auction.
“She was in a bad place both mentally and physically,” Roz said. “She was in poor condition, very depressed and walked with her head down.”
“There was something about her – I couldn’t leave her there. She didn’t trust people at first, but I fed and cared for her, and we now have a strong relationship built on love and trust. We are family.”
Healing Through Connection
Roz said Narla has a very positive effect on her mental health, and she can’t imagine being without her now.
“I’ve suffered from depression most of my life, but being in her presence brings me peace,” she said.
“If I’m not doing well, she knows it and looks after me. I can be feeling very low and I get on her and we go for a ride – I hear the birds and see the trees and I feel so much better.
“It’s a struggle sometimes, but I always make sure she is fed and looked after – I could never neglect her.
“Narla even helped me get a job! I was after a sheepskin cover for her saddle, so rang a place for a quote. It seemed overly expensive, so I told them I would sew my own. They asked if I knew how to sew and now I’m working for them a couple of days a week.”
Roz added that she is happy that Narla is a real icebreaker and draws people to her.
“Everyone talks to me and wants to meet Narla,” she said. “She is such a great horse and makes everyone’s day better – especially mine.”
Read more stories from The Caboolture Guide print magazine here:
- Caboolture Connect: Updates from the Community
- What’s Hot Around Town
- Podcast Review: The Imperfects
- British Cinema Comes to Brisbane
- Grass Emperor – Lethrinus laticaudis
- Organic Gardening in November
- Art of Banksy Chapter 2 Premieres in Brisbane
- Procurement begins for On Demand Transport trial on Bribie Island
- From Butter to Yoghurt: The Story of Caboolture’s Dairy Industry
- No Drama! Just Llamas in the Library
- Cottage Cheese Breakfast Muffins
- Have a Rockin’ Good Time at Rock of Stages
- Senior’s Concert and Christmas Morning Tea
- Why Every Small Business Needs a Website That Works
- Family Forms Foundations of Temple of Juniper
- The Pies Have It!
- Toy Run to Spread Cheer for Sick Kids
- Historic Church Marks Milestone with Community Celebration
- Needles, Testing and Levels – Life with Diabetes
