By Kat McDaniel, Principal at MEDiAHEAD

Oreo was born on January 1, 2010 and currently weighs 1,400 lbs.

Oreo Special K is a spotted saddle horse that previously was a buggy horse in the Amish country. Most likely, Oreo had a difficult life before coming to Kansas City. The Amish people own horses mainly for practical purposes. And it’s safe to say – Amish view animals differently than your average horse owner.

“They don’t have a sentimental view of animals or nature,” said Steven Nolt, a senior scholar for Anabaptist and Pietist studies and a professor at Elizabethtown College. “They have pets that they love and care about but animals are also part of the world at work. Ideas about animals are not sentimentalized. They are fairly realistic. To work a horse is not being cruel.”

When he arrived, Oreo was fearful of everything, jumping at any noise, constantly looking over his shoulder and wanting to bolt if he was scared. Oreo worked with a “horse whisperer” over the last three months at Forbes Ranch, and he has made great strides.

Oreo is currently living with my friend Denise Farris and her horse Copper. They’ve become great friends already and love to run and play in the pasture together.

Both Oreo and I had a lot to deal with in 2018… and we’re looking forward to healing together in 2019.