Keeping the Dream Alive
The holidays were very different for me this year. My husband of 32 years had a stroke on December 11th. It has forever changed our lives. We never know how life can change in an instant. What I’ve learned through this is to take life one day at a time. When I look at the overwhelming pile of bills and work to be done I lose momentum and feel the task is impossible.
What has sustained me through this journey is kindness from friends and family who’ve helped with my horses, brought food, given a little extra cash when I’ve not gotten to the bank, help with remodeling the house before Mark can come home, financial help and the encouragement I’ve received through social media, cards and emails. I’m blessed with such an incredible community of people willing to help. You all have my deepest, most heartfelt thanks for your support and encouragement.
Mark is my life partner and my business partner. He has managed to pull our business out of deep debt and has done an amazing job of managing his part of the job. Filling his shoes is a big task right now. At this point we don’t know what the final outcome will be. He is unable to speak and is moving with a walker. His right side is weak. He cannot use his right hand at this point but we’re hopeful this will improve with time and therapy. He will be coming home January 8th so I’m really looking forward to having him back. The trip to the hospital every day is long and makes it hard to get everything done that needs doing. He will still need 24/7 supervision when he returns but I’m taking everything one day at time. All the help and support we’ve received has made it possible. While the journey back to recovery is long and unknown I’m hopeful for his recovery.
Moving forward, what sustains me is the love of our business. One of the new features coming is a new website that allows you to view the site on your smartphone or tablet. We’ve also just added a new responsive digital edition. You will be able to access information in new ways and we look forward to helping you meet training goals and keep your horse healthy. You can shop for your favorite horse products from your devices as well. It’s a great way to reach the advertisers that support the magazine. You can link directly from their ad in the digital edition to a website or shopping cart.
I’m truly hoping we will make the Washington State Horse Expo in February. It’s too soon for me to know if Mark will be able to travel but we’re hoping to make the show. Keep us in your prayers and thank you for your support in helping us keep our dream alive.
If you would like to help please visit our GoFundMe account: http://www.gofundme.com/j7apfo
See flier for details.
“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every New Year find you a better man (or woman)” ~ Benjamin Franklin
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Owner / Publisher | Canfield Certified Trainer
Karen Pickering is a lifelong horsewoman and the founder of The Northwest Horse Source, which began in 1995 as a small equine newsletter and grew into a respected industry publication. With more than 30 years of experience serving the horse community, Karen now focuses on helping equine businesses and organizations build visibility, credibility, and lasting relationships through online marketing, digital promotion, and educational platforms.
As a Canfield Certified Trainer, she blends proven success principles with real-world industry experience, supporting both businesses and individuals navigating change in today’s digital landscape. Karen remains deeply connected to the horse industry and is passionate about serving the community she has helped build for over three decades.
