Williamsburg woman donates miniature horse to local boy

With the help of a few people near and far, Timmy Wilkening’s wish is coming true.

Timmy, 7, is a rising second-grader and has been interested in animals, especially horses, for a long time.

Unlike his four older siblings, he has not been involved with sports — achondroplasia, a bone structure disorder that hinders growth, has instead focused his energy toward animals.

When Timmy’s family lived in Richmond, his mother, Susan, promised him a horse if ever they moved to the country.

He was determined to hold her to it after they moved to the Locust Grove area.

So when they visited Eagle Hill Farm in Richardsville in February on a homeschool field trip, Susan Wilkening mentioned their interest in buying a horse.

Farm director Annie Delp told them she would keep her ears open for any horses available, especially miniatures.

Around the same time Timmy was touring the farm, Anne Dail in Williamsburg was searching for a good home to donate her horses, including three miniatures. That’s when Dail found Eagle Hill Farm via virginiahorserescue.com.

“The good Lord gave me a love for horses,” Dail said. “But that chapter of my life is over. I can’t run my farm by myself, and it’s time to move on.”

Dail started her training career at a young age with a stallion that nearly killed a girl. By the time she was finished, even the most timid children were fit to ride him.

As Dail got older, she started working with the less-demanding miniatures, training them to pull buggies. But with a lack of help to take care of the horses and various family situations, it was time for Dail to let go of her prized possessions.

Timmy and his mom went to Williamsburg in April to meet Molly, an 8-year-old miniature horse Dail thought would be a good match.

The connection was instant.

“She’s really sweet and nice,” Timmy said. “I got to feed her and spend a couple of hours with her. I really like her.”

Even Dail noticed a difference in Molly upon Timmy’s arrival.

“Every time Timmy turned away, Molly would follow,” Dail said. “It brought me to tears. There’s a deep connection there.”

With Molly back at Eagle Hill Farm, Timmy was able to ride her a couple of times, thanks to the lessons he began a few weeks before his visit.

“The only hard part is squeezing tight with your legs,” Timmy said. “But I got used to it. I’ve already trotted with her. I want to canter with her soon.”

As the day approaches that Molly will come to stay at Timmy’s home, many preparations are being made as he takes over the horse’s supervision.

“Timmy asked me the other day to buy an alarm clock,” Susan Wilkening said. “He wants one so that he can wake up early and take care of Molly and be with her. Every day he looks at the picture we have of her, longing for the day we bring her home.”

As for Molly’s former owner, she couldn’t be happier with the situation and only feels a sense of relief and completion.

“I’ve heard it said,” Dail reflected, “that you spend a third of your life learning what you love, a third of your life doing what you love and the other third passing it on to someone else. This is the time to pass it on.”