In Greenup county, Kentucky, Robert Denlinger has a farm down by the Tygarts River. He raises sheep, and works his land with Percheron draft horses instead of tractors. He has Kuvasz livestock guard dogs to help him on the right and when he has time, he gentles horses, especially wild horses.
His big Percheron mare Rosie had a filly named Phoebe. One day after a terrible storm, when the ground was muddy and slippery, Phoebe slipped and fell into the river. Rosie didn't hesitate -- she jumped over a ten foot bank into the river. It was so deep she had to swim, circling the struggling little Phoebe to keep her from being swept downstream. Rosie neighed and neighed for Robert to come and help. He came with friends and ropes, and swam out into the river to the two horses. Phoebe nudged his face and her mother's face, worried and asking them to help her. Robert calmed them down, and got a rope around little Phoebe. But she was so frightened, she pulled from the rope and Rosie and Robert had to follow her downstream to calm her again. Rosie kept her big body on the downstream side of the river to keep Phoebe and Robert from being swept away, and finally Robert and his friends were able to help the two horses up the slippery bank and out of the river.
If Rosie hadn't jumped in the river and used her body to block Phoebe and Robert from being carried away, the story might have had a different ending. Here's to Rosie, another equine hero!
