No Horsing Around: Area resident shares love for miniature horses with family
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GREENDALE TWP. — They are furry, slightly dusty and shorter than expected — but Julie Campbell treats them as if they are her children.
Taken from no the best of homes, Campbell, a Greendale Township resident, has given love and a good place to live to two miniature horses, which now call her backyard home.
“Once they’re here, they’re here to stay,” she said.
Her love for animals is not only shown to the horses but also the three dogs, eight chickens and one rooster she has. The appreciation for animals is something she hopes to be pass on to her granddaughters.
The family’s first miniature horse, Missy, was originally bought for her 4-year-old granddaughter.
Brownie, the other horse, is about 6 years old. He stands about two-and-a-half feet tall and is a light brown color with an even lighter mane. Brownie came to the family in December.
He was not given a lot of care or room to run, Campbell said.
“Just neglected a little bit,” she said. “He lived in a dog cage. His best friend was a dog.”
Missy has been with the family for almost two years. At 3 feet, 5 inches tall, she looks quite a bit taller than Brownie, Campbell said.
Clark Campbell, Julie’s husband, said the animals have grown on him. Although he has been around animals all his life, it is a different feeling giving them the amount of care he and Julie do, he said.
His main enjoyment with the miniature horses is watching his 4-year-old granddaughter ride them. Clark and Julie originally were looking for a miniature goat for their granddaughter, but came across Missy instead.
“I enjoy when my granddaughter is here riding them,” Clark said.
Aspen Campbell, Julie and Clark’s granddaughter, just more than 2 feet, 8 inches tall, is barely taller than Brownie. But she holds onto his mane and rides him around the yard.
Trusting each other
The Campbells have worked with both the horses to get them used to being around the family.
Julie said Brownie can be a bit shy and sassy at times, and Missy can be skittish. Missy might not have been treated very well either, she said.
“(Missy) shows off, and then she calms down,” Julie said.
