Horses enrich local woman's life

CARROLL COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Many girls dream of having a horse of their very own. In this week's Helen Magazine segment, we take you to Joy Matson's farm where her horses roam the land and a duck named Ronald rules the roost.

Joy Matson was born with a deep love and appreciation for horses.

"My parents could not afford one for me. So at a very young age, the first word I said was, horsie, and whenever I had a bad dream they would tell me to go to bed and dream about the horse that I wanted some day," Matson said.

Years later, her dream came true. Matson bought Annie, a yearling quarter horse. For 21 years, Annie was her constant companion.

"She would come up to the house and walk up the stairs and look in the kitchen and just take her naps there," Matson said.

As Annie aged and got sicker, she trusted Matson to care for her.

"She was looking to me for help and she always did," Matson said.

Annie passed away earlier this year. Since then Annie's daughter, Louise, and a new horse, Norma, continue to enrich Matson's life. She said horses are well in-tune to their surroundings and others.

"They are very emotional. For such a large animal it's amazing that you can control them with just a halter and a lead rope. That is a sign of intelligence in my opinion that they are willing to be trained and listen and be trustful of humans," Matson said.

She said they are creatures of habit and perceptive to subtle changes.

"In the winter I have a certain jacket I wear and in the spring I'd have a certain jacket I'd wear and if I wear anything different, Louise gets all upset, which is quite comical," Matson said.

She said it takes a lot of work to care for her brood, which now includes a couple cats, dogs, pygmy goats, and a duck. But she said the animals have given back in many ways. She said they have helped her slow down, relax and appreciate life.

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