For one little girl living with a rare blood disease, her wish to ride a horse finally came true thanks to the Children's Wish Foundation Sunday.
In 2006, eight-year-old Josee Ross was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a rare and serious condition that can develop at any age where the body stops producing enough new blood.
After hearing of her wish to ride a horse, the Eastern Ontario Quarter Horse Association (EOQHA) and the Children's Wish Foundation joined forces to give Josee free horseback riding lessons for an entire year through Bridewood Farms, owned by the McBride family of Almonte.
Tanglewood Tack of Pembroke donated a riding helmet and Circle R Saddlery of Rockland contributed a set of grooming supplies as well.
"We take it for granted maybe that we're around horses all our life, and it's so simple that she just wants to be around them. So we just can't say no," said Jennifer McBride, owner of Bridewood Farms.
It didn't take long for Josee to get to know her new riding partner, J-LO.
"She has loved horses since she was little. I gave her a Barbie doll with a horse once. She sleeps with it. When she sees one, her eyes open," said Josee's mother Louise Ross.
Josee has gone through two years of hospitals, medications and procedures to get her to where she is today. One of the treatments she received included horse antibodies, ironically enough.
Her courage is an inspiration to many, especially her parents.
"The last two years we've been through so much. She's such a tough kid that whatever happens, we'll beat it. We'll face it head on and we'll beat it. We've done it once," said Josee's father Bob Ross.
Josee was also the special guest at the 2008 Spring Fling Quarter Horse Show in Carp on Sunday.
Josee will also be invited back to the EOQHA Summer Sizzler Quarter Horse show off her new skills and compete against other youth her age.
