This is heaven. Cousin Larry made it that way. It
doesn’t come cheap. It doesn’t come easy. But if you
have a dream, you have to follow it, no matter what
it costs. Cousin Larry and Cousin Robin did just
that.

Cousin Larry was a small contractor, and he could have been a big contractor. But instead he chose to pursue his dream. It started when he was ten, at summer camp, where he first encountered horses and learned to ride. He vowed that some day horses would play an important part in his life.

His wife Robin shared his enthusiasm, as did their four boys (initially) so there wasn’t any conflict about selling their spacious home in Chicagoland and making their way up to southern Wisconsin where they bought sixty acres of land and created a ranch operation that has drawn favourable attention from all around.

Besides the horses and goats, they also have eight dogs, mostly rescue animals. Cousin Larry says they would like to have more, only they can’t afford it.

One of their dogs had defected earlier, not even a rescue-home refugee, but a beautiful, purpose-bought husky, from their city days, who had the habit of taking off for parts unknown. Perplexed, by this constant defection, for which they could see no apparent reason – since they viewed their pack as one extremely happy lot - they called in a friend who had a chat with the dog. The dog explained that it wanted to be a dog all on its own, without all those other dogs to share love and attention. So Cousin Larry and Cousin Robin bowed to the inevitable, and did not stand in the way of their dog finding a place it liked better, with another family.

Nedra took a fancy to a black Lab, a gentle rescue dog, who responded well to Nedra. I scratched its head and said a few kind words. Suddenly it put its tail between its legs and slunk off, its feelings obviously hurt, by something I might have said, or perhaps some gesture I may have made, neither of which was obvious or apparent to me – or anybody else. She’s like that, Cousin Larry explained. I really felt guilty; I hate hurting dogs’ feelings.

We met the miniature goats, affectionate little creatures who love the attention. There’s something special about patting an animal – the way they respond to you. We met the miniature horse gang. The little back one shook hands with Cousin Larry, and jumped up, putting his front hooves in Cousin Larry’s hands, so they could chat face to face.

They’ve got forty boarding horses, with inside facilities for twenty-five. There is also a birthing room – for the horses – and a little apartment close by for the proud (but anxious) owner.

Cousin Larry took on a blind horse. Being visually challenged, it didn’t mingle with the others. It was obviously a lonesome life, so Cousin Larry put a pony in with him, as a companion, which has worked out very well.

Both Cousin Larry and Cousin Robin offer riding instructions. They also have facilities for the disabled.

The property came with a stream running through it, and a pond, where the fishing is pretty good, at least sometimes.

Larry and Robin have been at it for nine years, and have loved every minute of it. They provide their facilities for charity events, and are highly regarded by their neighbours. It’s a question of doing what they like, and doing good too. The boys, initially, thought they were entering heaven, until reality struck. There was a lot of hard work to do, and it involved them. (It wasn’t so much fun any more.) The older boy is in the army, currently waiting to go off to Afghanistan, the younger wants to be a sharpshooter in the Marines, another wants to be a teacher, and the fourth son has not yet made up his mind. Cousin Larry offered a choice: chores or home-work. Homework won. It wasn’t their dream.

Cousin Larry’s Dad, Cousin Harold, says that it’s hard to make a decent living here; they need more horses to board, and more land on which to do it. Cousin Harold put it this way: “But, if my kids are happy, I’m happy.” Cousin Illa agreed. “We just want them to be happy.”

So they’ve made it, at a cost. The price has been high – but they think it’s been worth the price.

© Sidney Du Broff 2009