Ms Hannah Writes

With WildeWood Farm, Inc. – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

The Runaway

MayBe is an equal opportunity explorer. Her prey drive is relentless. She’s very good at seeing opportunities for leaving her designated place.

Yesterday was the first day of camp this week, which means there’s always lots of details to get out the door to make sure that I have all the paperwork in order before I get all the way to the farm.

We typically leave before my husband, so when he went out the door, he left the front door open. About the time that we were heading to the car, we realized that MayBe was missing.

She had snuck out the door behind him and was footloose and fancy free in the neighborhood. That would not be a problem if we were at the farm as the main road is very far from where she would be. However, we live on an exceedingly busy street and the chance of getting hit by a car is the biggest fear.

I sent texts to our nearest neighbors asking them to keep an eye out for her and had resolved in my heart that if we could not find her in the next couple of minutes, we must leave, as I had campers showing up at the farm.

Thankfully, when she heard the treat bag rattle that Isabel was shaking, she came around the corner from the neighbor’s house. When I called her, after making eye contact, she came. This is a huge improvement over six months ago, when she first came in and the word COME did not exist in her vocabulary. Off to the farm we went!

How many of us cut and run in our own life? Maybe it’s a lie told at work. Maybe it’s a small cheat with change being returned. Possibly even a half-truth that you tell your people to save face.

All actions have consequences good or bad

Choose wisely. Work with integrity. And know that the great Shepherd is always looking for you. But unlike me with a daily to-do list, He never stops looking for us.

“For the Son (Jesus) came to seek and to save the lost."
Luke 19:10

Written for you by Hannah Campbell Zapletal 2026
Www.mshannahwrites.com

If you’d like a Bible, let me know

The “not sorry” MayBe!

After meeting Baby the giant bull and Meg the escape artist, it's time to introduce perhaps the most underrated member of our cow herd: BB. 💛🐄

BB stands for Brown Bangs, and unlike some of her pasture mates, she has never felt the need to make headlines.

She's a Jersey-Angus cross, average-sized, sensible, and refreshingly uncomplicated.

The funniest part? Her best friend is Meg.

Yes, that Meg.

The cow who escaped through three fences within two minutes of arriving at the farm and spent six weeks avoiding capture.

One is sweet, calm, and easygoing.
The other is Meg.

Yet somehow the friendship works. 😄

BB's favorite job is greeting visitors during birthday parties. She has learned an important truth about children:

Children often arrive carrying snacks.

Bread.
Crackers.
The occasional tasty treat.

BB considers this one of humanity's greatest achievements.

Children love her because she is gentle. Parents love her because she is safe. And BB loves everyone because someone is usually feeding her.

While Meg may be the cow people never forget, BB is often the cow they remember most fondly.

She reminds me that not every animal needs to be dramatic to be special.

Sometimes kindness is quiet. 💛



BB and her beautiful daughter this spring.

Warm summer nights

The kids are out of school. During the school year, we run a pretty tight ship - to bed on time, up every morning at the same time, heading to school, getting picked up, and off to work.

Warm summer nights are made to be outside. The heat of the sun has relented. The cicadas and katydids sing happily. The fireflies twinkle amongst the bushes in the grass. Horses leave the cool of the trees to graze in the evening.

The darkness invades the day as night draws nearer.

Excited laughter rings through the darkness, as kids chase each other with tag and hide and seek

Many children don’t get to experience the freedom of these summer nights. I am grateful that mine do.

“Mommy, can I get a jar to get fireflies?” Absolutely!

In some places, fireflies don’t exist anymore because of all the herbicide sprayed on everything, but at our farm, they are numerous and they light up the twilight.

What a beautiful world God has made for us to enjoy! Go outside at dusk and savor the moment.

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them?"
Psalms 8:3-4

Written for you by Hannah Campbell Zapletal 2026
Www.mshannahwrites.com

If you’d like a Bible, let me know

Photo credit to Reddit from the internet

Did you know that many of the horses teaching lessons at WildeWood Farm today are rescues? 💛🐴

Some arrived as starvation cases.
Some came from neglect situations.
Some were owner surrenders when life circumstances changed.

While WildeWood Farm is not a rescue, we have always believed in giving good horses a second chance whenever we can.

The funny thing is that many of these horses go on to become some of our very best teachers.

The horse that patiently carries a nervous beginner.
The horse that teaches a child to trot.
The horse that quietly helps someone regain confidence after a fall.

Many of them were once the horses nobody wanted.

Today, they're changing lives.

People often ask how we afford to keep so many animals. The answer is simple: the horses earn their keep. Lessons, camps, birthday parties, and educational programs help cover feed, hay, farrier visits, veterinary care, fencing repairs, and all the other expenses that come with caring for a herd.

And horses are remarkably talented at converting money into manure. 😄

On average, it costs several hundreds of dollars per month to maintain each horse.

If you've ever wondered how you could help, we do offer horse sponsorship opportunities. Some people choose to sponsor an entire horse, while others contribute whatever amount feels right for them.

There is absolutely no obligation.

But if one of our horses has touched your life, your child's life, or simply makes you smile when you read their stories, and you'd like to help support their care, we'd be grateful.

Because every horse deserves a chance to write a better ending to their story. 💛



AZH Naborr Brasil. I've told his story on the Ms Hannah writes page a few weeks ago.

A double header

As our lesson string of horses ages, I have a choice to make. Do I let our bloodlines die out with these horses that are now on their early 20s, or do I continue it and ensure (as much as possible) the next generation of teachers?

The babies that we bred in the early 2000s, are the backbone of our program. They teach lessons, do birthday parties, horse shows, and have been carrying people faithfully for many years.

When Dr. Potter was alive, we bred several mares - one to continue the bloodline and to give him something to live for.

Last night, we had our first doubleheader. We checked the mares at 10. Nothing was going on. Two of our teenagers came to the farm at 11 and said, “Ms Hannah, we have babies on the ground.”

The kids and I were sleeping in the parent shack which makes a great viewing spot for the arena.

We missed seeing both of their births. Heather, we missed by about 45 minutes because her baby was already standing and nursing. Mona‘s baby was still on the ground; missed his birth by about five minutes.

Both mares foaled within ten feet of each other. These boys will be gelded later, and will be the new backbone of the farm. ‘Comrades at arms’, serving this community, and inspiring the next generation of horse people. It is fitting that they started off in the arena, and will work together for the whole of their lives.

Lord willing, their purpose will be fulfilled in that sand.

Are you fulfilling your purpose?

“If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭CEV‬‬

Written for you by Hannah Campbell Zapletal 2026
Www.mshannahwrites.com

If you’d like a Bible, let me know

Thank you, Lord

Do you ask God for help when you drive? I do - all the time. I drive a truck and trailer a lot. In fact, the trucks usually stay hooked to a trailer of some description as they’re used weekly if not daily.

A lot of what we haul is heavy - hay or horses, both of which require slow turns and gentle stops.

While I was hauling hay this week, I chose a way that is better highway wise, but I needed to make a nasty left-hand turn across the northbound lane to get to the southbound lane (at 5:00 in the afternoon during the week).

As I sat there watching the never-ending parade of cars flying past, I prayed. “Lord, I need some help getting across this road.”

Less than a minute later, a huge gap opened and allowed safe passage.

Did you know that God even wants to hear about your traffic problems? He’s so interested in our everyday life that He cares if His girl can cross the road with a load of hay. He has the whole universe to keep track of, and yet, He watches over me.

What a God, what a God!

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."
Isaiah 41:13

Written for you by Hannah Campbell Zapletal 2026
Www.mshannahwrites.com

If you’d like a Bible, let me know

Walking them down

We got to go on a horse adventure this week. It’s one of my most favorite things to do, other than going to the hayfield.

Going on a horse adventure means you’re going someplace that you probably have never been before. You get to see people that you may or may not know, and you’ve never seen the horses before.

If you are a horse crazy girl like me, getting to get to see new horses is always a fun thing.

We picked out four horses from a beautiful rescue near us and brought them home. The next day, they did not want to be caught.

My students are used to handling all of our horses. They were very surprised when the horses ran away and did not stand still when they went to get them.

Even our 'wildest' lesson horses are exceedingly tame. They had never encountered horses that truly do not want to be caught.

I taught them how to ‘walk the horses down’. Which means as they are running away, you keep pressure on them. As they slow down and look for you, you turn around and walk the other direction. (Also called pressure and release.)

Their timing was not 100%, and some mistakes were made, but after some time, all horses were safely haltered and walked up the hill to the barn.

Learning a new skill requires time, practice, and not giving up

What problem do you need to walk down? Don’t give up. Keep stepping forward.

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance."
Proverbs 1:5 ESV

Written for you by Hannah Campbell Zapletal 2026
Www.mshannahwrites.com

If you’d like a Bible, let me know

Panda, one of the new mares

Baby the Bull 💛🐄

If you've been following along with our cow stories, it's only fitting that the first introduction belongs to Baby.

Although calling him "Baby" at this point requires a considerable amount of imagination. 😄

Baby is a Charolais bull who arrived at the farm as a four-week-old calf in terrible distress. He was so dehydrated and starving that I wasn't sure he would survive his first 24 hours.

I put him on a bottle and began feeding him several times a day.

One bottle at a time.
One day at a time.

Slowly he began to rally. His eyes brightened, his strength returned, and before long it became clear that Baby had no intention of giving up.

In fact, he seemed determined to make up for every meal he had ever missed.

Today, Baby weighs approximately 1,800 pounds.

The funny thing is that he still seems to think he's the little calf we brought home years ago. He wants to know what's happening, who is visiting, and whether he should be involved.

The answer is usually no. 😄

One of the most important lessons farm life teaches is that even kind animals deserve respect. Bulls are powerful creatures, and familiarity can sometimes make people careless. I love Baby and appreciate his gentle nature, but I never forget that he is a bull.

Good fences matter.
Good handling matters.
Paying attention matters.

Most days, Baby can be found eating, supervising pasture activities, and generally being pleased with himself.

But when I look at him, I don't see the giant bull standing in the pasture.

I see the tiny calf with little chance of survival, eagerly draining a bottle because he wasn't quite ready to quit.

And every time I see him, I'm reminded how much can change when someone is willing to give an animal a chance.

Even if that animal eventually grows into 1,800 pounds of opportunity for poor decision-making. 💛🐄