Meet Aspen: A Friesian Quarter Horse Cross with a Powerful Healing Presence

Bethany Quinn
Apr 1
3 min read

Woman in white sweater smiles beside a brown horse. The background is dark, enhancing the subjects' focus. The mood is joyful.

“The ones who heal us don’t always speak—sometimes, they nuzzle.”

A Name Meant to Be

RHS Aspen Skye—“Aspen” around the barn—is a 3½-year-old Friesian and Quarter Horse cross with a presence that feels almost… intentional. From the very beginning, the little details surrounding her arrival hinted that she was meant to be exactly where she is.

She was discovered on Equine Now as a foal, just one or two months old, originally intended to be a companion for a senior mare. But what unfolded was so much more. That senior mare didn’t just accept her—she adopted her, nurturing Aspen in a way that enriched both of their lives beyond expectation.

And then there were the coincidences—the kind that make you pause.Aspen was born on September 29th, the same day as Avery’s, her owner, brother. Around that same time, a mother figure welcomed a granddaughter… also named Aspen (a name rarely heard in their area). Even a new barn cat named Skye appeared, spelled the exact same way.

Some connections just don’t feel random.

A Presence That Heals

Aspen isn’t just a horse you spend time with—she’s one you feel.

Described simply as “a healer,” Aspen has a quiet, intuitive way of caring for both people and animals. Her owner recalls one of the most meaningful moments they’ve shared—after the heartbreaking loss of a beloved senior mare.

In the midst of that grief, Aspen stayed close. Hovering. Watching.Then, gently, she pressed her nose to Avery’s cheek and held it there for several long, quiet seconds.

No movement. No urgency. Just presence.

And somehow… that moment helped begin the healing.

Woman in red dress stands beside a black horse in a shallow stream, surrounded by bare trees and brown grass, evoking a calm mood.

Curious, Quirky, and Full of Life

While Aspen carries a deeply grounding energy, she’s also full of personality—the kind that keeps you smiling.

She’s endlessly curious, often acting as a quiet guide for other horses. At a previous barn, she befriended a feral, abused mare and gently showed her how to trust, how to be curious… how to just be a horse again.

And then there’s her playful side:

She licks everything. (including cobwebs during spring cleaning—free help, really)
She has a personal water trough that must be refilled often because splashing is a full-time hobby.
Summer days are best spent playing in the creek behind her pasture.
If you’re eating it… she assumes she should be too.

Her favorites? Hilton Herb balls—and oddly enough, Sunkist soda, which she goes absolutely wild for.

Woman gently touches a horse adorned with a floral garland. The background is dark, and the scene conveys a calm, affectionate mood.

Built from Strong Lines

Aspen was bred by Chasity Lee Price of Rock Hill Farms (Temperance, KY), carrying thoughtfully blended bloodlines:

Sire: Grayson Free Spirit FF(out of Tjaarda 483 Sport Elite x Aukje P)
Dam: CowGirl’s Reign Maker

Even at a young age, Aspen has already made her mark in the show world, placing in every county and online show she’s entered so far.

The Heart Behind the Horse

Behind Aspen is Avery’s story rooted just as deeply in love, resilience, and lifelong connection with horses.

A childhood introduction to horses came through an unexpected path—her mother, a nurse, caring for a woman with a powerful story (one that led to local horse camps just minutes from home). That path led to leasing a horse named Stella… who later became a 10th birthday gift, and ultimately, a defining part of growing up.

Stella shaped everything—until the heartbreaking loss in October 2023 due to a pelvic fracture.

But even in loss, there’s purpose.

Today, that purpose looks like creating a “soft landing” for every horse that comes into her life. A promise: once they’re here, they stay. They’re safe. They’re cared for.

That includes horses like June—a mare rescued from neglect and hardship, now finally living a life of peace and contentment.

Woman in a red dress gently holding a brown horse in a shallow river. Leafless trees fill the autumnal background, creating a serene mood.

Two smiling women with a black horse adorned with a fall wreath. One holds the reins; the setting is a dark background.

Woman smiling beside a dark brown horse wearing a wreath of autumn leaves and sunflowers on its head, against a dark background.

Woman in red dress sits by a stream, petting a horse. Autumn leaves and bare trees create a peaceful, rustic setting.

Woman in a dress stands with a horse in a shallow creek, surrounded by tall grass and trees. Black and white, serene setting.

Woman in red dress leads a dark horse through a stream. Bare trees and dry grass in the background. Overcast, muted tones.

More Than a Horse

Aspen isn’t just a young horse with potential—she’s a bridge between grief and healing, between fear and curiosity, between what was lost and what still remains.

She is softness.

She is play.

She is presence.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need most.