The NetPosse Reunion of Sam and and Margot

A Journey Spanning a Decade: How NetPosse United Margot Christie and Her Soulmate Sam

The connection between a horse and rider is profound, but for Margot Christie, the story of her chestnut gelding, Sam, is one of fate, determination, and the invaluable assistance of an organization dedicated to horse recovery: NetPosse. What began as a simple advertisement turned into a decade-long saga of separation and reunion, marked by heartbreak and extraordinary grace.

The Initial Farewell and a Broken Promise

Years ago, Margot used NetPosse's early services to place an ad for a "lovely chestnut gelding" named Sam. The ad connected her with a woman in Indiana, to whom Sam was sold. A crucial agreement was made: Margot would have the first option to buy Sam back if the woman ever chose to resell him.

After a couple of years, that promise was broken. The Indiana owner sold Sam without honoring the first option and, worse yet, refused to provide his new owner's contact information. Sam disappeared, and Margot’s initial internet searches yielded no success. "We found you again, NetPosse," Margot recalls, turning to the organization for help in tracking down the beloved gelding.

A Fateful Coincidence

On September 11, 2010, tragedy struck: Margot's friend died in a horse accident. A year to the day later, on September 11, 2011, Margot received a life-altering phone call. It was Sam’s new owner in Arkansas.

The woman had given Sam a good life, showing him in dressage, but felt he deserved a peaceful retirement. While researching his history online, she had scrolled through old records and found Margot's original ad on the NetPosse website. Recognizing the coincidence of the date, the two women immediately connected.

"We spent a lot of time in phone calls and emails talking about Sam and his quirky personality," Margot shared. Sam was a horse of unique character: "You could ask him to do anything and he would oblige, but Lord help you if you demanded."

An Offer of Retirement and a Wintry Trip Home

Margot, living in Nova Scotia, Canada, asked if she could fly down to Indiana to visit Sam. The owner's response was unexpected and generous: an offer to retire Sam to Margot, free of charge. Margot accepted immediately.

The logistics, however, were daunting. It was mid-winter, and finding transport for a horse from the American South to the Canadian North was challenging. Finally, a plan was set. Sam was put on a trailer that took him as far as Maine. There, a compassionate standardbred horseman volunteered to pick him up and drive him the rest of the way to Nova Scotia.

A Frigid Reunion

The reunion happened on March 6. The trailer rolled into the stable yard at 10:30 at night. The temperature was minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit), with a lethal wind cutting across the ice. Sam, having been in transit for three days with weather delays, was weary and resistant.

He had never been fond of trailers, and upon arrival, he absolutely refused to enter the barn, rearing repeatedly. After numerous attempts from various angles, Sam finally agreed to back into the barn.

"Over the next ten days I was the only one who could get him into the barn, but every night he insisted on a different angle until we realized he had to be dead on straight to the door to go in," Margot recounted.

Soulmates Reunited

Sam, then 19 years old, had found his forever home. He enjoyed a peaceful retirement with lots of turnout and good friends. People often noted that Sam considered Margot his soulmate; if she was away, his excitement upon her return was immense.

Ten years later, Sam was 29 and in strapping good condition. On a soft September afternoon, he began to show stroke symptoms. With the late afternoon sun on his face and Margot’s hand upon him, he was gently eased out of his life.

Margot remains forever grateful for the interconnectedness that brought Sam back to her. The transport logistics, the kindness of strangers, and the "grace of the Almighty" all fell into place. "But it all started with NetPosse," she emphasizes. The organization that posted an ad years ago was the very same network that ultimately facilitated a soul-stirring reunion.