To my left was Carolyn Jackson whose husband David was the trainer and owner of three-year-old Atlantic Sires Stake contender Djnorthernstar.
With David busy on the track warming his colt up for a feature race, Carolyn introduced me to their granddaughter Shania Putnam.
“What a polite, intelligent and interesting young lady,” I thought to myself.
Clearly knowledgeable about horses, Shania also shared a personal interest in mission work. We talked only briefly but what she had to say left a lasting impression.
This past week, the conversation with Putnam, was revisited.
She grew up in Glenholme and after attending Chiganois Elementary School in Masstown and Central Colchester Junior High School in Onslow, Putnam attended Cobequid Educational Centre where she graduated in 2014.
“I’ve been around horses my whole life,” Putnam, 19, said. “I loved all kinds of animals from a young age. I really got interested in horses at the age of 14. That’s when I rescued my first horse.”
Putnam explained that she rescued several horses that had been abused. She told me about Max who had arrived in the Maritimes unwanted by anyone after having been abused.
“He was passed off,” she said. “He was really bad but in working with him, Max became a horse that most people would want. I feel a bit selfish talking about rescuing horses. You get an awful lot more out of it than you actually put in. You end up wondering who helped who?”
Following high school, Putnam, who has owned multiple horses over the years, took a couselling skills social human services course through Success College in Sackville, N.S. She graduated with honours.
“It helped motivate me for the next part of my journey in life,” Putnam said. “I’ve always wanted to work with people; this gave me a better understanding.”
In 2012 Putnam went to work for Osco Aggregates where she tests stone and sand for making concrete. Looking ahead to next April 2016, another important step will take place in Putnam’s life.
“I’m going to Siguatepegue, Comayagua in Honduras on a mission with a team from my church, Faith Baptist,” Putnam said. “My father (Shawn) has gone to Honduras twice. To see him doing it inspired me. We work with a children’s home and build and rebuild buildings, plant gardens and help the people to become more self efficient.”
Putnam said her father gave blankets out to the Honduras children last year.
“Dad brought back suitcases full of coffee. We sold the coffee to raise money to send back to Honduras to help fix buildings. The involvement of the church helps get their community more involved.”
Another of Putnam’s interesting outlooks entails helping both people and animals.
“I have future plans for using my black lab, Roary, privately as a therapy dog. I believe animals provide a type of healing you cannot get anywhere else. It’s something too special not to be shared. I’ve seen this in my own life.”
Putnam said that although she has enjoyed an amazing life, she has also lived through losses, difficulties and disappointments.
“I know that if it had not been for God being there with me, I would not be where I am today. I can look back at a lot of things that were negative and could have thrown me off, but didn’t. I believe many things happened for a purpose and to help me with the next part of my journey which I’m embarking on. I could not be more excited. For, if God is for me, who really can be against me?”
Putnam shared that the book “Kisses From Katie” has been a powerful inspiration in her life. The book was written by Katie Davis, a missionary in Uganda. As I thanked Shania for the interview, I felt fortunate to have heard parts of her interesting story.
She is a young person with so many outstanding qualities. It would not surprise me if one day Shania became involved in fulltime missionary work.
Note: Lyle Carter’s column appears every second Tuesday in the Truro Daily News. If you have a column idea, contact him at 673-2857.
To my left was Carolyn Jackson whose husband David was the trainer and owner of three-year-old Atlantic Sires Stake contender Djnorthernstar.
With David busy on the track warming his colt up for a feature race, Carolyn introduced me to their granddaughter Shania Putnam.
“What a polite, intelligent and interesting young lady,” I thought to myself.
Clearly knowledgeable about horses, Shania also shared a personal interest in mission work. We talked only briefly but what she had to say left a lasting impression.
This past week, the conversation with Putnam, was revisited.
She grew up in Glenholme and after attending Chiganois Elementary School in Masstown and Central Colchester Junior High School in Onslow, Putnam attended Cobequid Educational Centre where she graduated in 2014.
“I’ve been around horses my whole life,” Putnam, 19, said. “I loved all kinds of animals from a young age. I really got interested in horses at the age of 14. That’s when I rescued my first horse.”
Putnam explained that she rescued several horses that had been abused. She told me about Max who had arrived in the Maritimes unwanted by anyone after having been abused.
“He was passed off,” she said. “He was really bad but in working with him, Max became a horse that most people would want. I feel a bit selfish talking about rescuing horses. You get an awful lot more out of it than you actually put in. You end up wondering who helped who?”
Following high school, Putnam, who has owned multiple horses over the years, took a couselling skills social human services course through Success College in Sackville, N.S. She graduated with honours.
“It helped motivate me for the next part of my journey in life,” Putnam said. “I’ve always wanted to work with people; this gave me a better understanding.”
In 2012 Putnam went to work for Osco Aggregates where she tests stone and sand for making concrete. Looking ahead to next April 2016, another important step will take place in Putnam’s life.
“I’m going to Siguatepegue, Comayagua in Honduras on a mission with a team from my church, Faith Baptist,” Putnam said. “My father (Shawn) has gone to Honduras twice. To see him doing it inspired me. We work with a children’s home and build and rebuild buildings, plant gardens and help the people to become more self efficient.”
Putnam said her father gave blankets out to the Honduras children last year.
“Dad brought back suitcases full of coffee. We sold the coffee to raise money to send back to Honduras to help fix buildings. The involvement of the church helps get their community more involved.”
Another of Putnam’s interesting outlooks entails helping both people and animals.
“I have future plans for using my black lab, Roary, privately as a therapy dog. I believe animals provide a type of healing you cannot get anywhere else. It’s something too special not to be shared. I’ve seen this in my own life.”
Putnam said that although she has enjoyed an amazing life, she has also lived through losses, difficulties and disappointments.
“I know that if it had not been for God being there with me, I would not be where I am today. I can look back at a lot of things that were negative and could have thrown me off, but didn’t. I believe many things happened for a purpose and to help me with the next part of my journey which I’m embarking on. I could not be more excited. For, if God is for me, who really can be against me?”
Putnam shared that the book “Kisses From Katie” has been a powerful inspiration in her life. The book was written by Katie Davis, a missionary in Uganda. As I thanked Shania for the interview, I felt fortunate to have heard parts of her interesting story.
She is a young person with so many outstanding qualities. It would not surprise me if one day Shania became involved in fulltime missionary work.
Note: Lyle Carter’s column appears every second Tuesday in the Truro Daily News. If you have a column idea, contact him at 673-2857.
