Those who drove into Jacksonville on Old Stage road remember it well…it was the famous white horse, that was decorated for Christmas. That fiberglass horse in front of the old Offord family home, disappeared for awhile.
Before it was a Jacksonville landmark the white horse was a gift from husband to wife, in lieu of real horse. Steve Offord, the son of that couple, says, “My mom kept mentioning it so much that my dad who didn’t want a real one want a real horse… had the idea to go buy a fiberglass one.”
“It became a big dealhe put lights and wreath on it at christmas time…and people came to expect it to be decorated for every holiday”
After Steve’s parents passed away the horse remained on the property until the new owners sold it which bring us to today…where the horse has a new proud owner. Debra says ” I just always liked it, I’m a horse person and i loved it…i found it on craig’s list and i thought maybe it was it..but thought no it’s not..when i went to look at it to see if i wanted to buy it…it’s the first thing i asked…is this the horse from Jacksonville He said you got it”
Debra went to work on restoring the horse back to form.
She says, “It was in pretty good shape for how old it is…but it had a few holes which i patched up before i had a local artist paint it. “
She decided it looked pretty good in right in her living room…but says she plans to have it back out on display.
” I plan on putting at the Rainey’s Feed here in Sam’s valley we just need to find a spot for it.” So this horse’s journey will go public once again…now a new generation can drive by and associate it with their childhood memories.
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