Crandall, who was born with three heart defects and had her first open heart surgery when she was only 2, grew up loving horses.

She was not given permission from her doctors to ride until after they surgically moved her pacemaker up towards her shoulder.

“Now she can wear the gear needed to protect it,” her mom, Tricia, said.

So when Make-A-Wish® Minnesota contacted Haley in August of 2020, she told them she wanted a horse.

“If you wish for a trip, when it’s over you’ll just have pictures and memories, but with a horse you’ll have a friend who will be with you for a long time,” she said. “A horse is very therapeutic for me. I feel so happy and much more calm around horses. I am very grateful that there are so many people that wanted to help me.”

Make-A-Wish calls children whose wishes they grant “Wish Kids.”

“When I told Haley her wish for a horse would come true, she was so excited she jumped for joy,” Tricia said. “It’s miraculous. Haley is being blessed beyond our wildest dreams. I’m so happy this wish is bringing hope to her life after all she’s gone through with doctors and hospitals.”

With family and friends watching from the bleachers, Haley finally met Fancy. She was told not to peek as her mom took her by the hand and led her into the middle of the arena while Fancy was brought in from the boarding area.

Haley’s first words when she looked into her horse's eyes and stroked her mane were a soft “I love you,” while Fancy gently nuzzled her cheek.

“Oh, my goodness, the whole evening was so touching, especially meeting the horse and seeing Haley’s smile and a tear come from her eye,” Tricia said. “It made my heart happy. This little girl needed it so much. It was so sweet how they bonded right away.”

Haley is already making plans for the summer. “She’s going to be out at the ranch a lot,” Tricia said. “She also wants to join a 4-H group so she can be in horse shows in the future. Those are good goals and give her something to look forward to.”

Tricia said the first step will be for Haley and Fancy to work with a trainer at the ranch.

“It’s perfect the way they set it up,” she said. “Haley even has a spot in the tack room to keep all her gear. Two people who board their horses at the ranch said anyone in the family who wants to ride with Haley can borrow their horses any time. Everyone has been so nice.”

Finding the perfect horse

Haley and Tricia first visited Straight Rail Ranch last year.

“We went out to see Kristine Walsh’s horse, who is boarded out there,” Tricia said. “When Make- A-Wish contacted the ranch in August about Haley’s wish, they made it their mission to find just the right horse for her.”

Since Haley’s goal is to eventually be able to compete in the show ring, they wanted to find a horse that was both good with kids and able to be trained for competitions.

After a nationwide search, with help from National Cutting Horse Association trainer Greg Coalson, they found the 5-year-old quarter horse in Texas. The ranch owns Fancy and will pay for her food, board and veterinary bills, but she will be Haley’s to ride whenever she visits the ranch. She will also receive free riding lessons.

Like a fairy tale

Working with Make-A-Wish and the ranch, many businesses and individuals in the area donated money to make sure Haley had everything she needed to make her dream come true, including a protective vest and helmet, western boots, hats and jackets and all of the gear and grooming accessories for the horse.

Haley went on a whirlwind shopping trip this winter to pick out riding clothes and accessories.

“I was very shy at first,” she said. “After I picked out my saddle, I got more and more excited as I realized my wish was coming true. I couldn't believe I could get so much stuff. It was so amazing!”

Tricia said they were overwhelmed by all of the community support.

“So many donations from local people and businesses helped make her dream come true,” she said. “That shopping trip was like a fairy tale.”

Haley loves dance and swimming, but her heart issues limit her participation.

“She was unable to dance any longer after she started going into heart failure last year,” Tricia said.

Since last March, Haley has been homeschooled because of COVID.

“It’s been very lonely for her, so having a horse will be an amazing experience,” Tricia said. “Hopefully, she will be able to meet some other kids at the ranch. It will be outdoors and easier to distance, so it will be safer.”

Haley will eventually need another surgery to totally replace three valves in her heart.

“Her cardiologist feels she is stable enough to wait for valve replacements until she gets a little older,” Tricia said.

For now, Haley is looking forward to spending time with the horse that made her wish come true.

1/5: Haley was born with heart defects that have required three surgeries, so far, including putting in a pacemaker. She will need another surgery in the future to replace three valves in her heart. Since many of her physical activities have been limited, her wish was for a horse that could be her friend and give her the chance to interact with other kids at the ranch. (Submitted photo)

2/5: After waiting a year to meet her new best friend, Haley Crandall was beaming with happiness as she took the lead to walk Fancy around the Straight Rail Ranch arena Wednesday night. (Lorie Skarpness/Enterprise)

3/5: Thanks to the generosity of businesses and individuals throughout the region, Haley also received all of the gear she will need to ride and care for her new horse. (Lorie Skarpness/Enterprise)

4/5: Donations from area businesses paid for all of the extras Haley Crandall will need when she rides her new horse, Fancy. "It was so amazing!" she said after the whirlwind shopping trip to pick out her riding outfits. (Submitted photo)

5/5: Haley grew up around horses at the family home near Osage. “A horse is very therapeutic for me, so that's why I chose a horse for my wish," she said. A horse will make me so happy and I feel so much more calm around horses.