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A special thank you to Erin Burnside of Elkins High
School and all the riders that came to the benefit trail ride for SWAP. As her
Senior project Erin raised over $400. for SWAP. Kudos Erin. If we had 100 kids
do this as their senior project or even just as a fund raiser, they could pay to
feed all our horses for a year!! Please consider us kids when you are doing your
volunteer projects for school or if you want to do a fund raiser this summer.
One kid with the desire to help can make a huge difference, just like Erin did.
Bravo for a job well done!!
Congratulations
to our Executor for her selection and award for the International Who's Who of
Professional and Business Women for 2006/2007. Kudos!!
Yehaa, Kudos again to our Executor for her selection to
receive the National Leadership Award by the Republican Party.
Click here to put
a horse into our adoption program
Click here to
see what we have learned over the years and with thousands of horses.
If you can't adopt, think about a gift to one or
all of our horses: supplies, tack, dewormers, a donation, fly spray, or a new
halter. Click here to be a sponsor to
one of our horses
Great Goals for 2008:
1. Spend
an hour a day with your horses, not just feeding, training and turning out, but
real quality time doing something that is enjoyable for the both of you.
Grooming or hand walking is a great way to bond with your horse and good for
both you and the horse.
2. Get
your loved ones more involved in your horses. Divorce is the biggest reason we
see horses coming back to us. Don't just share the work, share the fun too and find
something they really enjoy doing with horses.
3. Learn
a new discipline, go to a clinic, a horse show, or equine affaire. Come to one
of our clinics or watch a training video. If you are an adopter you can check
out books and video's from SWAP's Library for just shipping costs. Take a lesson at least once a month or Bring your adoption horse
here and we will help you. The better you are, the more fun you will have.
4. Make a
plan for your horse after you are gone or if you have a major injury, let your
will executor know your plans. Make a plan for emergencies or financial bumps
along the way for your horse. Have a plan if you or your horse gets injured,
even for the tough times of year like winter (or summer down south). Ask friends, family and neighbors
to be part of your plan. Most people can not resist someone when they are asking
for help for the welfare of an innocent animal.
5. Get yourself healthy and in better shape to
prevent injury, to live a long life and to more enjoy your horses. Eat 1-1-1
(one ounce of dark chocolate, one ounce of fresh walnuts, one glass of red wine
daily) and 2-2-2 (2 servings of fresh vegis, 2 of fresh fruit and get 2 sources
of fat free calcium). Drink 100 ounces of spring water a day, get a whole
house water filter. Change over to Sea-salt. Take one teaspoon of apple cider
vinegar every morning to keep your body alkaline (cancer and disease can not
grow in an alkaline body). Eat more fish and chicken and less red meat. Get a
good air cleaner and do daily deep breathing exercises, get outside in the fresh
air and sunshine for at least 1/2 hour every day. Get away from high fat food,
processed foods, fast food, can or boxed food, sugar or artificial sweeteners,
soda and don't eat anything if you can't read all the ingredients and know
exactly what is in it. Clean all vegis and fruits thoroughly, buy organic, buy
ocean caught fish, not farm raised, buy fresh meat and raw milk, not packed or
processed. Eat only natural carbs (potatoes, rice, oats) bake/broil or steam
everything. Use your microwave for only heating water, it kills the nutrition
value in food. Get 8 hours of sleep, reduce stress/risk (reduce commuting by car
pooling, tight schedules, cell phone use in the car, watch or read the news only
once a day or better yet once a week, stay clear of
negative people
and those very negative chat rooms and bulletin boards). Stop Complaining and be
Thankful for what we each have. Do one hour of walking, yoga or weight
training every day and it will make you strong, lean, look great and you'll get
wonderful complements from friends, coworkers and loved ones and the horse work
will be easier and more enjoyable.
6. Read
at least one book on training your horse and one on care each year, if for nothing
else but just inspiration. SWAP has a great
library of books/videos that adopters can check out for just the cost of mailing
it. Click here to
see our Library
7. Get
carrots/apples every time you go to the store, your horses will love you for it and
always come running when you call. Don't feed candy or anything sweeter. Carrots
are sweet enough. Get rid of the sweet feeds and you'll get rid of the hot horse
once and for all.
8.
Realize that if you are having a problem with your horse, more likely than not,
the problem is you. Learn more, practice more, ask in a different way, be
patient, change their environment or daily schedule to better suit them. Taking
better care of a horse always brings out the best in that horse. Good
feed/hay, time to rest in a quiet stall out of the elements, lots of fresh water, time to be with you and time to
just be a horse, time with their buddies, farrier and vet care always done is a
good start. The biggest part of this relationship puzzle is you, not the horse.
If you are struggling, then you need to learn more and get better.
9. Ride
at least once a week, regardless of weather. Use this time as your down time for
healing, your therapy, your time to relieve stress and the pressures of daily
life. Even if you don't ride, go sit and read a book in the pasture with the
horses or sit in the barn and listen to them munch on dinner, away from the
crowd and noise of your day. Enjoy the peace and quiet, enjoy hearing happy
horses eating dinner or grass in the pasture.
10. Spend
time leisurely grooming your horse once a week. Rubber curries are shine makers.
You will have a beautiful horse and a very loyal friend who will do anything for
you.
11. Come and spend a week at SWAP HQ,
volunteering and focusing on helping a horse and giving will change your life
plus it will be the best vacation you ever had. Help
an animal in need, whether fostering, being one of our state reps that goes out
to check on our horses in their homes or helps us approve adopters in their
area. Find horses in need and help us find them homes. Buy a horse at a slaughter
auction, get it fat and trained and we'll help you place it into a good home. Foster and
volunteer for your local small animal adoption program. I promise, the good
things you do will come back to you a hundred times over. Every person has a
talent they can offer and if you help one horse or one dog or cat find a good
home, you have changed their life forever.
12.
Know that every goal is obtainable and it starts with a single step.
Take that first step today!! No matter what it is or how big, YOU CAN DO IT!!
Every goal that is written down will come true (really!). Every famous person,
every great or notable scientist, author, trainer/rider, parent or friend
started out as just a thought, just a goal. Remember to take one step today to
reach your goals.
13. Start
every day with thinking about, what is the most important thing I can do
today to change my life and make it better. Do that one thing and in 30 days
your life will be totally different. Can you imagine what your life would be
like if you did that for 60, 90 or even 365 days a year. The opportunities are
endless.
14. Want to keep your horse sound for life? (That should be every horse owners
number one goal) do a
long slow warm up (cold muscle is easy to injure, a warm one is nearly
impossible to injure). The very best cool down is hand walking your horse for 1 hour after every work out.
Yes, get off the horse and walk with it. Its great exercise for you and a good
time for you to bond. Stop riding your horse during cool downs and stop using a
hot walker, do something good for you and the horse, hand walking. Its also the
best rehab for over work and injuries, the only thing better is hydro therapy
and swimming your horse. Allow soft tissue and hard tissue to
become more conditioned before going into any training program... that usually
means 3 months of at least 3 days a week for soft tissues and 10 months of work for bones to become strong
enough to jump or do any strenuous training program. Don't start any upper level
work, jumping or extensive training until the horse is fit and at least between
age 4 and 6 and has been conditioned for at least 10 months (especially if the
horse has never been jumped/worked or not been jumped or worked in the last
year).
15. Appreciate what you have and be thankful.
Instead of looking at what you don't have, look at what you do. Thank those
people who have helped you and supported you. The more you give, the more that
will come back to you. When you give something away or give something to
someone/something in need, you make space in your life for something good to
come to you. We are all very blessed, if we just take a moment to look
around and enjoy those things.
16. Get used to using favorite mantra's and visualizations
every day, simple ones that are easy to remember, like 'I can do this, I will do
this', 'this isn't going to get the best of me' or even, 'I deserve the best' or
'the gift of love, caring, and support always comes back' and take two minutes
every morning as you wake and at night as you go to sleep to visualize the life
you want, the you you want to be, Our thoughts become things, what you see
is what you get, if you expect the best, the best will happen, change your
self-talk from negative to positive and I promise your life will change for the
better..
17. Each person is put on this earth for a reason, each of
us has a mission. What is yours? Seek and you shall find, finding is a journey
... in the journey and the search you'll find your life purpose. If you died in
your sleep tonight is there something you haven't done that you need to do or
want to do? Someone you need to mend fences with, burnt bridges to fix? People
you need to tell them how much you love them? Have you fulfilled your purpose in
your life? Ask yourself, Why am I here? How can I make this better? Who do
I want to be? Who am I suppose to be? What reason was I put on this earth? What
is my purpose?
18. Be an inspiration to your family, co workers and
friends. We all fall on our face, we all make mistakes, we all get discouraged,
most times we all get up and try again.... sometimes we need a nudge. Instead of
being negative or doing negative things, be their inspiration. You do believe
they can do it, so why not tell them. If their self talk is negative, then you
be their positive self talk.... eventually they will start to say it and believe
it too. Life is self fulfilling, failure feeds on itself or causes more failure,
achieving does as well. So if you or your love ones are in a negative cycle,
break the cycle by changing your thoughts, your self talk, achieve something
small to get yourself and your family back into the cycle of achievement.
19. We all file a flight plan every single day for our
life. Where is your flight going today? Just like a pilot flying, the winds, the
gravitational pull will change your flight plan and take you off course, so you
must make small corrections along the way to make sure you make your
destination. Have you selected your destination? Have you picked the steps in
your flight plan to get there? Every goal is really that easy, pick the goal and
figure out how to get there. The easiest way to pick your flight path/plan is
find someone who has done it before you, then do what they did. Its all baby
steps you know. Just keep an eye on that destination and keep saying...."here is
my destination, this is where I'm going, this is where I am now, this is how I'm
going to get there.... I will arrive at this time on this day. You can do
it..... its just like getting in your car to go to the store, its just deciding
where you want to go and how to get there, then take that first step. You can do
it!! No matter how big or how outlandish you may think your dream to be...
it is obtainable.
20. Laugh every day and try (as hard as it is sometimes)
to find the positive and the humor in each situation (and have at least one bite
of a truly decadent desert once a week). Life is just too short to not enjoy it
thoroughly.
21. We learn the most and do our best work when we have
fallen on our face, when we are struggling, when we are worried, scared or
frustrated, when we anguishing over something or troubled by it. It is then that
you have true motivation, when you think clearer. The most brilliant ideas come
to people when they feel lost, frustrated, or at the bottom, helpless or
hopeless. Cherish these times because its when you can come up with your best
ideas to your biggest problems and challenges. You see, there is a reason for
the rainy days.
22. You can't make everyone happy, its useless to try and
wasted energy to think you can. 50% of all people will not agree with you at any
given time, don't worry about it and don't let it stop you. 50% becomes a lot of
people when you are in the public eye. As long as you are not hurting anyone and
you believe you are doing the right thing, then go ahead and do it. If you are
wondering what is the right thing to do, its usually the harder thing to do, the
toughest path to take. The easy way out is rarely the right thing to do.
Instead of worrying over what someone thinks of you or says about you, do
something amazing and outstanding to inspire them or at least have them sitting
on the side lines being jealous, secretly saying, "wow, she has guts". One
person with purpose becomes the majority, one way or another.
This should
probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day.
1. There
are at least two people in this world that you would die for.
2. At least
15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only
reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you
4. A smile
from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every
night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean
the world to someone.
7. You are
special and unique.
8. Someone
that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you
make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
10 When you
think the world has turned its back on you take another look.
11 Always
remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
Good
friends are like stars.......
You don't
always see them, But you know they are always there.
"Whenever
God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another,
I would
rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here than a whole
truck load when I'm gone.
Always in hope and admiration, Celeita
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ABOUT US
"If
you always do what you did.... you will always get what you got"
HISTORY of Crossed Sabers
Stable and The Second Wind
Adoption Program (SWAP)
Crossed Sabers Stable
was established in July of 1996. The Crossed Sabers name and emblem originated
from the US Cavalry emblem worn on their uniform and Stetson. It was selected
to exemplify the long history and connection between the horse and the
military. The stable colors are the traditional Cavalry colors of red and
white, added to a black background. The Second Wind Adoption Program was founded
by the stable owner, Celeita Kramer, when her mentor, Evelyn Duhr died of cancer
the summer of ‘97. Evelyn owned Second Wind Farm in Maryland where she ran a
standardbred adoption program. Second Wind was dedicated to Evelyn’s work but
was expanded to address all breeds and horses in need. Second Wind
Adoption became a not for profit animal welfare program the summer of ‘98 and
the entire facility became not for profit animal welfare facility the summer of 2000. At that time, Crossed Sabers became aligned with
Second Wind and its primary mission and vision. Crossed Sabers and Second
Wind are registered with the state of WV and with the IRS as a not for profit
facility and organization, we have been licensed in 1996. Second Wind has added foster
homes all over the continental US and Canada in order to be able to address the
great need and the vast number of calls from horse owners looking for a quality
home their equine friend.
PRIMARY MISSION OF CROSSED SABERS STABLE AND THE SECOND WIND ADOPTION
PROGRAM
Prevent
animal abuse/neglect
of all the equus species and the need for rescue through adoption,
there by being a catalyst for “Rescue Prevention” by placing horses into
quality homes before the need arises for rescue or intervention by
authorities.
Make up for the lack of state
protection laws by having
adoption contracts that govern minimum care and use of each horse.
Allow exceptional adopters
the opportunity to purchase their adoption horse with a safe selling
contract that will protect the horse for life,
after any where from a 2 to 5 year probation period for certain horses
but not necessarily all horses and all adopters.
Whenever possible, provide all horses
(everyone in the equine family) including race, show, eventing, fox hunting,
steeplechase, contest & working horses, polo ponies or any other sport or
endurance horse an easy transition to a second career and
give owners in every facet of the horse industry and private owners
a
viable, safe place for their horses to go and a more humane place than a bad home, selling or giving the horse to just
anyone or resorting to unnecessary slaughter.
Offer educational and support services
to horse owners/donors and adopters (transportation, foster homes, training,
follow up, guidance with problems, lessons and clinics for adopters).
Offer adopters training services
(lessons, clinics, training of their adopted horses, continued follow-up
to insure continued success with their adoption horse, and organized
trips to regional, state and national horse events that can be both
educational and fun).
Whenever
financially and physically possible, provide horses in the Adoption
Program ground and under saddle training to insure every chance for success
in their next home. Provide horses that are in need, the required
vet care, rest and rehab needed to get better
and find companion horses or horses that can no longer be ridden or
driven a safe and loving home for the rest of their lives.
Give people
that might not normally have a lot of up front money to buy a trained
horse but can afford the
daily care of a horse have the opportunity to adopt and experience the
joys of horse ownership and for kids to be able to grow up with horses
and learn responsibility, dedication
and the satisfaction to a job well done
and to offer people, individuals, families and kids opportunities that
can be both educational and fun but additionally that gives families and friends
something that they can experience together
that is good for the body, mind and spirit.
When
possible, support equine and animal
rescue in times of natural disasters.
When
possible, support state and regional
officials with abuse cases by being the expert in care
and conditioning of the equine and by giving them a place to send
horses that are taken from owners for abuse or neglect.
When
possible, as a secondary mission, support other equine and small
animal adoptions and programs.
Support all rescue and adoption programs in order to offer a more
educated, well managed, unified approach to animal welfare.
SECONDARY MISSION
SUPPORT SERVICES
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Basic And Transitional Job Training For Horses
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Lay-Up, Rehabilitation From Injury
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ESMT, Farrier, Dental, Grooming & Clipping (At Swap HQ)
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Equine Appraisals For Donors
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Spend A Week, Pick Your Horse Program
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Cinderella Program (extreme make overs for horses and their
riders/handlers)
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Life Line Program (financial support for minor injuries and illnesses)
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Over Night Boarding And Housing For Donors/Adopters And Their Horses
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SWAP Association Membership And Benefits
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Estate Planning (Preparing Your Animals For Your Death)
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Emergency Rescue And Disaster Assistance To Authorities, Adopters And Donors
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Short Term Boarding
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Horse Transportation Services and referrals
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
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Advisory Program For Adopters
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Local And Regional Adopter Follow Up And Assistance
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SWAP Quarterly Newsletter
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SWAP Educational Library For Adopters
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Training And Riding Instruction For Adopters
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Student Internships, Work Studies And College Credit
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Sponsored Trips To Educational And Fun Equine Events
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Scholarship Opportunities
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Breaking And Training Services To Donors And Adopters
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Instructional Clinics
Training (Training 101)
Training Under Saddle (Training 102)
Training 103 Driving
Training 103 Dressage
Training 103 Hunter/Jumper
Training 103 Going Gaited
Horse and Barn 101
Transitional Training for Race Horses (TB, Arab and QH)
Transitional Training for Harness Horses (STB)
Description of the Adoption
Program
Second Wind is an all breed equine adoption program sponsored by
Crossed Sabers Stable, in which the stable works with owners and horse
associations/registries to find homes for horses no longer cared for or wanted
by their current owner. The stable finds good homes for these animals so that
the horse may have a second chance at a healthy, productive and good life. It
also gives horse owners a more humane way to dispose of animals than sending a
young, healthy or sound horse to needless slaughter by way of auctions, selling
to just anyone, or donating to organizations that only protect the horse for two
years. Horses come to the program
from all over the United States and Canada and from all types of situations.
Private individuals and families, breeders, trainers & owners from every facet
of the horse industry. They are all ages from weanling on up, at all training
levels, all breeds, both sexes, to include nice breeding stallions. We can
guarantee to the owner donating the horse, that the horse will always have a
good home and will never go to slaughter. The biggest restriction for adopters
is that they cannot sell or transfer the horse. If they decide they don’t want
the horse, it comes back into the program and is placed again. This also
guarantees to the adopter that they will not be stuck with a horse that they
don’t want or is not a good fit for them. Honesty is critical for the program to
survive and to best place each horse. The Donor gives extensive information
about the horse, which in turn is used to place the horse into the best
situation for both the horse and the adopter. All information about the horse is
passed on to the adopter.
We accept horses from their owners and place them in a safe home that
lasts a life time. The adopter fills out a 10 page application that looks at
financial and personal stability, their employment, their facilities and
there is a test that looks at their experience, it looks at their experience
and plans for the horse to be able to match experience with what the horse
has done and still can do. Once we help them find a 'match' with a horse
that can do that job at that level without drugs and injections and stay
sound for life doing it, they sign a 14 page contract that protects the
horse for life, that defines minimum care, required facilities, care and
defines over use for that particular horse and defines the large fines for
abuse or neglect and the annual requirements for formal follow up with the
horse and they pay a small adoption fee. We've completed thousands of
adoptions and placed horses in homes in 45 of the 50 states
and Canada. We've placed horses of 65 different breeds into homes. Our goal
is to not turn away any horse in need but last year 35,000 people went to
our donor page about putting a horse into the program and we can only take
between 150 and 300 depending on how much money is coming in to be able to
care for them. While the horses are here we take care of all care, vet, farrier, dentist, etc, work with the horse and all horses are housed in
their own stalls with regular turn out, when a trainer is available and
weather is good horses are trained and exercised. A description of our
facilities is
on the web site on the About Us page.
The owners/donors receives a receipt once the horse is placed and they know who the horse goes to, they have all their contact information.
They fill out several pages of information on the horse and all that is open
to all approved adopters to review in order to place the horse into the best
home. We usually have a waiting list of horses waiting to come in, of
course, we are restricted by the number of horses we can take here by the
amount of money we are able to raise. The more money we raise, the more
horses we can help. Most of our 'income' comes from the small adoption fees
that adopters pay, which is much smaller than buying a horse on the open
market, allowing people that don't have the money to buy a fancy horse to
have a nice horse without all the upfront cost. That is the nickel version
of what we do, a lot more goes into it, in our mission we also have an
internship program and give away two scholarships each year to deserving
students who come here to volunteer in addition to assisting adopters with
problems and offering clinics and educational trips to horse events.
More Tidbits on Our Horses,
Donors and Adopters
Thousands of
horses have been adopted through our program of 65 different breeds since October
1998. 90% are mares and geldings with the other 10% being made up of stallions,
colts, and fillies. 82% of the horses have been registered; several of the
horses were imported from Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The breeds encompass
everything from the horses that we have all grown up with to the many wild
horses on American soil, such as the Mustang, Chincoteague and Assateague ponies
to the Cracker ponies of Florida. In addition to every type of racehorse,
competition/sport horse and warmblood to the more exotic breeds like Friesians,
Irish Draughts, Nakota’s, Mecklenburg’s, Lippazzans, Azeteca’s, Spanish Norman’s and Fjords.
We’ve placed gaited horses and the
south’s finest saddle horses into homes, numerous Grand Prix Show Jumpers (even
one Nations Cup Winner) and Grand Prix level Dressage horses. We placed into a
home even horses that was trained & ridden by 2 people that won an Olympic
Silver Medal in show jumping and one horse that was trained & ridden by a person
that won a Gold Medal in dressage, several horses have been placed that were
trained by Olympic level riders, even horses that were owned by Breeders Cup
Winners in the racing world. We are proud to mention that we have both donors
and adopters who have been recognized by AHSA as Horsemen of the Year and even
adopters who are Olympic level riders. We’ve
also placed horses from nationally ranked steeple chasers, fox hunting horses
from various hunt clubs, including one huntsman’s horse. Our horses come from
the following professions or situations:
-
·
Dressage 30%
-
·
Racing 25%
-
·
Hunter/Jumper 15%
-
·
Family or pleasure mounts 10%
-
·
Low level showing or
competing 6%
-
·
Rescue (abandoned, abused,
neglected, taken by authorities) 5%
-
·
Breeding and Training
facilities 4%
-
·
Endurance and Competitive
Trail Riding 2%
-
·
Steeple Chase 2%
-
·
Rodeo, Cutting and Working
horses 1%
We’ve had the progeny of great
sires in the TB world find stable, happy homes through our program: Secretariat,
Man O’ War, Alysheba, Alydar, Buckley Boy, Blushing John, Chiefs Crown & Mr.
Prospector and the progeny of great sires in the Harness Racing world: such as
Albatross, Niatross, Abercrombie, On the Road Again, Jaguar Spur, Meadow
Skipper, Super Bowl & Bret Hanover
Second Wind rescued 112 horses that had been abused/abandoned/neglected by their
original owner, including one grandson of Secretariat. We have also placed 137 dogs and cats into homes, most
of which were pulled out of shelters the day before kill day.
Second Wind is a national
program supporting the entire continental US and Canada. Our adopters come from
every profession, both blue and white-collar workers including professionals
throughout the horse industry, family situations and individuals, with annual
incomes ranging as high as 1.3 million per year, but averaging around 75k per
household.
Second Wind has a total of 3.5
million to 5 million visitors from 113 different countries and every continent to the website each month (www.crossedsabers.com)
Agencies we
work with
American Horse Council,
West Virginia Horse Council, Hooved Animal Humane Society, American Horse
Protection Association, American Humane Association, Humane Organization For
Retired Standardbred Equines (HORSE), Humane Society Of The Unites States, Int’l
Society For The Protection Of Mustangs And Burros, US Trotting Association, The
Jockey Club And The American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals (ASPCA),
Standardbred Pleasure Horse Owners Association (SPHO), People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals (PETA), Best Friends, the American Horse Shows
Association (USA Equestrian), the US Equestrian Team and all other breed
registries.
Adoption
Many of the adopted
horses have a working background, racing with Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds,
Quarter Horses and Arabs or showing/competing in all disciplines and with all
breeds. The restrictions we place on the horse are around the owners wishes, the
owner can restrict the horse from racing, breeding, competing or from any type
of work at all, including riding. Horses are available for adoption to anyone
who can prove that they have the desire, employment, financial backing,
knowledge about horses or plans to learn, ability to give proper care, time
available for the animal, other horses owned and facilities for a horse. A
simple written test is given to insure proper care and a visit to the adopters
stable is done when possible. An agreement must be signed by the adopter
governing the care and restrictions on how the horse can be used. SWAP never
releases ownership of any of their horses, in order to protect the horse for the
rest of its life and as an asset of SWAP instead of the adopters, there is never
a concern about the adopter loosing a horse asset because of divorce, unpaid
taxes or any potential lawsuit where individuals may potentially loose all their
personal assets. It is the owner’s decision as to whether they release the
horse’s registration but it is recommended by the program to release it for
showing/breeding purposes. At the least, horse facilities should be a 3 sided
shed with the predominant winds blocked for winter, an acre of grazing land per
horse, daily turn out and cover available for the horse to get out of the
weather at any time. Preference is given to anyone who has individual stalls for
each horse in a barn situation and 2 to 3 acres of pastureland per horse.
Minimum care is worming and farrier care every other month, at least 20 gallons
of fresh water per day and at least 1 lb. of feed (hay/grain) for every 100 lbs.
of horse. Though the basic requirements are clearly defined, we treat each horse
as an individual and look for the same basic living standards and environment
that the horse has become accustomed to, variation is also considered in the
adopters climates, predominant weather, individual facilities, size of farm,
when placing the horse. Adoption fees range from free to a good home up to 40%
of the appraised value of the more expensive horses. But most are placed at or below $1000.
All money earned by or donated to SWAP is applied to helping the horses in our
program.
Dedication
The Second Wind Adoption
Program is dedicated to Evelyn Duhr who owned Second Wind Farm in Accokeek,
Maryland. Evelyn ran the Standardbred Adoption Program for Maryland, from which
Crossed Sabers adopted it’s first horses, thus beginning our great appreciation
for adoption programs. She quickly became a good friend and mentor to our
stable and allowed the SWAP executor to adopt when many of the other programs
had turned her away, you see even though our executor had a Masters degree in
Equine Management, she had never owned a horse, even afer a career as a
helicopter test pilot and military officer, she had never been able to live her
childhood dream of having a horse. She had always rescued horses and adopted her
animals so to her adoption was the only way to go. Evelyn was the only one that
would give her a chance and took the time with her to make sure the horses were
cared for, she took the time to work with the adopter, our Executor. Evelyn died of cancer the summer of 1997 but she will always be
remembered as a generous, caring woman who had the tenacity of a bulldog,
especially when it came to her Standardbreds. She was always more concerned for
the horses in her program than anything else, including herself. Evelyn was able
to find loving homes for hundreds of Standardbreds just coming off the race
track, many that required huge veterinary and therapy bills, all she gladly
paid. Our executor saw her as the only person that would give her a chance to
adopt and the only one that really took the time with her to teach her
'everything they don't teach in a classroom'. These horses went on to have productive happy lives as family pets,
pleasure and show horses in every discipline, plus excellent breeding stock. Evelyn Duhr was literally, a horses “Second Wind”, for us . . . She always will
be. Today, SWAP does not turn away first time owners who have no
experience but yet looks for someone who has a good plan to learn. Everyone must
start their horse experience somewhere and we understand that. We are very
pro-education and will always assist every adopter to learn more because the
more the adopter knows, the better and more enjoyable their horse experience
will be. Evelyn taught us that first hand.
Some of the
Reasons Horses come to The Second Wind Adoption Program
-The horse is no longer racing, showing,
competing, eventing, fox hunting, steeplechase, or doing endurance, polo or any
other type of sport where they horse can not longer compete at that level, hold
up physically, or make money doing it.
-The horse is
finishing one career and ready for another, retired police horse, race horse,
show horse but can still go and have another career, can't physically hold up to
the rigors of its current profession, not winning enough to pay the bills or the
horse hates its current job or is not suited for it.
-The horse no longer has a career as a broodmare or breeding stallion, not
producing or the farm is changing focus of breeding goals and objectives
-The owner has too many horses and its causing hardship or affecting the general
care given to the horse, owner is no longer breeding, showing, giving lessons or
racing.
-The horse has training issues or capabilities beyond owners riding or handling
abilities, owner is advancing beyond the capabilities of the horse.
-The horse needs to
be the center of someone's world instead of just another horse in the barn
-The horse had a
racing or competition accident and owner wants to save the horse from the
anguish of going back.
-There is personal hardship or change in personal life.
Family is moving and can't take the horse, divorce, health problems, loss of
job, death in family, retiring, down-sizing the herd or farm, loss of the family
farm, lack of time for the horse or for riding, owner is going off to school and
can't afford both, change in personal situation including pregnancy,
deteriorating health, getting married, etc
-The horse needs someone more advanced to handle or ride horse, owner has
advanced beyond the capabilities of the horse, and child has grown out of the
horse/pony
-The horse is not going to make a
race or show horse, doesn't have the desire to race or show, and doesn’t have
the physical conformation or size for racing or showing.
-The horse has
special needs, needs to get out of the sun or heat of the south or needs warmer
climate, needs to ridden more, needs to be ridden less
-There is a change in
equine business climate. . Raised taxes, drought and the lack of hay, raising
costs of grain, costs of keeping horses, drought
winters, seasonal fires, etc.
-The owner loves the horse, appreciates the loyalty the horse has had and their
relationship is more than an owner/horse but more like a parent and child and
they could not imagine selling or seeing money as being more important than
their child.
-The owner because of either excessive income
or capital gains needs a write off, which is given
to the donor up to the appraised value of the horse when donated. Additionally professional horse people
use horse donations on the years when they have to show a profit.
-The one thing
all owners and trainers that put horses into our program have in common is that
they all could sell the horse, some for large sums of money but they care more
for the horse than the money and want to know that the horse is guaranteed a
good home for life.
-Though the Second Wind Adoption Program is not a Rescue operation we try not to
turn down any horse in need. We have and will take horses that are considered
rescue horses when the need arises. Defined as horses that have been taken by
authorities for abuse/neglect or lack of care and abandoned horses.
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ABOUT US
"If
you always do what you did.... you will always get what you got"
HISTORY of Crossed Sabers
Stable and The Second Wind
Adoption Program (SWAP)
Crossed Sabers Stable
was established in July of 1996. The Crossed Sabers name and emblem originated
from the US Cavalry emblem worn on their uniform and Stetson. It was selected
to exemplify the long history and connection between the horse and the
military. The stable colors are the traditional Cavalry colors of red and
white, added to a black background. The Second Wind Adoption Program was founded
by the stable owner, Celeita Kramer, when her mentor, Evelyn Duhr died of cancer
the summer of ‘97. Evelyn owned Second Wind Farm in Maryland where she ran a
standardbred adoption program. Second Wind was dedicated to Evelyn’s work but
was expanded to address all breeds and horses in need. Second Wind
Adoption became a not for profit animal welfare program the summer of ‘98 and
the entire facility became not for profit animal welfare facility the summer of 2000. At that time, Crossed Sabers became aligned with
Second Wind and its primary mission and vision. Crossed Sabers and Second
Wind are registered with the state of WV and with the IRS as a not for profit
facility and organization, we have been licensed in 1996. Second Wind has added foster
homes all over the continental US and Canada in order to be able to address the
great need and the vast number of calls from horse owners looking for a quality
home their equine friend.
PRIMARY MISSION OF CROSSED SABERS STABLE AND THE SECOND WIND ADOPTION
PROGRAM
Prevent
animal abuse/neglect
of all the equus species and the need for rescue through adoption,
there by being a catalyst for “Rescue Prevention” by placing horses into
quality homes before the need arises for rescue or intervention by
authorities.
Make up for the lack of state
protection laws by having
adoption contracts that govern minimum care and use of each horse.
Allow exceptional adopters
the opportunity to purchase their adoption horse with a safe selling
contract that will protect the horse for life,
after any where from a 2 to 5 year probation period for certain horses
but not necessarily all horses and all adopters.
Whenever possible, provide all horses
(everyone in the equine family) including race, show, eventing, fox hunting,
steeplechase, contest & working horses, polo ponies or any other sport or
endurance horse an easy transition to a second career and
give owners in every facet of the horse industry and private owners
a
viable, safe place for their horses to go and a more humane place than a bad home, selling or giving the horse to just
anyone or resorting to unnecessary slaughter.
Offer educational and support services
to horse owners/donors and adopters (transportation, foster homes, training,
follow up, guidance with problems, lessons and clinics for adopters).
Offer adopters training services
(lessons, clinics, training of their adopted horses, continued follow-up
to insure continued success with their adoption horse, and organized
trips to regional, state and national horse events that can be both
educational and fun).
Whenever
financially and physically possible, provide horses in the Adoption
Program ground and under saddle training to insure every chance for success
in their next home. Provide horses that are in need, the required
vet care, rest and rehab needed to get better
and find companion horses or horses that can no longer be ridden or
driven a safe and loving home for the rest of their lives.
Give people
that might not normally have a lot of up front money to buy a trained
horse but can afford the
daily care of a horse have the opportunity to adopt and experience the
joys of horse ownership and for kids to be able to grow up with horses
and learn responsibility, dedication
and the satisfaction to a job well done
and to offer people, individuals, families and kids opportunities that
can be both educational and fun but additionally that gives families and friends
something that they can experience together
that is good for the body, mind and spirit.
When
possible, support equine and animal
rescue in times of natural disasters.
When
possible, support state and regional
officials with abuse cases by being the expert in care
and conditioning of the equine and by giving them a place to send
horses that are taken from owners for abuse or neglect.
When
possible, as a secondary mission, support other equine and small
animal adoptions and programs.
Support all rescue and adoption programs in order to offer a more
educated, well managed, unified approach to animal welfare.
SECONDARY MISSION
SUPPORT SERVICES
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Basic And Transitional Job Training For Horses
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Lay-Up, Rehabilitation From Injury
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ESMT, Farrier, Dental, Grooming & Clipping (At Swap HQ)
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Equine Appraisals For Donors
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Spend A Week, Pick Your Horse Program
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Cinderella Program (extreme make overs for horses and their
riders/handlers)
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Life Line Program (financial support for minor injuries and illnesses)
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Over Night Boarding And Housing For Donors/Adopters And Their Horses
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SWAP Association Membership And Benefits
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Estate Planning (Preparing Your Animals For Your Death)
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Emergency Rescue And Disaster Assistance To Authorities, Adopters And Donors
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Short Term Boarding
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Horse Transportation Services and referrals
EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
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Advisory Program For Adopters
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Local And Regional Adopter Follow Up And Assistance
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SWAP Quarterly Newsletter
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SWAP Educational Library For Adopters
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Training And Riding Instruction For Adopters
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Student Internships, Work Studies And College Credit
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Sponsored Trips To Educational And Fun Equine Events
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Scholarship Opportunities
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Breaking And Training Services To Donors And Adopters
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Instructional Clinics
Training (Training 101)
Training Under Saddle (Training 102)
Training 103 Driving
Training 103 Dressage
Training 103 Hunter/Jumper
Training 103 Going Gaited
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