Crossed Sabers Stable and The Second Wind Adoption Program,
International Horse Adoption Program
SWAP HQ: Rt 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union, West Virginia 26456
Office: 304-873-3532 Fax: will be up soon
Winter Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9am to 4pm
Stable Visiting Hours, Pick Up and Delivery of Horses: by appointment
Click here to see all the dogs that are up for adoption!!

Help Wanted, HORSE TRAINER:  We are also looking for a trainer that can also help in the office as an executive assistant at times (emails, calls, matching people with horses and vise versa, showing horses to adopters, working with adopters and their horses, possibly taking adopter horses for training, talking to donors, escorting visitors, helping with the website, some of the special care of horses... wrapping/shots/hand walking and some training of adopters/interns). Knowledge of all the riding and driving disciplines and all breeds of horses is helpful but a good quiet seat is a must. Salary is starting at $500. a month with free room and board but if the person is a good worker and a good rider, it will go up to $750. a month at 6 months and if they are good at placing horses into homes and a good consistent worker. The work is 7 days a week with every other weekend off (but the weekend hours are usually pretty slow, (just feeding/turn out and taking care of the barn/stalls) unless adopters or donors are visiting), some barn work (feeding, grooming/cooling out and turn out) but mostly just training and office work, some horse transport if you can drive a trailer. We can probably work the hours so if someone wants to go college or grad school on line we will make every attempt to work it in but work hours are around the normal work day and the best hours to ride (dependent upon weather). Some travel may be involved with this job to go check on program horses in homes, help adopters with training with horses and guidance and possibly some pick up and delivery of horses in the program (with the program vehicle/trailer of course) and potentially setting up displays and tables at some of the big horse shows and events. I hate to say it but I'm much more interested in a lady/girl that is more interested in horses and helping them than boys or making a fortune. email secondwindadopt@aol.com or call 304-873-3532.

Some one has been going into our pasture and barn and cutting horses tails and manes off, ruining their natural fly swatter right before fly season. If we see anyone in our pasture or barn that is not suppose to be there you will be shot on sight. That is not a threat, its a promise. We have no trespassing signs up everywhere so this is a criminal offense and vandalism. Criminal complaints have already been filed.

Home

Home
ABOUT US
ADOPTING
ADOPTION CONTRACT
APPLICATION (ADOPT)
BLACK LIST
BUY YOUR HORSE
CHRISTMAS 07
CLINICS & TRAINING
CONTACT US
DIRECTIONS
DOGS FOR ADOPTION
DONATING A HORSE
DONOR FORMS
EVENTS AND FUN
EXECUTOR
FACILITY CHANGE
FAQ
FINANCING
FOLLOW UP FORM
FRIENDS PHOTOS
HAPPY ENDINGS 00
HAPPY ENDINGS 02
HAPPY ENDINGS 01
HAPPY ENDINGS 03
HAPPY ENDINGS 04
HAPPY ENDINGS 05
HAPPY ENDINGS 06
HAPPY ENDINGS 07
HAPPY ENDINGS 08
HORSES ADOPTED 99
HORSES ADOPTED 00
HORSES ADOPTED 01
HORSES ADOPTED 02
HORSES ADOPTED 03
HORSES ADOPTED 04
HORSES ADOPTED 05
HORSES ADOPTED 06
HORSES ADOPTED 07
HORSES ADOPTED 08
HORSE APPRAISALS
HOW YOU CAN HELP
HORSES AVAILABLE
INTERNSHIPS
OUR BELIEFS
OUR FACILITIES
OUR STAFF
OUR VISITORS
PRICES & SPECIALS
RESCUES
RETURNS
SAYING GOODBYE
SPA & REHAB
SPONSORSHIPS
STARTING A RESCUE
SWAP IN THE NEWS
TESTIMONIALS
TRANSPORT
WEST VIRGINIA

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

SWAP is now taking monthly payments for adoption fees. This can be done  with personal checks from an established checking account. Just another way SWAP is making it easier for you to have the horse of your dreams. Click here to see about monthly payments to adopt your

 

 

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

 
The Executor

"Our chief want in life is somebody
who will make us do what we can"

Celeita was born in Huntington, WV, the youngest daughter of 4.  When looking
at her pictures growing up, you see that she was destined to eventually do this
work.  Every picture of Celeita included her furry friends (See the Executors
Photo Album). She started finding homes for animals very early in life.  Many
animals have gone through Celeita's life, her immediate and extended family
were always targets for her strays to end up.  Like many of the Second Wind
Adopters, Celeita spent her earlier years always wanting a horse but never
succeeding.  Celeita founded Crossed Sabers Stable in June of 1996
and the Second Wind Adoption Program in October of 1998 in order to respond
to the huge need for safe, healthy homes for all horses.
 
Celeita is responsible for all management of stable and adoption program
operations, strategic planning, logistics administration, legal, accounting and
fiscal affairs, management of the internships, training and foster parent program.
She is also an instructor/trainer, a certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist, and
a school trained farrier. Celeita is also the resident clinician for Horse and Barn
101, Training 101 and the Race Horse to Pleasure Horse Clinic.  She completed
her Masters level Education in Equine Science & Management at Salem-Teikyo
University. Besides completing the Farrier Course at Oklahoma Horseshoeing
School, she also completed an Equine Breaking & Training Course and the
Breeding Course at the Equine Sciences Department of Colorado State University.
Her Equine Sports Massage Therapy (ESMT) Training is with Equi-Touch of Loveland,
CO. She is regularly involved with the local and state authorities in several states
in prosecuting and removing horses from abusers and is consistently used as
a an expert witness by the legal profession with litigation centered around the
horse industry. She has been instrumental in influencing local, state and
national laws regarding animal welfare, horses and their minimum care and
anti-slaughter. She has personally placed 1000's of horses into homes and
over 150 dogs and cats.
 
Professionally, Celeita has 23 years with the US Army, Army Reserves and
Army National Guard as a helicopter pilot, Test Pilot, Battalion Executive
Officer, Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Fielding Officer, and Company Commander. 
Celeita has done tours of duty in Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama,
Vermont, Iowa, Kentucky, South Korea, and Japan. Celeita Kramer was the 24th
woman in DoD to earn military aviator wings, and the first woman in DoD to fly
 and test fly the UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter.  A former Pan Am pilot in the South
Pacific, she holds an FAA Commercial pilot's license with an instrument rating
and has over 3000 commercial and military flight hours.
 
In 1995, she was the youngest woman to be inducted into the West Virginia
Women's Hall of Fame. She is also represented in the main hall of the Women's
Military Memorial in Washington, DC, and was included in the Smithsonian
Institute's Air and Space Museum 1986 display, "Women in Aviation.  Besides
numerous military awards and medals, Celeita has won civic honors as well.
She was awarded the coveted Sikorsky Rescue Award for saving a life using
a helicopter, chosen as one of the Most Admired Women of the Decade,
Woman of the Year, One of the 2000 Most Notable American Women, and
one of the 5000 Most Notable Women in the World.  
 
Celeita completed her undergraduate studies in Education at West Virginia
State College and has a WV Dept. of Education Teaching Certificate. She
has done other graduate study at the American University in Washington,
D.C., and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Major Kramer has also completed the Army's Command and General Staff
College. 
 
In addition to her love of all animals, she enjoys riding/teaching in all riding
disciplines, watching and playing most team and individual sports, flying,
traveling, learning new things, enjoys all types of music, entertaining, writing,
cross country skiing, biking, dance, sailing, road racing, biathlons and rollerblading.
She is a PADI qualified Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Rescue
Scuba Diver.  Additionally, Celeita is a Harness Race Horse Owner and
has attended the US Trotting Associations Driver Training. 
 
One of Celeita's most resilient qualities is her ability to laugh, especially
at herself and to make you laugh. With all the things she's done in her
life, she's still easily maintains her modesty.  She talks of her constant
mistakes, she cherishes the skeleton's in her closet because they made
her who she is. She will tell you her best quality is never being smart
enough to know she couldn't do something. After being around the world
several times both in the military and as a civilian, with thousands of
experiences to tell and many different jobs she could still be doing ...... she
knows she was meant to be right here doing the work she does today.

 

BIO OF CELEITA A. KRAMER

TITLE, BUSINESS NAME & LOCATION:

            -Founder/President, Pay It Forward Enterprises

  -Founder/Director, International Life School

            -Founder/Director, Fit Life Boot camp
            -Founder/Owner, Crossed Sabers Stable
            -Founder/Executor, Second Wind Adoption Program
            Rt 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road
            West Union, West Virginia 26456

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:  Scuba Diving, Riding and Training Horses, Photography, Traveling, Training Dogs and Horses, Flying, Music, Fine Arts & Collecting, Entertaining, Team and Individual Sports, Writing, Creative Arts, Dance, Sailing, Biking & Rollerblading.

EDUCATION

CIVILIAN FORMAL EDUCATION

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION AND EQUINE SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT
SALEM-TEIKYO UNIVERSITY, SALEM, WV

 

EQUINE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT & ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, FORT COLLINS, CO, (1997)

 

                  TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING & UTILIZING TRANSPORTED COOLED & FROZEN EQUINE SPERMATOZOA, (1997)
                   COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY, FORT COLLINS, CO., (1997)
 
EQUINE BREAKING & TRAINING COURSE
OKLAHOMA HORSESHOEING SCHOOL, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, (1997)

 

                  EQUINE HORSESHOEING AND FARRIER CERTIFICATION
                  OKLAHOMA HORSESHOEING SCHOOL, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK., (1997)
 
EQUINE SPORTS MASSAGE THERAPY CERTIFICATION COURSE
EQUI-TOUCH SYSTEMS, LOVELAND, CO, (1997)

 

DECISION MAKING IN NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY, WASHINGTON, DC (1988)

 

MASTERS OF SCIENCE IN AVIATION MANAGEMENT
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY, DAYTONA BEACH, FL

 

BACHALOR OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION, ROTC & ART
WEST VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE, INSTITUTE, WV (1980)

      PADI QUALIFIED OPEN WATER, ADVANCED OPEN WATER & RESCUE SCUBA DIVER, 1991

      FAA ROTARY WING COMMERCIAL PILOT W/ INSTRUMENT RATING, 1981

GE AEROSPACE CORPORATE TRAINING COURSES

AEROSPACE MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, 1988
EFFECTIVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS COURSE, 1986
EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION SKILLS COURSE, 1986
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS COURSE, 1985

MILITARY TRAINING COURSES

USARNG INTERMEDIATE AUDITING & INTERNAL REVIEW COURSE, FT. FISHER, NC., 1997

US ARMY COMMAND & GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE, FT. LEAVENWORTH, KS., 1996

USARNG BATTLE FOCUSED INSTRUCTOR TRAINING COURSE, CAMP DAWSON, WV., 1996

USARNG SMALL GROUP LEADERSHIP COURSE, CAMP DAWSON, WV., 1996

USARNG TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT FACILITATOR’S COURSE, CAMP FRETTARD, MD., 1996

USARNG AUDITING & INTERNAL REVIEW BASIC COURSE, FT. FISHER, NC., 1995

US ARMY AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION OFFICERS COURSE, FT. RUCKER, AL., 1994

MEDICAL SERVICE CORPS OFFICERS ADVANCED COURSE, FT. SAM HOUSTON, TX., 1994

USARNG PRE-COMMAND COURSE, CAMP DAWSON, WV., 1993

USARNG UH-1H INSTRUMENT FLIGHT REFRESHER COURSE, FT. INDIANTOWN GAP, PA., 1992

USARNG AVIATION MISHAP PREVENTION COURSE, FT, INDIANTOWN GAP, PA., 1992

US ARMY AVIATION OFFICERS ADVANCED COURSE, FT. RUCKER, AL., 1991

US ARMY AVIATION WATER SURVIVAL COURSE, KWAJALEIN ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS, SOUTH PACIFIC, 1991

US ARMY UH-1H HELICOPTER REFRESHER FLIGHT TRAINING, FT. RUCKER, AL., 1986

US ARMY BATTALION TRAINING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, FT. BRAGG, NC., 1982

US ARMY TEST PILOT COURSE (AMOC II), FT. EUSTIS, VA., 1982

US ARMY AVIATION MAINTENANCE OFFICERS COURSE, FT. EUSTIS, VA., 1981

US ARMY ADVANCED QUALIFICATION FOR UH-60 BLACKHAWK, FT. RUCKER, AL., 1981

US ARMY MARINE TERMINAL OPERATIONS COURSE, FT. EUSTIS, VA., 1980

US ARMY TRANSPORTATION OFFICERS BASIC COURSE, FT. EUSTIS, VA., 1980

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Owner of Crossed Sabers Stable, Founder/Executor of the Second Wind Adoption Program (full time)
Crossed Sabers Stable (6/96 - Present)
Rt 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Rd
West Union, WV  26456

            Duties & Assignments

•         Responsible for the management of all company operations, accounting, legal affairs, equine boarding, training, instruction, transportation, strategic planning, logistics, training seminars/clinics and administration.

•         Responsible for the management of an International Horse Adoption Program with several million dollars worth of assets, Management of the Advisory Board of National Directors, Regional Directors and State Directors, Chapters and Committees. 

Awards & Accomplishments

•         This business began in 1996, with almost nothing and today it works as a fully functional horse business offering numerous services to local, state and national horse enthusiasts, that includes almost 2000 horses owned by the non-profit program but located in life long homes that protect them from wrongful death, abuse and neglect.

•         Founded the national not for profit private foundation that places horses into good homes all over the country.  Adoption is rescue prevention which has placed over 65 different breeds through the program, many of those horses had been imported into the US, over 125 were rescued from abuse/abandonment or neglect. Our newly formed web site has over 5 million visitors each month.  This is an international program that supports all of the continental United States and Canada.

•         Participated in varies activities with the WV Horse Council and WV Horseman’s Association, in order to promote the horse industry in this state and nationally. Solicited by the Department of Agriculture to be a Doddridge County representative for the department, used on several occasions as an expert witness in legal affairs having to do with the equine industry.

•         Taken a run down, failing, former veal farm and turned it into an establishment that is bringing money into the county and state, but is providing a service to people throughout the horse industry, is employing several local residents, college students, with land and facilities that are functional again.

•         Currently, we have horse farms all over the country (at least one in every state) who assist and support the Second Wind Adoption Program Mission with fully functional international volunteer program.

      Awarded the National Leadership Award by the Republican Party

      Awarded the International Who's Who of Business and Professional Woman for 2006/07 

Major, Supervisory Auditor (part time)
West Virginia Army National Guard
US Property and Fiscal Office

Duties & Assignments

•         Responsible for the auditing for all Air Force and Army National Guard units within the state of West Virginia.

•         For evaluating internal controls, training, administration, operations and logistical operations within unit at all levels.

•         To perform quick reaction audit and evaluations to help units find problems and their solutions.

Awards & Accomplishments

•         Promoted to the rank of Major (Field Grade Military Officer)

•         One of nine women inducted into the WV Women’s Hall of Fame by the WV Women’s Commission (I was the youngest woman ever inducted)

•         Awarded the WV Service Ribbon

•         Scored a 290 out of a possible 300 on the Army Physical Fitness test

•         Awarded my 3rd Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal

•         Completed numerous quick reaction audits and unit inspections

Major, Battalion Executive Officer (part time)
Regional Training Institute, West Virginia Army National Guard

Duties & Assignments

•         Second in Command, responsible for the direction, supervision, coordination of the Battalion Staff.  Responsible for implementing the administrative, operational, logistical plan for the Battalion.

Awards & Accomplishments

•         With my staff’s work & direction, the Battalion completed its first Pre-Special Forces Training Course and completed plans to obtain several other training courses previously held at other locations.

•         Authored and published several articles for the Women’s Military Memorial Foundation, obtaining local financial support for the Memorial.

•         Awarded the Presidential Sports Award for cross-country Skiing.

•         With the assistance of my staff, the Battalion grew from a Military Academy into a fully functional Regional Training Institute which now completes much of the Army/USAR and National Guard Training for several MOS’s.

•         Was acting Commander in the absence of the Battalion Commander, responsible for all Battalion operations and personally completed Battalion Formations, Physical Training, Battalion and Staff meetings and training.

Captain, Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot, Section Leader, Public Affairs Officer, Awards Officer  (part time)
146th Medical Co (Air Ambulance), West Virginia Army National Guard

Duties & Assignments

•         Aeromedical Evacuation Pilot responsible for all aircraft operations, medical evacuations in the Corps area in combat and throughout the state in peacetime. 

•         Area Support Medevac Section Leader for 11 Warrant Officers and 14 Enlisted personnel. 

•         As Public Affairs Officer, responsible for relations with other government, civilian agencies, media and private citizens. 

•         As Awards Officer responsible for the individual and unit recognition for a job well done.  Acknowledgment of individual and unit service to its country and state.

Awards & Accomplishments

•         Completed a 286 out of 300 on the Army Physical Fitness Test

•         Ran the Army 10 miler Road Race in Washington, DC

•         Awarded the Presidential Sports Award for Cross Training and Sports and Fitness

•         Completed a Training Tour with the 86th Aviation Battalion at Camp Zama, Japan

•         Selected to be the State Representative for the Women’s Military Memorial Foundation in Washington, DC

•         Received several recommendations for inclusion into the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, two of which came from Senators Byrd and Rockefeller.

•         Went over 14 years of Incident and Accident Free Aviation Service and 3000 hours of flight time.

•         Chosen as one of the Most Admired Women of the Decade

•         Chosen as Who’s Who of Professional & Business Women for 1993

•         Chosen as Woman of the Year for 1992

•         Awarded the Armed Forces Reserve Medal

•         Awarded my 2nd Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal

•         Awarded the Overseas Training Ribbon

•         Chosen as one of the Most Admired Women in West Virginia for 1991

•         Completed all annual aviation flight requirements; written, oral and flight evaluations.

•         I totally revamped the units awards system, which was non-existent when I arrived.

First Officer, Helicopter Pilot (full time)
Pan Am/Dyn Corp
Republic of the Marshall Islands

Duties & Assignments

•         Government Contract Helicopter Pilot in support of the US Army Operations on Kwajalein Atoll.  Flight Operations covered over 100 islands with the UH-1H in the Float configuration. 

•         Responsible for maintaining aircraft currency and proficiency in all flight operations. 

•         Responsible for the safe and timely delivery of personnel and supplies to various locations in the Atoll.

•         Was laid off prior to the end of my contract when Pan Am filed bankruptcy.

      Awards & Accomplishments

•         Completed all company and FAA required operational tests and aviation check rides successfully.

•         Awarded the National Defense Service Ribbon

•         Qualified as a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Advanced Open Water and Rescue Scuba Diver

President/Consultant (full time)
McClean Consulting Group

Duties & Assignments

•         Responsible for all aspects of management and consulting in the areas of defense contracting, aviation, special operations, sales & marketing. 

•         Responsible for consulting and the management of company operations, to include fiscal affairs, contracting, legal affairs, operations, administrative affairs and quality control.