|
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
| | 
Happy
Endings 2002
Hello Celeita:
Just wanted to let everyone know I picked up Dublin Aire last weekend. He is
such a polite, respectful gentleman. What a people lover! He now sticks at
16.3-17h. What a sweety. He looks good, could use about 150 pounds of weight and
muscle, but otherwise healthy. Rode him twice, not one problem. Beautiful,
beautiful gaits for dressage. Definitely has had some good training. He hasn't
been ridden in two months and was excellent. He does need some conditioning. The
mares here are in heaven with him nearby. He is very docile and laid back. I was
quite surprised with that because of the mixed messages between original owner
and foster home. Tell the others they REALLY missed out on a unbelievable horse.
I keep pinching myself to make sure I am not dreaming. I expect we will be
showing by Sept. after he puts on weight. Thanks so much.
Anne Nettles
Tipsy is just not a dressage horse but I use her for trails and love her dearly.
She has the most gorgeous foal by her side. I haven't been able to ride since
last Sept. Didn't want to push her. I have tried everything to help my gelding
and they said that surgery will not work. This has gone on since last August and
originally we were treating for upward fixation of the stifle.
I also like to take Tipsy out to the woods.
Her foal is an Andalusian/thoroughbred. Stunning perfect confirmation and I am
sure he will excel also as dressage horse. Tipsy has come a long way. She did an
awesome job with her pregnancy and foaling. She is a good mom and the only thing
I think she needs is to be a little more assertive with the baby. He is so full
of himself and is rough with her and she does not discipline him. He WILL get
gelded soon. I have communicated back and forth with the former owner. In fact I
am do to send her some photos of the baby and Tipsy.
Anne
Hi, my name is Sarah Larson last year I adopted
two thouroughbreds from Second Wind named Vivi and Country which by the way
are doing absolutly wonderful, my family and I love them to death.
Thank You,
Sarah
Larson
Hi Celeita, just a little note to let you know
how Will is doing. Unfortunately we were unable to castrate Will on May 19th,
as his rings weren't fully closed, but we're trying again on the 25th of this
month, and hopefully it'll be a go on that day.
He has made a lot of progress in the last few
weeks, we've been hosing him to get him used to it, for when he's castrated,
and he doesn't seem to mind it anymore. He goes out in the grass field now
with Monty, and Mr Pickles, and is just fine. He wears a fly mask, and isn't
bad about it being put on at all. He's still not sure about the fly spray, but
he stands for it all like a champ. He'll walk right up to me at night for his
leadline to be put on his halter (we leave his halter on him when he's out),
and will come almost all the way up to you when you call him in the field, I
have to walk the couple feet remaining to him. He's letting us put his halter
on without much issue at all, although he still has his days.
He stood like a complete gentleman for my shoer
a couple of weeks ago, and got trimmed no problem. His feet being picked are
no longer any issue. He had gone slightly lame a day or so before the shoer
came, and we found an absess in his front right foot, and had it cut out, he's
sound again now. I'm putting packing on it to keep it clean, and he doesn't
care. The funny thing is that he'll soak his front right in the water tank
outside, so we're constantly dumping it and cleaning it, he thinks it's great
fun!
He is extremly friendly and curious of
everyone, and everything. He'll walk up to practically anyone and say hello,
he's much calmer about things. He looks for treats with people, as we've been
giving them to him as a reward for doing things. He ground ties wonderfully.
He loves to have his face rubbed and brushed, and is generally a big ham for
everyone at the barn. We are so in love with him and his progress, I just
can't describe it to you. Everything is working out fine, he's gaining weight,
and has just started another growth spirt, so he's almost 15 hands now. His
coat his shinning like crazy, and he seems quite happy all around. I'm taking
pictures of him, and will get some off to you, after I finish this new round
of film.
Thank you so much for helping to bring this
wonderful boy into my life. I will send email periodically to let you know of
any other progress we make. For now I'm off to the barn to play with the
boys. Fondly, Alice
Patty
Casco just arrived and I put him in the round
pen to stretch a bit before I put him away for the night. He is so gorgeous -
and he moves beautifully!
Thank you so much for taking care of things at
your end, I am very happy with him and look forward to working with him
tomorrow after I get home from work.
I will take photos as soon as I can and send
them to you, and I will keep in touch. I went to Massachusetts on Sunday to
pick up a horse trailer I won on eBay (it needs work, but it was cheap) -- and
it took me 21 hours of driving to get there and back again! I am exhausted but
very happy with Casco and my trailer. Now all I need is a tow vehicle! My SUV
isn't suitable for pulling a trailer with horses in it. It did okay to bring
it back from MA but not with real live animals in it!
I am going to be a drop off point for some PMU
foals again this year (from PMU FANI). I adopted two from them last year, and
found a home for one, and kept the other. I will only be able to be the drop
off point now - I have just the right number of horses for the moment and
really shouldn't get any more!
Well, must go now - thanks again!
Annie
Hi Celeita
Sorry I haven't written sooner about Joy. She
is a wonderful girl and growing nicely. She is nearing 14 hands and her
weight is about 800 pounds. Joy is doing well in ground training and is
handled between 1-3 hours every day. She is lungeing w/t/c, accepts a french
snaffle, and girthing a close contact saddle. If she continues progressing
we will begin long lining her. No riding yet-needs to grow a little more. My
daughter Hannah (for who Joy was adopted) will show her in 4-H English
Grooming and Showmanship this summer. Last year Joy as a 2 year old was a
little impulsive. We made it through okay with one incident that required
vet care -a cut near her hock. Thankfully she has matured and learned to
look before running. She is sound and healthy. Her feet are trimmed every 6-
8 weeks, depending on growth. The farrier is Dan Buchlietner. She and my 3
other horses are wormed every 8 weeks, rotating Strongid and ivermectrin. In
October they received a double dose of Strongid to control tapes. April
2002 she received a negative coggins and annual vaccinations of e/w
encephalitis, rabies & tetanus. The vet [Jennifer Beohm Waynesburg Animal
Hospital, vaccinated again this April with a 5-way and West Nile virus. Joy
again was Coggins tested with negative results.I will send paperwork and
photos as soon as I can get them together. Joy is fed 2 pounds nutrena 12%
pelleted feed, 4 pounds soaked beet pulp and has 24 hour turn out with
run-in stall. (May reduce feed with grass intake). Winter feed was 30-40
pounds grass/legume mix hay 4 pounds nutrena & 4 pounds beet pulp. I have
also kept in touch with Katie (Joy's donor) and she has been a great source
of information. Such a neat lady!
All my adoption information is the same-same
farm & family. I took a hiatus from writing because of my father's illness.
Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions.
Thanks.
Antoinette
I am sorry that it has been so long since
you have heard from us. Native is doing well. He looks great and he is
behaving much better(still a TB, but we understand him better also). We have
been making some real progress. He is still mainly worked in the ring, but I
am taking him out for some limited trail riding. I hope to expand our
horizons now that I have some additional time. My daughter has been taking
lessons from Michelle Koury since last summer and she will be able to give
Native some additional exercise in the ring. Native is still very athletic
and very sound. I will try to get you new pictures and a copy of his coggins
ASAP. He was just wormed on the 23rd, all shots on April 22nd and last had
his feet trimmed on April 13th. I just had some extra dental work done(last
dentist missed a couple things) and I will be following up in six months. I
suspect that the dental problem could be why I had difficulty getting him to
lower his head while riding. I need to drop a line to Chuck Lloyd and let
him know how things are going. I would love to try to take in one of your
clinics this summer, but I could not find a schedule.
Hope to see you soon. Nancy L. Smith
I just wanted to let you know that Rebok
and I are great. We had a horse show 5/24/03. I got 1 first and 2 seconds.
Which aloud me to get Champion for the day in that division. He is doin
GREAT. I can't tel you how pleased I am. I have been blessed with the best
horse. We connect so well. I am soooo happy. This past year and a half
have been great. I didnt get to ride as much as i wanted this winter. It
was harsh. This summer is going to be the best. I want to thank you. I am
sending 2 pictures with this email.One of me riding, and the other of just
him. If you want to put it on your website to update it that is fine. I
hope you do. He has so much energy and still going. I think he could go on
for a week with out stopping and just gallop. Hes gotten alot of meat on
his bones this spring. The grass is pretty good this year. Well thanks for
your time.
THANKS AGAIN,
Heather(rider/trainer) and Wanda(parent)
Ward
Celeita,
Just a quick note to let you know Hodja has settled in well and finally
enjoying his new home! He is fully at ease now and meets me every afternoon
for his feed and rubs and hugs. His former owner was in Florida this past
weekend and came by to see Hodja and to meet my husband and I. It was nice to
visit with her. We walked up to the pasture fence and Sharon started talking
to Hodja at a distance. His ears and facial expression perked up and he came
to meet her - rubbed his head all over her and nudged her. She brought a big
bag of his favorite apples, which he clearly enjoyed! Hodja visited with us
as Sharon checked out his "home", then he wandered off on his own to continue
grazing. I think it was good for Sharon to see him in his new home and see
how well he has settled in. She has an open invitation to visit when she can
(apparently some family live in Gainesville - a couple of hours away) and I am
sure we will see her again. She took some pictures of the big guy in his new
surroundings and some of her with him. I still need to get some taken for
myself. My intentions are always there, but taking the time to actually do it
usually gets interrupted by some other pressing need.
Thanks for providing a means to connect people who will love them with the
animals who need them!
Mary Ann Skalany
Mary, that is wonderful. I'm so glad you all were able to meet and spend some
time with Hodja together. Many of our adopters and donors become great friends
because they have something so dear to both of them (in common). Its so
important for all parties to take part in keeping each horse happy, healthy and
living a good life. I adopted my boy Debonair from the program and myself and
the donor are always sharing experiences about him, old and new stories. I have
visited her home on several occassions but I still try to get her here to see
her old boy but I'm sure its probably more than she can handle, even though she
has 2 of his sons. It gives me comfort to know that if anything happens to me,
the program and she will look out for my boy and make sure he is always taken
care of. That is real important to me as an adopter who dearly loves this horse
and I'm sure it gives her comfort that she had someone to go to when her husband
and harness racing trainer died with a barn full of horses and two stallions.
These updates make my day and reminds us all why we are here working 16 hours a
day for no pay.... this is the reason. Thank you for helping us get through
another day. :) Celeita
It’s been a year now since we brought Rosa home, and she is doing very well.
We were not able to keep her in foal last year but our vet has checked her
for this breeding season and say’s she good to go. She has become our
granddaughters ride since Morgan is a new rider and Rosa is very good with
her. At first Rosa didn’t feel good and was the low man on the pecking order
but she is working her way up and is the best baby sitter for the weaned
foals.
Thank you for the opportunity to adopt Our Red Rosa we love having her as part
of our herd.
I will send some pictures soon.
Sincerely,
Debbie Price
Hi Celeita,
Just wanted to let you know that Jubi and Comet are now out together. She
just loves Comet... she follows him everywhere! I think at first, he
thought she was going to hurt him because he ran from her. He's realized
she's not and now they are always together. Sometimes they even eat from
the same hay pile! It is nice to look out and see them grazing together in
the pasture. :) I've attached a picture of them... sorry it isn't the best
quality... I took it this evening so it's pretty dark.
I hope Hershey is doing well. We miss the big boy!
Kelly
Dear
Celeita
After a brilliant weekend Foxy did come up lame. We are hoping to manage it
with bute etc. for now and operate in the fall so we can get a pony club
season out of her. She is such a fabulous mare and goes so well for Robby.
Tom (husband) is crazy about her and Ziggy. He says he may even start riding
regularly again now we have Zig. I brought Zig back up today after having
time off for ouches and weather. He was a little naughty but when he realized
I had my legs wrapped around him he settled. He is great fun but I can see
how he would intimidate a less experienced rider.
Sky is having a holiday after bruising a foot when he lost a shoe. I am going
to keep him at my friend's instead of the competition barn because I think it
will help us get to know each other is a less "professional" environment. I
am having the devil of a time adjusting to his trot. I cannot sit it! It is
driving me crazy. I can sit the trot on any other horse but not his. He is
so bouncy. I hope that just hacking around will help us get used to each
other's quirks.
I will get pictures and send them.
All the best, Victoria
Hi Celeita,
Jubi arrived this afternoon. She seems to be doing well and settling in
just fine. She has such a beautiful face! Her pictures don't do her
justice. She also has a great personality... she has already captured our
hearts! She and Comet are getting to know each other over the fence line.
I think they are going to get along great!
Thanks so much,
Kelly
Just wanted you to know that Robby and Foxy are doing really well
together. Foxy has had the last couple of months off -- weather was
dreadful. I did not know if Robby would be ready to really work with her this
year but they just started back and are just great. They did their first pony
club rally together today.
Thank you so much for helping Elizabeth (former owner) and Robby give the mare
a chance to have a useful, happy life even after a diagnosis of Navicular.
Horses like her, highly talented but quite highly strung can so easily have
bad outcomes.
She is much friendlier now she has got used to us, even comes up in the field
and likes to cuddle. She obviously loves this soggy weather and is sound on
her eggbar shoes (touch wood!).
Many thanks again. Sky and Ziggy are also doing well although they don't
think much of the Va. weather since they came from Arizona and Florida
respectively!
All the best and please keep up the great work, yours, Victoria
Email about Annie Armor (the primary rider
of Annie, Olivia, is very young as you can tell but she loves this horse and
has a huge heart!!
hi i am going to go ride Annie today i don't have school because of the end of
the quarter i saw some of the new horses on your web site and i think they
our gorguse if i could i would have my dad adopt on for me but i cant
cause i don't have any time to exercise another horse . did u know that Annie did not
finish her training cause her trainer died well a lady i know how owns a hors
named sunshine is helping me with Annie she is much calmer i get her to canter
and gallop easily she is the first horse i have galloped on is that cool or
what. Candice is Sunshines owner the one who was helping till Sunday. well
Annie has got a lot more muscle now and is not over weight she is perfect got to
go bye bye Olivia
Horsegirlannie89 writes:
i think she does trust me With her life and i trust her with mine everyone
says we are perfect for each other i think they are right Annie knows i am
not going to hurt her she knows i love it when she canters and gallops and
she knows i am happy when she is happy. and i hope when we move her she
doesn't miss her pasture buddy's Sunshine and Dokota a whole lot she will have
horses on one side of her and i think two across from her and she will get
lots of attention and may be some day i can take her back with me to visit
Dokota and Sunshine . i hope so but i am going to miss it to i wont get to
see Samantha Toie Candice Jean and Linda as much but sam says i can still
come and visit and we can ride double on Dokota . well i think that the
people from the stable im at now with sam candic toi , r going to have a
going away party for me and Annie tomorrow got to go bye bye Olivia
Hey Olivia, I didn't know Annie'e trainer died, how sad. So glad to know she is
doing well, and getting some muscle, she really was looking like a broodmare
wasn't she. I'm so glad you have gotten her to canter and gallop, sometime
Standardbreds are very scared of doing that with a rider because for harness
racing they weren't allowed to do that, she must trust you alot. Can't wait to
see the pictures!! Celeita
Celeta,
I was just writing to give you and update on our adoption horse Jake. We
adopted him thinking that he had navicular only to find out threw previous
x-rays that this was not the case. However, he did have severe problems with
his feet due to trimming and we have been working to correct this since we
purchased him.
On a very good note we pulled his shoes at the end of last fall for the very
first time since we have had him and he has stayed sound all winter. Even
better yet we started trail riding him barefoot last weekend and he is still
sound. We are going to shoe him once the mud leaved just to keep his feet in
condition and him sound but it FINALLY LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THIS BEAT.
I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to own this horse and if
we had the extra money we would have to take Copper home with us to as it sounds
like he is having the same problems as Jake and i think that maybe people are a
little afraid of it and should not be because he looks like a wonderful animal
and this is not a hard problem just one that requires patience, understanding,
and a good farrier.
Again thank you,
Anita Angelo
Hi
everyone!
I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how Harry is and how the day
went.
Ray got here with Harry at 7:30 this morning. I asked him to swing by the JBiT
Ranch to pick up Roulette, which he graciously did. So, we took Harry and Rou
out to the new boarding farm and put them in holding paddocks next to each other
so they could get to know each other.
Harry is so handsome! And moves beautifully, too! He seemed to be so happy to be
off of the trailer and he almost immediately rolled in the muddiest spot he
could find! Then he ran and kicked up a joyous fuss. It never fazed Rou. As
usual, Roulette was just interested in the food.
After a couple of hours, we let Harry and Roulette touch noses over the fence
and they seemed to get along perfectly. Perhaps they knew each other previously
because they never once put ears back or fussed at each other. They actually
seemed to like one another. So we went ahead and put them out in their field
together and they joined up and grazed contentedly side by side.
We are thrilled with Harry. He was a little spooky when a bird flew noisily out
of the barn and he got a little quick when I led him to the field, but he is
easy to catch and has such gentle eyes that I know he will be a joy when he
settles down.
Another happy ending! I'll send pictures when I get some and I'll let you know
how Rou's foaling goes. Thank you all for everything.
Ginny
Note: The Vande Burgt's were the
perfect home for lady. Not only is their son sight impaired, but they also have
a dog who is sight impaired. When they saw Lady on our website they just knew
she needed them as much as they needed her. We are happy to report Lady has
settled in well with her new family. The Vande Burgt's (and all other adopter's
who are willing to take a less than perfect horse) are to be commended for their
love and generosity.
Updates of Lady and her pregnancy
progress (yes! a surprise for the adopter!) can be seen at the website her
adopter created for her son to share with his friends at the Romney School for
the Blind in West Virginia:
http://www.geocities.com/fiveacres_farm/
> >
12/17/02 Update from Lady's
Adopter: ...When Lady arrived she unloaded quite well. My husband beat me down
to the barn first, but as soon as I walked up she perked right up and pushed her
head into me for some scratches and strokes. It appears she is a lady's horse (hee
hee). She was very calm, polite, gentle, and worked well on her lead-line. Dunny
(the adopter's first SWAP horse) spotted her first thing and finally got out of
his favorite spot of standing in the barn door with his head peeking out. He ran
to the far end of the pasture and then rushed to the fence to check her out. It
was great to see him animated for once:) Lady on the other hand was non-plussed
and was more interested in the grass.
We have her stalled across from Dunny and she was wonderful going into the barn
and her stall. She is a large horse for sure, and with that plump belly being
she is in foal I almost thought she would not fit through the stall
door. She took about 20 minutes to investigate her stall, it was interesting to
watch. She uses her lips to feel around. I gave her a couple peppermint candies
and tried to give Dunny one which he promptly spit out. That was
funny!
Lady was quick to find her feed and hay and water. We are going to keep her
stalled for about a week then introduce her to the pasture and Dunny. Right now
they can touch noses across the stalls. She allows us to brush and stroke her
and seems to really enjoy that. She also likes to know what we are doing, and
tracks us by our sounds. She uses those lips a lot, and I am a bit cautious yet
because I would hate to get nipped (hee hee). I love seeing that big head over
the stall door in the evening and morning:) She definitely has personality! She
appears to be very smart, and we are going to try and work with verbal commands
with her further down the road. Right
now is just a good time to get to know her and her to get to know us and our
routine, and build a good bond of trust. I am taking pictures this weekend when
my son comes home from Romney School for the blind. He asked if Lady
could be his horse. We have decided that she will be his and when Sherry sends
her paperwork we will register Lady in his name. He asked so sweetly I could not
say no. It will be exciting for him to bring pictures of her to
school and to tell his friends about, especially when she foals. I hope that we
can time it right to video tape it for him if he is at school.
Anyway, we are just pleased as punch about her and thank you for all you have
done. Our family wishes yours a wonderful holiday season!
I went to NC Sunday and had a
great time !! Brioso is a wonderful horse - here I am riding him :)
Arranging shipping now :)
Marisa St. Claire DVM, MS
Jane did wonderful at Congress! It was so much fun!! Jane and I were in the
top 5 out of 75 exhibitors in the Versatility and then on the reverse way in
the HUS class, she broke gaits!! Its was dishearting because we were having
such a great go, but it was still fun and we had a great time. Stacey and
her mother (jane's donors) came and were there and we all got to meet and
again it was very fun. Then one week after Congress was the North American
International Livestock Exposition, in Louisville KY. GREAT NEWS HERE. This
was an AQHA show, there were 30 something entries in the Open SR. HUS class
and we took the honors of first place under both judges!!! It was quite a
thrill!! Now Jane is turned out and has had a month off and is enjoying
life. All the mares are on pure alfalfa and 16% Strategy pellets, so they
are all full of themselves!! lol. Here is the win picture of Jane and I from
the Louisville show, you will have to ad it to your success stories! :)
,Taylor
Celita-
The new owners of the B&B are not using it as such and never will-
Our farm (where the new B&B will be in the spring) is 17 miles south
of West Union, off Rt. 18. I will let you know when we open - we did
get some business from your people and perhaps some will not mind the
longer trip because of what we can offer as opposed to Days Inn. We
should have facilities for dogs, cats, and horses. There were some
nice ladies from Ohio who stayed with us (I don't remember their names
- my records are not at my fingertips). They said they volunteer for
you, and we told them they could stay at the farm even if we haven't
formally opened because they are donating their time to what we
consider a good cause.
Vegas seems to do fine in the winter weather - of course , he is in
when it's nasty, but he has thrived on all our pasture ( I don't think
he knew what to do with it at first!). I feed him crushed oats with
corn oil to cut the dust ( and not a lot) but good hay and pasture are
his mainstay. I'd say he stepped in it.....but we lucked out with him,
too! He's very dominant over my other guy, but it keeps him humble so
that is okay!
Liz
HI CELIETA, JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT HE GOT HERE AND HE IS A BEAUTIFUL
GUY. WILL LET YOU KNOW SOON HOW IT IS GOING, WE FEEL LIKE HE WILL BE
WONDERFUL, AS YOU SAID HE WOULD BE...MICHELLE
I told you I would send pics
and updates of Belle.
Here are some pics of Allyssa
and Belle at their first show this season. They are really starting to know
each others styles and becoming quite the team together... and are quite fond
of each other. Belle loves to show, and is so easy to handle on the ground
and very relaxed in the show ring. She does whatever Allyssa asks of her.
She is the perfect match for 11 year old Allyssa. I am so glad we adopted
her.
(Check out that "bad" leg,
you can hardly tell which one it is anymore)
please feel free to use in
any way to help out the fundraising.
(let me know if you cant
open.)
Hello,
How are you? Kyber is fine. You should see him run out of his stall. He
prances around like he rules the place. It snowed Tuesday and I let him out on
Wednesday in the snow and he loved it. I just wanted to let you know how he
was. I have a new computer so I have a new email it is
livinlarge@1st.net So
please send all news letters and other mail there.
Morgan
Oh yes.
Sharon has been riding her regularly. She tried a few tricks at first (a
couple little bucks and one raring incident), but once she figured out that
Sharon wasn't going to give up, she started acting fine. Last time she rode
her, Sharon was teaching her to stand quietly while in the saddle. That was a
big task since she is an Arab. But she calmed down and stood quietly for about
15 or 20 minutes while we talked to Sharon. Now if I could only get Gem to do
that! That horse loves to go. No standing around for her. She is in such great
condition since we moved her to Sharon's place that she trots easily for me
now. She is out all day running around with the youngsters, Shadow and Hawk.
Sharon can't wait to get back on Shadow, but she is giving her another week to
recuperate. Gotta go feed.
She is in regular front shoes.
It is her right front. The vet that I have coming out next week is a lameness
specialist.... so he should be able to help. Hopefully worst case
scenario it
is something that can be fixed w/ corrective shoeing. I also may be getting
an embryo from a Elite Hanoverian or I may even think of using her as a
recipient of my hanoverian's embryo if the costs are reasonable enough.. i
understand the New Bolton in PA does it for $300.00 a try so it may just be
worth it!! .... I guess I will just wait and see.... s
Also I have her registration
papers in the works!!
Jessica Stallings
Buddy, as you might remember
has always had breathing problems. Well, Doug started at the Fairmont State
College as a vet tech and ran a blood sample. Their machine was broken and
we didn't know it - but they told us he had severe liver problems. (He
wasn't jaundiced) we took another blood sample and a stool sample to Dr Sims
in Farmington. He had lung & tape worms. And his liver was just fine. The
worming medicine that we regularly used was not killing all of them. We held
his food for 12 hours, gave him a double dose of strongacide, held food 2
more hours and he is a different horse. He is full of energy, running up
hills and down the trail again. We are testing the rest of the horses for
the same thing. There is not obvious problems in any of them. Saber's stool
was negative, running Ivory's this week. Just wanted to give you an update
on them. I love them!
Hi, I just phoned John. He is still in Oklahoma, says the horses are in
a barn. He's having a problem out in CA with someone that was going to
help haul horses to the coast. So, he told me he would probably start
out late tonight or tomorrow morning. I asked him to take care of
himself and if he could start out in the morning because we don't need
him dead or the horses either. So....who knows we can just pray for the
best at this moment and that reason got through as far as safety for
everyone concerned. I'll let you know as soon as I get the girls.
Laurel
Rosie and Tess finally
got here. Tess's eye didn't look bad at all. Just a knick above the
eye. Tess was full of vigor when she got out. Rosie was more calm and
laid back. When I got them in the pen the were trotting all over.
Rosie came over to me immediately when she saw me walk up and wanted her
neck rubbed. Is she a cribber? She started biting the metal pole and
bucket. It might be a fluke or nerves, but she seems like it. Rosie
liked being rubbed. Tess wanted to run around a bit more but came over
to smell me and let me rub her as well. They seem like they remember
each other or just hit it off. They are sticking to each other like
glue. They are pretty. Tess has a beautiful body on her and rosie has a
beautiful face. Huge difference in them, especially Rosie from the
first pictures when they got to your place. Laurel
Dear Celeita,
Just a note to update
you on Hilde. She is doing great. She has put on weight and looks and
feels good. She has been a bit busy this year and traveled to Canada. On
May 23, 2002 she had a complete physical and passed her US health
inspection. Hilde and I arrived at Galten Farms(galtenfarms.com) on June
1 to have her bred to a stallion named Adrain GS. She was covered on June
13, 14 and 17. I brought her home on June 22. It was great seeing her
mother and other family at the farm she was originally from. They
remembered her and commented on her sweet disposition that is just like
her mother Hanna. I have not had her vet checked to see if she is in foal
or not but she has not come into heat again. She is due May 15, 2003. We
are all very excited about the new baby. I am the only one that rides
her. Which is just hacking in the woods and fields around our home. She
is fun to ride and always more that willing. She is turned out every day
in the big pasture with my old Arab mare and in her stall at night. She
has not been lame at all, once in a while she will come out of her stall a
little stiff but it is only just at first, as soon as she trots off across
the pasture she is fine. I don't know what else to tell you about her.
She has a great life with no pressure and just enjoys being a horse. We
all love her soft whistle whinny that she greets us with. I will attempt
to send some current pictures by e-mail in the next week or so. If you
would like you can forward this note onto Kristin. I don't have her
e-mail but she called me a while back and I need to return her call.
Thanks for asking about Hilde and If you need anything else let me know.
Sorry it has taken me so long
to email you. Just wanted to drop a line to say Rocky is a wonderful
horse. He is all and more that you said he was. We learned from the vet.
and the farrier that he had been pinfired (I hope I spelled it right). They
explained what it is and that with allot of rest he would be around quite a
few years but would need to have a " Flex-all" I think that's the spelling,
during the cold days and winter. He is adjusting well and is so attached to
Midnight it is difficult to separate the two for any amount of time. He and
her took about one hr. I suppose to get acquainted. Nothing harsh but just
a quite stand still don't move attitude on her part before she would finally
let him move around. The next day though he was boss and that's how it has
been since. It's interesting to watch them and how the horse rules apply.
Thank you very much for him. We will take care and love him much. My
husband did not like hearing what kind of life he may have had due to the
pinfiring on his front legs and one back leg but to tell you he was here
now, and Rocky would be able have the horse life that he so richly deserves,
no schedules of any kind just being a horse and doing horsey things. In
other words he really is impressed with Rocky. Asking him to explain his
thoughts about Rocky and his reply was " The muscles he shows when trotting
through the field is something to behold. He is a stunning horse indeed".
This is not a person he has spent time around horses and his comment about
Rocky made me feel good. Some of the farmers around us has been by and
their comments were nice too.. " I'll bet he was something to see in his
prime racing days because he sure is pretty". The vet said he was beautiful
and was a pleasure to be around. Again, thank you very much. He has
brought so much pleasure to our hearts. I hope Rocky will feel the same.
P.S. Is it okay to contact
the owners for his registration papers? We were wondering also when he came
to your farm and where is was before hand.
Thanks Celeita for anyone who has info on Sierra . He is one of the loves of
my life, He is so special to us to see this big horse change right before us
with simple dietary changes from Dr Beth Valentine with Rural Heritage Farm
for His EPSM/PSSM He is a new and incredible athlete that I never expected my
goal was just to be able to ride him period. Now I am 5 months pregnant and
trust him to ride at anytime. He is doing a ot of dressage work and seems to
like it . We go trail riding this is his favorite he crosses waterways goes
thru the woods never spooks at anything even annoying stray dogs who confront
us .His previous owners told me they never rode out of the ring. I would not
ride him either if he was off his required daily oil intake of 2 cups and only
alfalfa pellets and hay no grain. Anyways I am getting a digital camera to
send pictures to you . Icy Is the sweetest monster almost 15'3 now sound
sometimes anyways she is a pasture pet for now until she grows up! And hope
dopey Is the biggest houle as christina would say. We are not making any
progress with his hocks the more size he gets on him the harder it is for him,
the vet makes me keep light this is hard for me who loves to see them fat.
Only time will tell anyways he's not suffering in anyway full of life this
one..... So I must run I am receiving 2 pmu babies from canada and I need to
arrange shipping for them Both drafts from that herd I told you about, WE took
one and a aboarder got to go
Shannon Snyder
Hello, Celeita!
I realize that you are swamped right now so I will make this short,
and I don't expect you to reply, but I wanted to let you know how
well my girls are doing.
Ebony and October have adjusted to their new environment just great!
I have not yet ridden Ebony, what with the work on the new house and
getting the old house ready for auction, but I bought a new black
English saddle for her and I can't wait to try it out. I will send
pictures as soon as I have time.
I plan to start October under saddle this fall. She is so good that
I don't expect any problems green breaking her.
Darby is FANTASTIC...it is amazing to see the difference in her with
the Strasser trim in just 6 months! I have attached photos of her
giving rides to two of my grandchildren when all of our kids came to
visit in August...and I have been enjoying riding her on the trails
around our new house...she is a wonderful horse....THANK YOU, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU for taking her in and giving me the opportunity to
adopt her.
Your equine friend,
Annette Kendall
Chandlersville, OH
Hi Celeita,
Tucker (Tobe) went to his first horse show Saturday, 9/14. This was a
benefit show for ReRun, the Thoroughbred adoption group. It was an
all-Thoroughbred show.
I entered Tucker in the "Adopted Horses in Hand," class. All the other
horses were grown ups! There were about 9 in the class and Tucked won a
second place! He was delighted to get a pretty red ribbon and quite
proud. I was quite proud too because he behaved like a young gentleman.
He was a little excited now and then, but he well remembered his manners.
He spent a good part of the day in a stall at the showgrounds while his
adopted brother, Toby showed in some other classes. Again, he was
wonderfully behaved.
My only regret is that I was so busy I never got a chance to take a
picture of him all braided up for his class. I guess I will just have to
braid him one day soon, put on his ribbon and take an official portrait.
Next time I take two horses to a show, I am going to make sure I have
some help. That way, I can breathe a little.
I must say, the kid is turning into quite a good looking fellow. He is
also growing like a weed. I think he is a bit over 16h... and this, mind
you, is still his two year old year.
I will send pictures as soon as I get some good ones.
Red ribbon smiles,
Jean D.
Celeita,
I'm sure you have had many questions on the horse
Dublin Aire so far. I was just curious as to why he's
in the program-injury, etc. Skippy is doing wonderful
with his dressage lessons so far. I figure in about 6
months he'll be working at a solid training level,
he's just a little rusty right now! Little Rosie is
the barn favorite, everybody wants her but nobody
wants to pay board on two horses or sell the horse
they have right now. I have one person left to talk
to about Rosie and my dad is lining up a trailer for
taking Rosie to the foster home. I will contact Kathy
when I have a trailer, but I'm hoping for sometime
this weekend. The longer Rosie stays the more I
regret giving her up, gosh, she's the sweetest
thing...I get compliments on how well behaved she is
daily. Somebody is going to really benefit from my
loss..... I'll get the new pics of her resent to you
as soon as I get the chance to sit down for a few
minutes! Anyhow, I have wonderful news for you. I
have applied for a position as a dressage working
student in Canada for Evi Strasser. I am just working
out the fine details right now like papers, etc., but
I'm about 90% sure I'll take the job. I saw her last
year at Dressage at Devon and thought, holy @#$*, I
NEED to train with that lady! I'll keep you posted on
Rosie and the new job, and let me know about Dublin,
I'm just really curious about him for some odd reason.
Toodles!
Melissa Moviel
I just wanted to let you know
that Dakota arrived safely last night. Her hocks were a little banged up but
they should be fine. I did find out some great informatioin on her (a little
research goes a long way).
Her name is Flying Legacy and
she is a 1990 registered QH by Dash for Cash!!! She was raced 3x and won a
whopping $125 on the track. I contacted her former owner in NY. (owned her
until she was 6 ). She was sooo happy to find out where her "Lacey" is.
Apparently this poor horse has been sold MANY times to kids that lose
interest.
She is the last owner on record
and she said that she would be happy to give me the papers on her since they
are still in her name!! I also gave her SWAP info.. Her husband is a
prominent doctor so maybe they will give some $$$ since you have taken her
under you wing.
This was fun!!! Let me know if
you need any other horses pedigree researched!!
Jessica Stallings
Celeita,
I'm sure you know that Rosie moved to her new foster
home this weekend with Kathy. The consensus from
everyone, including the vet, was to turn her out to
pasture to grow until late spring, and I just don't
have access to barns like that around here. (at least
none that I've found close to home so I can actually
visit her.) It's just not fair to keep her stalled
when she needs to grow some more and enjoy being a
horse. Apparently, there's someone near the foster
home in Youngstown that is very interested in her, but
I don't know this person, it's a friend of a lady at
the barn I ride with. Please update her profile if
you can and let people know she's had 3 solid months
of natural horsemanship training, and has been in the
round pen a few times. She's got the BEST
personality, everyone was sad to see her go. She's
just the sweetest little thing, and so clever and
smart. She was so upset to leave Skippy. She loaded
beautifully for me when I moved her last month to the
new dressage barn, but Skippy was already in the
trailer so she walked right on. She was crying and
looking all over for him and refused to get on the
trailer. Of course, it was havoc at the barn because
there was a big area dressage show going on that day
and there were tons of trailers everywhe |
