Happy Endings 2003
A Proud
Announcement
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The vision began in 2002, with a cursory glance on the internet that would
prove to be quite fateful. In transit to West Virginia was the horse that
our dreams were made of, Sidi Ala Bahr. What a special horse Sidi Ala Bahr
has proven to be; so intelligent always watchful with that beautiful eye and
never bashful about demonstrating what beautiful movement his ancestry has
provided, he has a presence about him which is unforgettable.
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The question then arose as to how to share Sidi Ala Bahr with the rest of
the world. It is with great pride that we share with you our new website
sabarabianstud.com
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Spring 2004 promises to be an exciting time for us. As is indicated on the
website, we have great dreams that we hope to realize with Sidi Ala Bahr
including perpetuating his wonderful breeding as well as demonstrating to
the world what a willing, agile and incredible athlete he truly is.
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This email is sent to all who have been responsible in some fashion for
helping us begin to realize these dreams- a special heartfelt thanks goes
out to each of you. Please feel free to offer comments or suggestions
regarding the website and check back often as we will be updating the site
regularly to include a calendar of events, updated pictures, and of course,
a list of Sidi Ala Bahr’s achievements.
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With Warmest Regards,
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Betty Bente
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SAB Arabian Stud
Thanks for asking about Top Notch.
We call him Topper and we call Rag the Legend, Raggy. They are just
wonderful! Topper had been giving me fit's with his feet, I had to have him
shod every 5 weeks and he kept getting abcesses. Well, my Farrier told me about
some stuff called Keratex hoof hardener. That stuff is a miracle. I have been
using it for about 3 month's and I had him shod again this past Saturday. Great
new's! His shoe's was as tight as when he put them on him and his hoove's had
grown about 1/2 inch. He told me that I will be able to start getting him back
in shape to ride in spring. I was just trilled. Of course Raggy think's he is
still racing and we have to be pretty hard on him. But he is a very handsome
horse. My grand-daughter love's him. I am going to try and get some good
picture's on my digital camera and I will send them to you. I will send you
pictures soon to. Thanks and keep up the good work. Linda Drake
Hi, Celeita,
Greetings from the land of snow and ice!!!! I am pretty sure you are
dealing with it as well.
We are excited about the spring, since we are hoping to use Sid for
breeding. We hope to be doing AI with him and are about to launch the
announcements for our web site. It would truly be a shame not to pass on his
fantastic temperament and confirmation.
We are working on backing out of the horse trailer when the weather permits
as he does not like to come down backwards and instead tries to turn around
and go back out while in the trailer. He has no problem going in, just coming
out. Butch had to disassemble his trailer when he brought him for this very
reason so I suspect this is simply because he probably was used to a different
kind of trailer. He is making progress and we are very excited about the
upcoming show season and are doing ground work in preparation. Sid is handled
daily and is fed, watered, and has his stall cleaned twice a day. He stands
15.1 now and is maintaining his weight well.
Our pasture is coated in ice for the second time this year and Sid wears
his thermal blanket all the time now. Though his coat has grown thicker, it
is not as heavy as the other two Arabs. We are down to three horses now. (We
lost our big Hanoverian at Thanksgiving due to colic and my daughter's horse,
Sabok, is now with her in North Carolina). Sid had a trim last week before
the storm and he was very good for the farrier as always. His feet grow very
slowly in the winter and our farrier says that is normal as the energy goes to
maintaining other body systems.
Sid does have a problem with cribbing and I have tried all the standard
remedies. I have read that the behavior is related to endorphins. Our vet
says that even if you stop the behavior artificially horses may still be prone
to developing ulcers and I was wondering what your thoughts were on the
subject.
Any suggestions or comments you have would be appreciated. I look forward
to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Betty Bente
Hi,
Just a quick note to tell you about the horses. Missy is about ready to
wean the colt (High Noon by Black Hawk). They are both fat and healthy.
Missy will be going to the trainer (whom I have known for 20 yrs) to be
trained to be ridden (by my grandkids, eventually) and to drive ( by me) as
soon as High Noon is ready to be weaned. I have traded High Noon to a
friend of mine for a 4 wheeled buggy for Missy. CJ Winner and I have not
made it together although he has been very good to work with. My future
daughter -in-law started to mess with him while she was staying with us
while she commuted to college to finish her masters degree ( graduates in
May, yeah). They have hit it off so well that I have told her she can have
charge of him. They have done a lot of ground work and is starting to do
some easy riding in the round pen. I am very proud of the progress they
are making.
We are pleased with the adoption. I wish there was more I could to help
SWAP. I have sent a small donation to hopefully help some others horses.
Shelle Privett
Hi
Good to see you are doing well and really
growing!! WOW.
Thunder Boy is great. Really matured into a
muscled horse. He is looking forward to breeding a couple of nice mares this
Spring, but right now he just runs, plays and eats!
My three mares are all wonderful. Myrtle(Myrt
Reed) foaled late so I didn't breed her back and will try to get her in foal
earlier this year. Lauren(Lauren Delight) is happily eating her way through
her pregnancy and should foal mid Spring. Sadly, my dear Becky(Doves Bucky)
miscarried twins two days ago. The vet missed them on the ultrasound-he said
it was because they were in the same sack and so they looked like a single
fetus. She was upset so I moved her to a different paddock and gave her some
Banamine to make her feel better. She is doing well now and seems to have
forgotten her saddness. We buried her babies with a heavy heart. I guess it
is just one of the sad things that we have to accept. Thank goodness Becky is
fine-that is what matters most.
Have a great 2004 and keep up the wonderful
work on behalf of the animals.
Gail Ackerman
Hi Celeita,
I had the opportunity to go up (6.5 hours north!) and visit Maggie,
Pam, and her daughter Shelly on Monday. Maggie looks fabulous! She is
all filled out, and has put on a lot of weight. Pam and Shelly let me
ride Maggie for a little while, and then I watched Shelly ride her. It
is truly a wonderful home for her. I couldn't be more pleased. Shelly
loves Maggie, and vice versa. They make a very nice team. I am
including some pictures that Pam forwarded to me. I know this will be
a good home for Maggie for life. Shelly thinks she is the most
beautiful horse alive, and was thrilled to find out that her mom had to
sign a contract promising to never sell Maggie. I just thought I would
send you the update.
Thanks again for all you have done for all these wonderful horses!
-Hannah
Wonderful. I was wondering how those two were doing and my last update from
Pam was very good. Well, it certainly sounds like a happy ending. Its funny, I
was just talking about you yesterday to someone about being a college student
in CA and a foster for us and what a great job you did. We get "grown ups"
that make tons of money that won't take care or feed their foster horse, so
when that happens I don't hesitate to tell them about you and what a fine job
you did, just to make them realize that it has nothing to do with money or
time, its about desire. So happy that it has worked out so well. Thanks for
making the trip and letting us know how she is. Celeita
Celeita,
Here is Hero's tentative spring schedule. I will know a little bit more in a
few weeks.
Either Fence HT in Landrum S.C. March 27-28 or Spring Bay HT in Lexington,
KY April 10-11: he will only be running Prelim for his first time out this
year.
April 16-17: River Glen HT Newmarket, TN. He will run Intermediate.
May 1-2: Plantation Field in Unionville, PA. he will run Intermediate.
May 13-16: Jersey Fresh Two star in New Jersey. This is a three day two
star level event.
After that he will have the summer off and start again in the fall running
advanced. If al goes well we are shooting for the Fair Hill three star in
October in Maryland.
I will let you know more when I get more info. Still waiting on Ray to get
with me on Toby. I am still assuming he is being picked up tomorrow.
Kristen Kelly
We have a video of Hero, aka "Center Stage" winning the
Intermediate Division at Poplar Place Farm last fall that we will be putting on
the web site. Yes, Hero is an SWAP Adoption Horse!! Congratulations Kristen and
Hero for such great work and bringing this boy so far. Karen O' Connor even
offered to buy him last year. Kristen said that even if he wasn't an adoption
horse she would not sell him. She said it was good to say, he's not for sale.
Bravo!!
hello again,
I just wanted to let you know how we are
getting along. you probably heard about the dressage clinic from my dad so it
went very well we work mostly on the basics and showed him I few new things
that went well.today I was over riding him in the arena when Allison brought
avory in and another young thoroughbred was in there both were full of energy
and started out with a felling of this is not going to be pretty he was pretty
nervous and was chomping the bit we got through it pretty well until avory
bucked pretty close to us then jazz freaked did some sort of half buck him
self I got him through that we work a little longer down at the end where the
mare had been lunging then went back to the barn where he was still nervous I
think he will be ok tomorrow though I think he does not like avory any more.
but oh well we'll just keep them apart. I'll keep you updated
Jennifer
Dear Celeita, Jan, Bill, Liz, and Kathy,
We're home, Knighty's in his stall all settled in and Megan is
on cloud nine. We want to thank all of you for helping us put this whole
thing together, we appreciate all you've done. Knighty is just a beautiful
boy and we're all happy to have him. We'll keep in touch and let you know how
he and Megan are doing.
Thanks again and take care,
Sandy, Dennis and Megan
Boy we picked the best day of the year to pick up the horse and drive 8
hours in the freezing rain and snow. Long day and you can guess where
Megan is this morning. Last night at 8:30 pm we took the horse to Pets
Mart at the shopping mall to pick up 50 lbs of 12% protein pelts that he
eats to blend him into his new diet at the stall. On the door at the store
it said all pets welcomed.
Megan is having fun with Nighty.
Dennis ...
Dear Celeita,
Knighty has a good new home! Megan and her mom and dad left a little
while ago with him. I know Megan is very happy with him. She did get
up on Knighty here, and I know she was rather intimidated by his
size...he was a good boy for her.
Tika is doing much better than I expected. She stood by the interstate
fence, as if she knew he'd be by. She is staying pretty calm, so I am
thankful for that.
Thanks again for everything.
Jan and Bill
HI,
I just wanted to let you know how the horses are doing. Mac is doing well,
we have to watch him closely to make sure he doesn't make too much of a pif
of himself. He's like a hoover vacuum...sucks up everything in sight that's
edible, whether it's his or someone else's. Savanna has gotten brave and has
been riding him around bareback. He's bee oh so patient while she learns to
get up on his 16hh high back without help( right now she still has to cheat
and uses a bucket!.) Money is adapting well to grain, she was out to pasture
before I got her. I sure wish we had the kind of pasture they have in N.C.
where she came from, but she seems to like the coastal hay we get here too.
Nancy had said she could be a little 'alpha', but Lovey is dominate over
her. They seem to have worked everything out without any fighting. They are
both doing great. Money is so calm and sweet, and very patient, while Lovey
is sort of prissy, but yet very sweet. both are very well mannered on the
ground. I'll be riding Lovey this week, just walk-trot, just to see how she
moves. It seems that her grandsire on the bottom is Darn that Alarm, who is
known for his movement and is used quite a bit to breed for dressage horses.
I've made some tentative arrangements to breed Lovey to either a QH named
Highly Disciplined, or a QH stud with a 43% Three Bars breeding. The Three
Bars stud is very laid back with an excellent disposition and i think he'd
compliment her nicely. Money will probably be bred to one of the Fresian
stallion at Amazing Grace farm in Nahunta, ga.
I have all the paper work for both mares(thanks for the paper work on
Lovey), however, according to the back of Lovey's registration papers, the
last time anyone transferred ownership was back in 1996, and I am having
some difficulty reading the name. It appears she was purchased at the
Fasif-Tipton sale. Do you have any idea how I can get her papers transferred
to my name?
Thanks for all your help,
Tammie Curtis
Celieta I have what I feel is great news. The trainer I worked with when I was
a kid to young adult is going to be training Will with me. She went to college
in England, and learned all about everything to do with horses. She also kept
me involved with horses when I got to that age when I wasn't sure if boys were
more important ( I was a stupid child!!ha-ha ). She liked pictures I emailed
her of Will, and thinks he has wonderful potential. We plan on doing a lot of
in hand work with him for the next year and a half or so. (She instilled in me
at a young age that horses shouldn't be ridden until at least 4 1/2) I also
plan on taking a lot of riding lessons on Monty so that I'm all set when it
comes time to ride Will.
This woman is like Klimke to me, and has trained a lot of people and horses in
the area that have gone onto really big things. She's someone not everyone
could ride under, she made my life hell as a kid, but taught me a wealth of
knowledge that I use to this day in handling my own horses. I can't wait to
show you pictures and maybe another video by summer's end of Will. Which
reminds me we almost have the schedules worked out with our friend with the
equipment. If we can't do it by this weekend, I promise to mail it by Monday,
what we have that is. You'll see a huge difference in what we just have on the
tape without the ending.
I feel bad for Will in this frigid weather we're having. He has NO winter
coat. He looks like he just came up from Florida! We have a HUGE blanket on
him, I mean this thing is insulated water proof breathable, you name it! He's
toasty warm, if you can be in-5 weather, which is what it was today. It's
going to be -35 to -40 tonight! I gave both boys almost 1/2 bale each in their
stalls, filled their heated stall buckets, and kissed them all with frozen
limbs tonight. I usually take their blankets off and brush them nightly, but I
feel too guilty to take their warm blankeys off in negative degree weather.
They'll have to wait til tommorrow night, it's going to be 15 to 20, much much
warmer than it has been lately. My job sucks in this weather!!!
Just wanted to let you know my good news, and let you know Will, Monty and I
haven't frozen into little popsicles in this horrible weather. Keep
warm...Alice
Alice, what great news and I definitely agree with waiting until later to
ride or at least do much riding. I got on the back of my 2 year olds, but we
walk around just a bit and that's it just to know they are willing to take
the saddle, girth and bit. None of them cantered until they were 4 or rode
hard until after they were 4 and I have a feeling they will be sound for
life. Of course, I'm really protective because I see all the 2 and 3 year
olds that have severe ringbone and problems with their backs and legs
because they were all ridden so hard at young ages. University of
California, Davis did a study on a pretty large sample of horses and came up
with the answer that horses are not fully grown until they are 4 and older
for heavier boned horses so waiting is always good. Additionally we've
gotten European race horses in the program.... all older and sound with long
racing careers... I think because they don't race until they are 3, no
getting on yearlings like we do here in order to have them ready to race by
2. American's are rush rush rush on everything and its all driven by wanting
immediate satisfaction and money but the really good horse people wait. Plus
the more you work with them on the ground, the better they will be under
saddle. My personal fav's are driving and long lineing... its amazing what
they can learn with just those two things. Additionally I have been learning
so much lately about limiting each training period to 15 or 20 minutes,
which I had heard but when you see German's taking very young horses to
Grand prix level and that is how they work them, then you have to admit
there is something to it.
I can't wait to hear how it goes. Its all very exciting. The thought of all
his potential in the hands of two really good people that care a lot and
know a lot. The possibilities are endless, aren't they? Its really very
ironic considering his beginnings, what a turn around. Bravo!! Celeita
Hi Celeita!
Just wanted to send a quick update (and also request some information) on
Saber Rose (we now call her Bella - if I ever get my hands on her papers, her
registered name will be "For Whom the Bell Tolls"). Bella is having the time
of her life. She's got a great big stall with a "jolly ball" where she can be
right in the middle of all the "goings on". She gets turned-out in one of the
many paddocks (when the weather cooperates!), and she's fallen in love with a
sweet gelding named Cease Fire. He keeps her company in the paddock that
adjoins hers and he lives across the breezeway from her in the barn. Once the
worst of the winter weather blows through here, she'll be going out with a
buddy in one of the pastures. She's definitely doing some growing, but those
little (albeit long) legs of hers tell us to be extra careful when it is too
muddy out there!
Bella has learned so much in the few months that I've had her. She leads
extremely well, and already knows what "stand" and "back" means. She's very
curious, and though she may raise her head to say "What the heck is that??"
she is not overly spooky whatsoever. She is learning all about treats and
that the green stuff under her feet when she is outside can be eaten....LOL.
She remains as affectionate as ever, and of course, has stolen the hearts of
every man, woman, and child who sees her. Her training is coming along
beautifully. She is such a smart little girl (and a little stubborn,
too.....tee-hee). One of these days she'll understand that the end of the
line really means the end of the line!
She had her first visit with the farrier in December and was a good girl for
her trim. The vet, of course, came to see her immediately after she arrived
here. We had to worm the "crud" out of her, and she is filling out quite
nicely now. You should see the this gal's coat - what shimmer and shine!!
I'm ashamed to say that I don't have any updated pictures of her - she seems
to change on a weekly basis! Every time I take a picture and tell myself
"this is the one that I'm gonna send to Celeita" - she turns around and grows
some more....LOL. I promise to send the ones that I take this weekend :)
Hi Celeita! I just wanted you to know that Buddy
(No Alhabi) and I are getting along wonderfully! I am so glad that I happened
upon your organization. All that you do is so great! I know you are very
busy, but I did have a quick question for you. I view your website
religiously and I couldn't help but notice that I have not seen any record of
our adoption on your site. I know it used to be there and I was just
wondering what happened? I know it's not that important, but we really like
telling everyone we know about your site and the wonderful experience we've
had. Anyway, I wasn't able to find our adoption under the 2003 adoptions and
was hoping that our friends could view it as they check out your site. I hope
all is going well for you and we look forward to supporting SWAP in any way we
can. Thanks again for allowing us to adopt from you and we hope that we can
provide either support or a good home for another horse in the future. Keep
up the great work!
Sincerely,
The Clouse Family
James, Necole, & Madison
Hi Celeita,
Mistral seems to be doing fine. Yes, she has been dominating the geldings,
but I don't think it will be a huge issue. She can always be put in the
smaller pasture by herself, if needed. Where she is kept they do feed the
morning hay outside. I might suggest that they feed hers inside to let the
boys finish theirs and to remove that as a source of discussion between the
horses.
The Bruno's love her and have been out every day even in this very cold for
us temperatures. The girls have only ridden her once because of the temps and
waiting for their lessons until they are more comfortable with her. Her long
stride at the trot will take a bit of getting used to. But Mistral's
personality and patience were terrific.
Both her hind legs seem to have some of what we call mud scratches on it.
Were the hair clumps up, scabs, and then falls off. The right hind has more
than the left. I think in a week or two it will clear up. We are treating it
with the usual treatment recommended by our vet. Get the scabs off the best
you can, keep it as dry as possible and to put this antifungal cream on it.
I am not too concerned about the back leg. I am sure they are more concerned
because it is their first horse, etc. I just told them to watch the swelling
to make sure that it doesn't get larger, then it should be checked out by the
vet.
If you have tips on helping cantering, I would appreciate it if you would
send them on to me. It seems like standarbreds are a great horse for many
people and I am sure I will be training more and more of them. I know the
canter can be difficult for the horses to pick up since they are taught not to
in harness.
Sandy and Regal (Sparky) are cantering, but sometimes it falls apart when he
is unsure of himself. When Sandy remembers to continue to use her seat
correctly, they do a pretty good job. Linda and Kris seem to have very little
trouble with cantering. Probably because Linda is a more advanced and
stronger rider.
I continue to be very impressed with the quality of horses that we have
gotten through Second Wind. The horses are either just what I expected or
even better than I have expected. Thank you for doing such a thorough job in
describing these individuals and for all the work you do for the horses.
Melanie
Celeita,
I have watched
that video 50 times and tear up every time,
especially when he takes off cross country. Go ahead and keep the video. I was
able to copy my original so I have others here. Hero would love to be an
"ambassador" for second wind. He is always looking to please someone. It does
go to show that horses can come back from injuries and be great horses. His
prior owner really thought he was damaged for good. I have also learned that a
really badly behaved horse can be the best horse in a different situation
sometimes not the fault of the owner or rider just the attitude of the horse. I
will let you know when Toby gets here. Thanks.
Kristen
A Little Horse Sense
(By Linda Peterson. Reprinted from
Biography September 2003.)
During a 1998 business trip to New York City, computer consultants Janet
and Don Burleson decided to go horseback riding in Central Park. On the
walk from the stable to the park, the couple noted their rental horses'
calm demeanor amid the chaotic Manhattan traffic. They also noticed how
the animals sensed on their own when to cross the streets.
As a trainer of Arabian show horses for 30
years, Janet was no stranger to equine
behavior. But the urban experience got her thinking--especially about
one of their pet miniature horses on their farm in Kittrell, NC.
Affectionate and companionable, two-foot-tall "Twinkie" often followed
the Burlesons around like a dog, and even rode happily in the back of
their minivan. Janet also remembered, as a young girl, once watching a
blind rider compete in horse shows. "The woman gave the horse
directions, and it took her around the
obstacles and the other horses in the class," she recalls. "It was
serving as her guide and was something I'd never forgotten." Piecing all
this together, Janet started wondering: Could a miniature horse be
trained as a guide animal for blind people?
She already knew that horses had
intelligence, strength and stamina, superior eyesight--nearly a
350-degree range of vision-- and excellent long-term memory. "Once they
learn a task," she notes, they never forget it." Another plus: Someone
allergic to dogs would be unlikely to have the same reaction to a horse.
Back home in Kittrell, Don fashioned a
harness with a handle, and with repetition as the key, Janet began
teaching Twinkie to obey basic voice commands such as "forward,"
"right," and "slow." She tried to steal an hour or two each day from
their computer firm and from their other business on the farm, breeding
Arabians. Over months of research, Janet read whatever she could find
about guide animals and training methods, also got help from
orientation-and-mobility instructors. Karen Clark, a blind woman from
Raleigh who had a guide dog, volunteered to walk with Twinkie and give
feedback on what the handler needed to get from the animal.
Out on the streets and sidewalks, Twinkie
learned to signal her handler about changes in elevation (such as steps
and curbs) and to recognize hazards such as overhanging branches or a
pothole. And, in the same way the police train their horses, Janet
taught Twinkie to "spook in place" by exposing her to a lot of loud
stimuli, so she ultimately learned not to be distracted by noises and
crowds.
"Absolutely the biggest challenge is the traffic training," says Janet.
"We have to teach the horse how to keep a person safe in traffic. The
person makes the decision to go, but the animal advises the person
whether or not it's safe to go."
At an indoor shopping mall in Raleigh,
wearing the tiny leather booties Don sewed from baby shoes to keep her
hooves from slipping on the smooth floor, Twinkie learned to negotiate
an escalator and elevator. At a local
restaurant, she was trained to stand under the table and nap while her
owners ate lunch. And she was housebroken within a week--tapping her
hoof at the door when nature called.
As word spread about the unique little
horse, local media began to do stories, and the Burlesons appeared on
TV's Ripley's Believe it or Not.
Given Janet's lifelong love of horses, it
isn't that hard to believe. Growing up in the suburbs of Charlotte, she
got her first pony at age eight and began training Arabians when she was
still a teenager. In 1998 she married fellow animal lover Don Burleson,
one of the world's experts on Oracle database
administration. "I was a Web site developer, and he wrote a book about
Oracle databases on the Web," Janet explains. "I had e-mailed him a
question and we started exchanging e-mail. We discovered we were living
about a mile from each other in Raleigh and decided to meet." It was
Janet's first marriage and the second for Don (both are 48), who is the
father of two teenagers, Andrew and Jennifer.
When the couple began living on the farm,
they got their first pair of miniature horses, "to be lawn ornaments and
great little lawn mowers," Janet laughs. But as the experiment with
Twinkie progressed, Janet began to believe that the minis could be so
much more.
From his early childhood on, Dan Shaw came
to expect a hard-knock life. His parents divorced when he was four, his
father "took off," and he and his mother left his native Oregon for
Lynn, MA. After his mom remarried and had four more sons, Dan felt
pushed away by his stepfather. The rebellious boy was sent to reform
school for three years, "and then I was passed around foster families."
One bright spot was a summer he spent at a camp for disadvantaged kids,
where he first encountered- -and fell in love with--horses. "I'd
daydream about how I'd run off with one," recalls Dan, now 47 and a
resident of Ellsworth, MI.
When he was 17, Dan learned he had an
inherited eye condition, retinitis pigmentosa, that would eventually
take his sight. (His brothers had the same condition.) And the hard
knocks continued: After marrying at 19, he lost his firstborn to crib
death. He later had two children, Danny and Jessica, but his marriage
failed. Angry that "everything was not fair," he lived in denial. He
wouldn't admit that he had trouble seeing because, he says, "people
treated you different. They stopped coming around, they stopped being
friends." Still a rebel in his 20's, with tattoos covering his arms, he
rode his motorcycle--sometimes with the Hell's Angels--even as his
vision
deteriorated. He bounced from job to job, because he'd get fired when he
couldn't keep doing the work.
It was not until his early 40's--with only
5 percent vision left--that Dan began to make concessions. He attended a
Boston school for the blind, where he quickly learned to read
braille--and after graduation, began teaching it to sighted children "so
they can relate to a blind kid in school." A craftsman most of his life,
he was taught to use his woodworking tools with adaptive devices so he
could still build things like birdhouses and arbors. An avid fisherman,
he opened a bait-and-tackle shop out of his garage.
But his mobility problems in public
continued, due to his admittedly stubborn refusal to use a cane. In a
restaurant he'd bump into a table and spill someone's drink; in a
grocery store he'd stumble over little kids and get blasted by their
irate parents.
Eventually he was afraid to go out at all. Ann, his second wife, of 17
years (and mother of his stepchildren, Larry and Kelly), was growing
increasingly frustrated, and was tired of worrying about him while she
was at work. "He kept hurting himself to the point where I finally said,
`This is it--you need to do something now,´" she recalls. She had
brought up the idea of a guide dog before, but Dan resisted, knowing
their life expectancy was fairly short. But at Ann´s urging, he gave
in.
And so it was that one day in March 2000,
the couple were sitting at the kitchen table filling out a guide-dog
application with the TV on in the background. Suddenly, Dan heard the
words, "guide horse for the blind." It was the Ripley's Believe It or
Not program about the Burlesons. "Ann," Dan said excitedly, "that's what
I want!" He was especially intrigued to hear that the average lifespan
of a miniature horse was 30 to 40 years, which meant he might be able to
have just one for the rest of his life. He tracked down the Burlesons'
phone number and became the first person to ask them for a horse.
Or, as Janet Burleson puts it, "Dan
volunteered--he begged, actually--to be the first guinea pig. We told
him we were still testing the concept, but he pretty much talked us into
going to the next step." A few months later, their newly formed Guide
Horse
Foundation got a $30,000 donation from best- selling mystery writer
Patricia Cornwell. (She has visited their farm several times, and her
recent book, Isle of Dogs, includes a character who uses a guide horse.)
The money allowed the Burlesons to buy six of the smallest
miniatures, called pygmies (costing $2,000- $6,000 each, or more), one
of which they named Cuddles and designated for Dan.
Over the next year, Dan called every week
to check on the 24-inch-tall (measured at the shoulder), 55-pound
chestnut mare. Finally, in March 2001, he flew to Raleigh for a
preliminary visit. As Dan came off the plane, the Burlesons were waiting
with Cuddles. Dan leaned over to pet her and got a lick on the face--and
felt an instant bond that brought tears to his eyes. The new team took
their first test outing at a pet store, where boxes were piled high in
the aisles--and Cuddles deftly maneuvered Dan past them all.
Overwhelmed at his newfound sense of freedom, Dan began to cry once
more.
In May he returned for a month of
intensive training, then he, Cuddles, and the Burlesons all headed to
his home. The trip back to Maine included a stop in New York City, where
Dan and his pint-sized partner
successfully negotiated the subway and visited the Statue of Liberty
(Cuddles ate some of the lawn for lunch). "She never got nervous," says
Dan of their Big Apple adventure. "She never flinched. She kept me
safe."
The Burlesons spent a week at Dan's home
getting the new team settled in, and they also provided another mini,
Nevada, who keeps Cuddles company when she's off duty. In his rural
backyard, Dan built "my babies" a corral and a tiny barn--complete with
a heated water pail and, yes, their own TV. "Cuddles likes to watch the
news because she's been on it so much," he jokes.
Nearly two years into their partnership,
Dan reports that Cuddles has never spooked on him or lost her focus in
any way. "When I put her harness and equipment on, she's like a little
soldier," he says. "[But] when it comes off, she's just a regular little
horse. She'll go play with Nevada."
And thanks to Cuddles, Dan--whose newest
tattoo is of his miniature horse--feels like a regular guy for the first
time in years. "My life has opened up with this little horse," he says.
When they're not taking long walks in the woods or fishing at his pond,
Dan and Cuddles often visit schools, or make presentations to civic groups to
raise money for the Guide Horse Foundation. "Dan keeps himself pretty busy and
is always out helping
somebody," says Ann, who no longer worries about her husband. "Cuddles
has brought us a lot of joy."
The 80 blind people now on the Burlesons' waiting list hope to
experience that joy someday, but they'll have to be patient. Janet is training
nine horses but can volunteer only part-time,
assisted by Don and her brother, John Lavender. Early in 2003, a car
accident left Janet with a broken wrist, delaying the placement of the
next guide horse with a Pennsylvania woman. At some point, Janet hopes
that the Foundation will be able to hire other people to train the minis
full time.
In the meantime, she stresses, her guide horses "are not intended to
replace guide dogs or compete with them. We're just offering a new option for a
blind person."
To learn more about the nonprofit Guide Horse Foundation, visit
www.guidehorse.com, or call
252-433-4755. Dan Shaw's Web site,
www.danandcuddles.com , has a diary about his adventures with the world's
first guide horse.
celeita I just read some of the happy
endings the one about miss b the standeredbred the way i got Annie to canter
was by letting her have more rein it took her a little while to get what i was
saying she could do but she finally under stood and would canter it just took
some time patience and encouragement to get her to know that it was OK to
canter now. that and letting her run in the Pasture if you would like to you
may tell everyone that comes to your stable and think that standerdbreds cant
canter. and tell the people that already adopted one from you because no one
at my barns thought i would be able to get her to it just took time effort
encouragement and for me to trust her and for her to trust me but no matter
what they will have to build a relation ship with the horse or it wont do any
thing for them and if it dose it will be a long tiring hard fit and they will
usually win so you have to take your time especially with horses that have
been adopted because you don't know why or how they came to you but ill tell
you one thing you have a wonderful way with your animals and all the ones
that come to you please keep up the great work
hope to see you soon
Olivia and Annie
PS here is a pic my mom and Annie
And me.
I told you I would send a letter in the next few weeks, and I finally got
a few minutes, so I decided to write. Well, Awesome's barn name is Avery,
and everyone loves him. We had a few discussions to work out the first
couple rides.....he's very aware of the horses around him, and there is a
field above the arena, so when horses are turned out up there, he was
constantly calling for them, and the first ride he wouldn't walk away from
the area of the arena closest to them. The next ride we had problems
walking away from the gate to the arena....he tried balking, half-rearing,
etc...but we ended on a positive note. The following ride was better, as
passing the gate was becoming easier, but a little girl brought her pony in
to ride, and remembrances of the track came back. He settled down after a
while and walked quietly around. He and Suki have been going out together
and he's quite protective of her, and he's pretty attached to her (calls if
they're separated, etc..) and he ended up banging his knee pretty bad on the
fence one day, it was pretty swollen, and fluid had drained into his lower
leg as well. That was last week, and the swelling has gone down but not
completely...however he is not off in the least bit. So I lunged him every
day this past week but didn't ride....I tried to plan it to where we would
be in the arena while there were horses out so he could get used to it.
With all this said, he is absolutely the perfect horse...I was walking
him down the road to turn him out, and heard a vehicle approaching and then
realized it was a school bus. So we had a school bus coming about 4 ft to
the left of us and cows on the other side of the fence to the right. It
wasn't painting a pretty picture in my mind. ;) But the bus passed and he
didn't even acknowledge it. As far as his "infatuation" with other horses,
you simply need to provide the means for him to get his silliness out and
he'll settle right down for you. I rode him for the first time after his
accident today and he was wonderful. Horses were out and someone was riding
in the arena, and he went right to work (only called a couple times). Then
the other horse left and he did call for her but it didn't affect his work,
didn't act up a bit.
Training : he wasn't very balanced at the trot under saddle at first, he
would kind of hop and pick up a "tranter", but we're working that out and
he's much much more balanced. Not crazy about cantering yet, especially to
the right, but that's to be expected. Trust is definitely developing and
his attention span is gradually lengthening too :) He recognizes my voice
and looks for me now. Also- was surprised to learn that his sire was Holy
Bull...definitely has good bloodlines.
Sorry this is so incredibly long, I just wanted you to know everything
that has been happening. Hope all is well there at the farm; I'm sure
you're keeping busy. I will send pictures in the next couple weeks.
Take care,
Alison Bell
I am sorry I
still have not emailed pictures! We took pictures of him in the field but I
wanted to send you some of us riding. We have not taken riding pictures yet
just videos. He is wonderful!! He has been wonderful and riding again has
been very healing. We went on a trail ride Sunday and he did great! Bud has
been a great addition and settled into our farm and routine perfectly. Thank
you for another wonderful horse!!
Update on
Goldie: We took x-rays of his stifle area and turns out he was kicked in the
stifle and has ligament damage. The vet said it is a good thing that he is
not a jumper! We are trying to manage his discomfort and the vet said it
could be 6 months before he heals! We are going to try acupuncture to see if
that will help. He doesn't want to put full weight on that leg, which is
causing problems because he is not using his muscles. We have basically
retired Goldie so our goal is to get him comfortable hopefully without Bute
and be pasture sound. Please let me know if you have any ideas for this kind
of injure. We are stabling him at night and he is on 2 grams of bute a day.
This was a horrible place to be kicked. I am very glad the boarders horse
that kicked him has left the farm!
Lori I. Starnes
Dear Celeita,
Mistral is safe and sound in her new home! She is beautiful and so sweet. She
was so calm and comfortable that the girls were able to groom her and give her a
few treats. She ate, drank and met the other horses after they came back in
from the pasture. As the only girl in the stable she is the rose among the
thorns! We love her already. Thank you so much for all of your help.
The Bruno Family
I just received the 2003 newsletter with a note
asking for an update on Big.
Big is doing very well. He is healthy and happy.
His pasture pal is a 10 y/o TB named Smasher. They are close buddies and run
and frolic a lot in their huge pasture. It's fun to watch the two of them
running together in the field.
During the cold winter months, they spend the
nights in a fully-enclosed barn. He gets grain in the morning and evening and
as much hay as he likes.
Big doesn't get ridden as much as he used to
anymore. He is still very gentle and a sweetie, but he is getting on in years
and we don't want to push him too hard. When he had his feet trimmed
recently, the farrier was quite pleased. He looks great.
Let me know what else you want to know about him
and I will be happy to provide the information.
Mike Sobey
Hi Its Olivia I saw the happy endings on the site I
am glad we got to put Annie on it took me a long time to get the picture to
you but I finally did that pic is from when we first moved her there we got
her a winter blanket that day I wrote you. I hope to do some showmanship
classes with Annie If we do ill have my mom take some pics and we will send
them to you.
Hope to see you soon
Olivia, and Annie
Hi Celieta,
Maiden went to her new home last night. I talked to Pat this morning and it
looks like a good fit. She made the trip very well and already has a few
barn buddies. I am so happy you found a wonderful new home for her.
Unfortunately, my daughter has decided she is more interested in boys now
than horses (at least for the moment).
Pat has promised to keep me updated on her progress over the next few weeks,
so it sounds like she is a wonderful person and has a new best friend.
Thanks again,
Marion
Dear Celeita:
He's here! And in great shape. He rested for
a bit in a stall, and now is out in the pasture with 3 easy-going mares and
two round bales of hay. Our daughters stayed in the pasture with him for over
two hours this morning. He was fine with them just walking up to him and
putting his halter on and walking around together. He actually walked to the
gate with us as we left!
Thanks so much. We couldn't be happier.
Mary and the whole Grove family
Dear Lindsey:
We just wanted to tell you how very excited
we are to include Skynrd in our family. He arrived here in Charlottesville,
Virginia on Christmas Eve day. Until we get our fencing completed here at
the house, he is being stabled about 10 minutes away. Although we are
letting him rest up from the big trip over the mountains, the entire family
has been out to visit with him (and brush him, and clean his feet, and walk
him) every day since his arrival. Yesterday he went into the round pen for
the first time. After we did some games with him, he made us laugh by
playing follow-the-leader without a lead rope with our oldest daughter,
Miranda (13). Today, he was trotting and cantering a bit in the round pen.
As you already know whenever we turn him
out, he always walks away for about 10 paces and then immediately turns
back towards us for another round of rubbing and stroking. What a great
guy, and thank you for letting us enjoy the results of your hard work with
him.
You are welcome to stay in touch with us,
and if you have any other helpful hints, please just drop us an email.
Happy New Year,
Mary, Jim, Miranda, Laurel, and Jared Grove
Celeita,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope you have a successful , wonderful
year with all the horses and may you may great and loving homes for them. I
wish you the best in everything that comes to you and for you, and may you
have good health. Merry Christmas to the horses and your dogs as well.
With love from
Vinny, Tracy and family
By the way he is doing great, no runny noses, no colds, he is keeping his
weight ( which i was concerned about him losing, I did not know if it is
natural for horses of age to lose in the winter.)
thank you for your sweet card. I hope Christmas was lovely and
not too hectic for you.
The children rode on Christm
