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A special thank you to Erin Burnside of Elkins High
School and all the riders that came to the benefit trail ride for SWAP. As her
Senior project Erin raised over $400. for SWAP. Kudos Erin. If we had 100 kids
do this as their senior project or even just as a fund raiser, they could pay to
feed all our horses for a year!! Please consider us kids when you are doing your
volunteer projects for school or if you want to do a fund raiser this summer.
One kid with the desire to help can make a huge difference, just like Erin did.
Bravo for a job well done!!
Congratulations
to our Executor for her selection and award for the International Who's Who of
Professional and Business Women for 2006/2007. Kudos!!
Yehaa, Kudos again to our Executor for her selection to
receive the National Leadership Award by the Republican Party.
Click here to put
a horse into our adoption program
Click here to
see what we have learned over the years and with thousands of horses.
If you can't adopt, think about a gift to one or
all of our horses: supplies, tack, dewormers, a donation, fly spray, or a new
halter. Click here to be a sponsor to
one of our horses
Great Goals for 2008:
1. Spend
an hour a day with your horses, not just feeding, training and turning out, but
real quality time doing something that is enjoyable for the both of you.
Grooming or hand walking is a great way to bond with your horse and good for
both you and the horse.
2. Get
your loved ones more involved in your horses. Divorce is the biggest reason we
see horses coming back to us. Don't just share the work, share the fun too and find
something they really enjoy doing with horses.
3. Learn
a new discipline, go to a clinic, a horse show, or equine affaire. Come to one
of our clinics or watch a training video. If you are an adopter you can check
out books and video's from SWAP's Library for just shipping costs. Take a lesson at least once a month or Bring your adoption horse
here and we will help you. The better you are, the more fun you will have.
4. Make a
plan for your horse after you are gone or if you have a major injury, let your
will executor know your plans. Make a plan for emergencies or financial bumps
along the way for your horse. Have a plan if you or your horse gets injured,
even for the tough times of year like winter (or summer down south). Ask friends, family and neighbors
to be part of your plan. Most people can not resist someone when they are asking
for help for the welfare of an innocent animal.
5. Get yourself healthy and in better shape to
prevent injury, to live a long life and to more enjoy your horses. Eat 1-1-1
(one ounce of dark chocolate, one ounce of fresh walnuts, one glass of red wine
daily) and 2-2-2 (2 servings of fresh vegis, 2 of fresh fruit and get 2 sources
of fat free calcium). Drink 100 ounces of spring water a day, get a whole
house water filter. Change over to Sea-salt. Take one teaspoon of apple cider
vinegar every morning to keep your body alkaline (cancer and disease can not
grow in an alkaline body). Eat more fish and chicken and less red meat. Get a
good air cleaner and do daily deep breathing exercises, get outside in the fresh
air and sunshine for at least 1/2 hour every day. Get away from high fat food,
processed foods, fast food, can or boxed food, sugar or artificial sweeteners,
soda and don't eat anything if you can't read all the ingredients and know
exactly what is in it. Clean all vegis and fruits thoroughly, buy organic, buy
ocean caught fish, not farm raised, buy fresh meat and raw milk, not packed or
processed. Eat only natural carbs (potatoes, rice, oats) bake/broil or steam
everything. Use your microwave for only heating water, it kills the nutrition
value in food. Get 8 hours of sleep, reduce stress/risk (reduce commuting by car
pooling, tight schedules, cell phone use in the car, watch or read the news only
once a day or better yet once a week, stay clear of
negative people
and those very negative chat rooms and bulletin boards). Stop Complaining and be
Thankful for what we each have. Do one hour of walking, yoga or weight
training every day and it will make you strong, lean, look great and you'll get
wonderful complements from friends, coworkers and loved ones and the horse work
will be easier and more enjoyable.
6. Read
at least one book on training your horse and one on care each year, if for nothing
else but just inspiration. SWAP has a great
library of books/videos that adopters can check out for just the cost of mailing
it. Click here to
see our Library
7. Get
carrots/apples every time you go to the store, your horses will love you for it and
always come running when you call. Don't feed candy or anything sweeter. Carrots
are sweet enough. Get rid of the sweet feeds and you'll get rid of the hot horse
once and for all.
8.
Realize that if you are having a problem with your horse, more likely than not,
the problem is you. Learn more, practice more, ask in a different way, be
patient, change their environment or daily schedule to better suit them. Taking
better care of a horse always brings out the best in that horse. Good
feed/hay, time to rest in a quiet stall out of the elements, lots of fresh water, time to be with you and time to
just be a horse, time with their buddies, farrier and vet care always done is a
good start. The biggest part of this relationship puzzle is you, not the horse.
If you are struggling, then you need to learn more and get better.
9. Ride
at least once a week, regardless of weather. Use this time as your down time for
healing, your therapy, your time to relieve stress and the pressures of daily
life. Even if you don't ride, go sit and read a book in the pasture with the
horses or sit in the barn and listen to them munch on dinner, away from the
crowd and noise of your day. Enjoy the peace and quiet, enjoy hearing happy
horses eating dinner or grass in the pasture.
10. Spend
time leisurely grooming your horse once a week. Rubber curries are shine makers.
You will have a beautiful horse and a very loyal friend who will do anything for
you.
11. Come and spend a week at SWAP HQ,
volunteering and focusing on helping a horse and giving will change your life
plus it will be the best vacation you ever had. Help
an animal in need, whether fostering, being one of our state reps that goes out
to check on our horses in their homes or helps us approve adopters in their
area. Find horses in need and help us find them homes. Buy a horse at a slaughter
auction, get it fat and trained and we'll help you place it into a good home. Foster and
volunteer for your local small animal adoption program. I promise, the good
things you do will come back to you a hundred times over. Every person has a
talent they can offer and if you help one horse or one dog or cat find a good
home, you have changed their life forever.
12.
Know that every goal is obtainable and it starts with a single step.
Take that first step today!! No matter what it is or how big, YOU CAN DO IT!!
Every goal that is written down will come true (really!). Every famous person,
every great or notable scientist, author, trainer/rider, parent or friend
started out as just a thought, just a goal. Remember to take one step today to
reach your goals.
13. Start
every day with thinking about, what is the most important thing I can do
today to change my life and make it better. Do that one thing and in 30 days
your life will be totally different. Can you imagine what your life would be
like if you did that for 60, 90 or even 365 days a year. The opportunities are
endless.
14. Want to keep your horse sound for life? (That should be every horse owners
number one goal) do a
long slow warm up (cold muscle is easy to injure, a warm one is nearly
impossible to injure). The very best cool down is hand walking your horse for 1 hour after every work out.
Yes, get off the horse and walk with it. Its great exercise for you and a good
time for you to bond. Stop riding your horse during cool downs and stop using a
hot walker, do something good for you and the horse, hand walking. Its also the
best rehab for over work and injuries, the only thing better is hydro therapy
and swimming your horse. Allow soft tissue and hard tissue to
become more conditioned before going into any training program... that usually
means 3 months of at least 3 days a week for soft tissues and 10 months of work for bones to become strong
enough to jump or do any strenuous training program. Don't start any upper level
work, jumping or extensive training until the horse is fit and at least between
age 4 and 6 and has been conditioned for at least 10 months (especially if the
horse has never been jumped/worked or not been jumped or worked in the last
year).
15. Appreciate what you have and be thankful.
Instead of looking at what you don't have, look at what you do. Thank those
people who have helped you and supported you. The more you give, the more that
will come back to you. When you give something away or give something to
someone/something in need, you make space in your life for something good to
come to you. We are all very blessed, if we just take a moment to look
around and enjoy those things.
16. Get used to using favorite mantra's and visualizations
every day, simple ones that are easy to remember, like 'I can do this, I will do
this', 'this isn't going to get the best of me' or even, 'I deserve the best' or
'the gift of love, caring, and support always comes back' and take two minutes
every morning as you wake and at night as you go to sleep to visualize the life
you want, the you you want to be, Our thoughts become things, what you see
is what you get, if you expect the best, the best will happen, change your
self-talk from negative to positive and I promise your life will change for the
better..
17. Each person is put on this earth for a reason, each of
us has a mission. What is yours? Seek and you shall find, finding is a journey
... in the journey and the search you'll find your life purpose. If you died in
your sleep tonight is there something you haven't done that you need to do or
want to do? Someone you need to mend fences with, burnt bridges to fix? People
you need to tell them how much you love them? Have you fulfilled your purpose in
your life? Ask yourself, Why am I here? How can I make this better? Who do
I want to be? Who am I suppose to be? What reason was I put on this earth? What
is my purpose?
18. Be an inspiration to your family, co workers and
friends. We all fall on our face, we all make mistakes, we all get discouraged,
most times we all get up and try again.... sometimes we need a nudge. Instead of
being negative or doing negative things, be their inspiration. You do believe
they can do it, so why not tell them. If their self talk is negative, then you
be their positive self talk.... eventually they will start to say it and believe
it too. Life is self fulfilling, failure feeds on itself or causes more failure,
achieving does as well. So if you or your love ones are in a negative cycle,
break the cycle by changing your thoughts, your self talk, achieve something
small to get yourself and your family back into the cycle of achievement.
19. We all file a flight plan every single day for our
life. Where is your flight going today? Just like a pilot flying, the winds, the
gravitational pull will change your flight plan and take you off course, so you
must make small corrections along the way to make sure you make your
destination. Have you selected your destination? Have you picked the steps in
your flight plan to get there? Every goal is really that easy, pick the goal and
figure out how to get there. The easiest way to pick your flight path/plan is
find someone who has done it before you, then do what they did. Its all baby
steps you know. Just keep an eye on that destination and keep saying...."here is
my destination, this is where I'm going, this is where I am now, this is how I'm
going to get there.... I will arrive at this time on this day. You can do
it..... its just like getting in your car to go to the store, its just deciding
where you want to go and how to get there, then take that first step. You can do
it!! No matter how big or how outlandish you may think your dream to be...
it is obtainable.
20. Laugh every day and try (as hard as it is sometimes)
to find the positive and the humor in each situation (and have at least one bite
of a truly decadent desert once a week). Life is just too short to not enjoy it
thoroughly.
21. We learn the most and do our best work when we have
fallen on our face, when we are struggling, when we are worried, scared or
frustrated, when we anguishing over something or troubled by it. It is then that
you have true motivation, when you think clearer. The most brilliant ideas come
to people when they feel lost, frustrated, or at the bottom, helpless or
hopeless. Cherish these times because its when you can come up with your best
ideas to your biggest problems and challenges. You see, there is a reason for
the rainy days.
22. You can't make everyone happy, its useless to try and
wasted energy to think you can. 50% of all people will not agree with you at any
given time, don't worry about it and don't let it stop you. 50% becomes a lot of
people when you are in the public eye. As long as you are not hurting anyone and
you believe you are doing the right thing, then go ahead and do it. If you are
wondering what is the right thing to do, its usually the harder thing to do, the
toughest path to take. The easy way out is rarely the right thing to do.
Instead of worrying over what someone thinks of you or says about you, do
something amazing and outstanding to inspire them or at least have them sitting
on the side lines being jealous, secretly saying, "wow, she has guts". One
person with purpose becomes the majority, one way or another.
This should
probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where one could read it every day.
1. There
are at least two people in this world that you would die for.
2. At least
15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. The only
reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you
4. A smile
from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
5. Every
night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
6. You mean
the world to someone.
7. You are
special and unique.
8. Someone
that you don't even know exists loves you.
9. When you
make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.
10 When you
think the world has turned its back on you take another look.
11 Always
remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
Good
friends are like stars.......
You don't
always see them, But you know they are always there.
"Whenever
God Closes One Door He Always Opens Another,
I would
rather have one rose and a kind word from a friend while I'm here than a whole
truck load when I'm gone.
Always in hope and admiration, Celeita
| | 
Saying Goodbye to Our Beloved 4 Legged Friends
and Family Members
"It's
better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all"
- "If tears could build a stairway, and memories were a lane,
- We would walk right up to heaven and bring you back again.
- No farewell words were spoken. No time to say goodbye.
- You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.
- Our hearts still ache in sadness, and secret tears still flow.
- What it meant to lose you--no one can ever know.
- But now we know you want us to mourn for you no more.
- To remember all the happy times, life still has much in store.
- Since you'll never be forgotten, we pledge to you today--
- a hallowed place within our hearts is where you'll always stay."
-
Zoe
Bonnie's Boy (BB)
Selle Francais gelding
Kathy, I hope you've been able to get BB in the ground now and
hopefully you've started healing. It will take a long time to stop
missing him, just try to remember the good times you had had with him.
He is always with you, all you have to do is think of him and he'll be
there. I promise. Thank you for giving him such a great home for so
many years. I know he was quite happy there. Celeita
Thank you Celeita for your kind words. Yes, he is/was well loved. BB
was 26 yo. We promised BB a forever home so we decided to bury him on
the property. The pain we are feeling is deep but as I laid in bed
this morning thinking of BB and memories…. I went back and forth about
it. I finally came to the conclusion that the pain is worth every bit
of the joy and happiness BB brought over the years to Gary, me, our
families and neighbors. Gary and I want to thank you, Celeita also
Second Wind and the Leones…… BB had a phenomenal life, we were blessed
to have share it with him and to have him in our lives. Well, the
dogs are barking so I think the farmer is here. The vet said she
would talk to you and send you a letter certifying his death/cause if
you would want to call her.
Take care,
Gary and Kathy
.JPG)
Dance with Diane
Thoroughbred mare
- Rastus, the most loyal dog I've ever known, found on the road
starved and her coat in a mess,
- with only 6 teeth, the vet thought she was somewhere between 16
and 20. Our years
- with her are cherished
I'm a Wap Two "Two Wap"
1977 - 2007
Turn up your sound to hear and see this Tribute to 2 Wap
![]()
Bunny, warmblood mare
Lilly, TB mare
Cash, Nakota mare
Princess, Arab mare
Silent Charm, aka Sam 1985 - 2007
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- Gunny, faithful best friend
- 1995 - September 9, 2007
Bandit (approx 1996 - 2007)
One of the many dogs SWAP was lucky enough to place into a wonderful
home. Also shown with Blondie, also one of our precious SWAP dogs. Thanks
to the Grant family in VA for giving them both such a great home for so
many years.
 
Toby, Anglo Arab Gelding
1986 - April 1 2007
Yesterday was a sad day. Mark's big Anglo/Arab, "Toby" went down
around noon. He had been normal, no sign of distress and, just
suddenly went down. Dean actually saw him go down from his backporch,
felt something wasn't right and came running over. He wasn't down more
than 10 min when we got to him. We managed to get him up several times
and even got him out of the paddock and into the little hay field
during the afternoon. He had none of the signs we would generally
associate with colic but we did dose him with banamine and drenched
him just to be on the safe side. When he was up, he pooped, peed, and
was interested in grass for a few hours. As the afternoon went on, he
declined and we just sat with him, letting him get up and down at
will. It became harder and harder for him to keep his feet under him
and it appears he possibly had a stroke. It didn't seem like he could
see us but, he would follow Mark's voice with his head. The last time
he was up, he couldn't walk forward and listed to the right.
Of course, thunderstorms were raging through all day and by
nightfall, we had been soaking wet for hours. Our wonderful neighbors,
Tammy, Herb, and Dean, stayed with us and Tammy even brought a light
supper and lots of hot coffee out to the meadow for us. Shortly after
dark, we came in to put dry clothes on and went back out 15 min. later
and Toby was gone..................Toby was only 21.
We are devastated at the loss of this boy. He was so bonded with
Mark and such a joy to have around. As I've said before, he was our
biggest personality and I wish we had more years with him. Dean is
grieving the way young boys with huge hearts do and Mark isn't doing
much better. Now, we have to wait for the backhoe to come this
evening. Today will not be any easier than yesterday! mary
Miss Poppit
Thoroughbred mare
1985 - 2007
Thank you, Celeita, for your kind words
with the passing of Poppy (as we called her).
She truly was a "never-say-die" sort of
Thoroughbred…fighting to the end, I bet.
I do feel terribly that we weren't able to
help her this last time but as you said she's in no pain now,
which is truly better off with that knee and
her poor, sore front feet.
It's was just her time, I guess.
We meet a wonderful farmer just up the
road that very understandingly came and buried her for us,
out in our big field, under a tree….there's a
nice view from there & it's very peaceful.
Several of the horses watched…they knew, I'm
sure, and they'll miss her…
She was one of a kind. Amazing what a strong
spirit an old, crippled Thoroughbred can have!
Thanks again for being so supportive
through this and be certain that she had better days here than she'd had
before.
She was a sweet soul and certainly deserved
it!
Best,
Angie
Applegate's Sultan's Lady Heir, 'Miss Apple' Saddlebred mare
Apple had an interesting story, she came to us as a mare that could
only do light riding, after a long show career and then years of doing a
lot of trail riding she was in her mid twenties and looking for an easier
home. Angie Hughart had grew up on Apple, being raised by her and with
her, showing and competing. Apple was sold when Angie went away to school,
she then married and had kids of her own. Needless to say she started
looking for a horse and found her own friend in our program. Adopted her
to give her old friend the retirement home she deserved after so many
years of loyal service. Apple died in her sleep after a very long life and
in the best home she could have ever wanted.
-
Miss Browick Hillside Gigi aka 'Gigi'
- 1992 - December 11,
2006
- Gigi's mommy is
Christina Brown, SWAP trainer and adopter of Trak gelding Adlige
- we were all very
lucky to have her in our lives, she will be missed
I lost my beloved male Doberman, Aladdin last Saturday and hoped you
could
add him to the memorial page. He died with all of us at his side, just
like
my beautiful Kaila. They are together again! Aladdin was the perfect
example
of "man's best friend", he and my husband were inseparable. We will miss
him
every day. We'll see you both at the bridge my friends!
Love Michelle Sussman, Tom, Nick & Quincy
Louie
Sally
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- Daisy
- beloved pony
- Ernie
- Quarter Horse Gelding
Cutlass, 1985 TB gelding
Joffree, 1985 Swedish Warmblood gelding
- Ginger
- 1999 - Jan 2006
- Female Dobie, best buddy of adopter Beth Large Dombroski, friend
to all the SWAP and Chagrin Valley Hunt Club horses and all the Dobie's
that came through the Cleveland Doberman Rescue.
- Armbro Debonair, Standardbred Stallion
- He greeted everyone who came to SWAP HQ with a kind eye, a sweet
disposition and a trusting soul. Rest in Peace my beautiful boy. I'll
see you at Rainbow Bridge.
April 19, 1982 - December 23, 2005
Marissa Sutton, adopter of Resolute and mother of his rider Maddie,
thank you for your love of all animals and for the special care you took
with Resolute. We'll miss you.
-
SIGLAVY AMOROSA II
-
“Siggy”
-
1981-2005
.JPG)
- Kurageous
- 1982 Hanoverian Gelding
God Jumps
by Lauren Davis Baker
God gives us horses and compels some of us to love them. Yet why does
the horse, an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life?
Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't be able
to bear losing them. Or, perhaps it's because God wants to jump.
Perhaps God looks down on the fine horses we raise and decides when it's
His turn to ride. He gives us a few good years to care for and learn
from them, but when the time is right, it's up to us to see them off
gracefully.
O.K., perhaps not gracefully. Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful.
But we can be grateful.
To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short
years, a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and
hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the
tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes
crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable
feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.
Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle-or a computer-a horse
needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly
and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the
crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our
horses dip their noses and drink heartily,we know we've made the right
choice.
Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy
keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay,
and a trough of clean water. Others will test you-you'll struggle to
keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod
regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone
you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure
themselves.
If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique
personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there
are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor.
Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from
the barn when you least expect it. I found one of ours on the front
porch one morning, eating the cornstalks I'd carefully arranged as
Halloween decorations.
Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing.
You will hit it off with some horses a nd others will elude you
altogether.
There are as many "types" of horses as there are people-which makes the
whole partnership thing all the more interesting.
If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing
you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a
Sunday-but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living
being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting
the car in "drive."
In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few
things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along
with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear
he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up
with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will
have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately
make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences-if it
suit s him. It all depends on the partnership-and partnership is what
it's all about.
If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at
it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in
addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're
willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you
have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the
work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse
may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is
the closest you'll get to heaven.
You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The
results may come more quickly but will your work ever be as graceful as
that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well
as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment
brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between
horse and ri der. T hese are the days when you know with absolute
certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.
If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us
have to squeeze riding into our oversaturated schedules; balancing our
need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There
is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours in
the barn are stolen pleasures.
If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them.
Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and
whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled
world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm
place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals.
Some of us need these reminders.
When you step back, it's not just about horses-it's about love, life,
and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a
foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there
is also loss:
a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it
gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses:
the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these
animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of
sorrow.
We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have
been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union.
We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to
give.
To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our
muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We
celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses
have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of
battle.
Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and
challenges met. The best of horses rise to th e chal lenges we set
before them, asking little in return.
Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart.
Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of
long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to
end the life of a true companion.
In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our
horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in
the first place. And so we pray:
Dear God,
After You've enjoyed a bit of jumping, please give our fine horses the
best of care. And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more
good gallop when we meet again?
Amen
Belle
Spago
Ben
Beau,
Westphalian gelding, former German grand prix show jumper
Dunny. QH gelding 1985 - 2005
-
- Casco, TB gelding
- 1990 - 2004
- Ana Malika, Arab Mare
- 1979 - 2004
- Dr. Kelly Stevenson, found dead on her farm in Arizona Monday
August 23rd, 2004
- Adopter of warmblood mare Galant, Volunteer & Foster Mom
- We all miss her!!
- Christie's Bonanza
- 1975 - 2004
Karashell, 1980 Arab Mare
1980 - May 2004
Sunrise, Quarter Horse gelding
Jag, standardbred gelding
KABUKI, PAINT MARE
SCUDBUSTER, TB GELDING
God looked around his garden, and saw an empty space.
He then looked down upon this Earth, and saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you, and lifted you to rest, God's garden
must be beautiful, he only takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering, he knew you were in pain.
He knew you might never, get well upon this Earth again.
He saw the road was getting tough, and the hills were hard to climb,
so he closed your weary eyelids and whispered, "Peace be Thine".
It broke our hearts to lose you, but you never went alone, for part
of us went with you, the day God called you home.
author unknown
Galano, 1989 Peruvian Paso gelding
Nuggett Bill, 1981 Quarter horse gelding - April 3rd, 2004
Buddy, Standardbred gelding
Icy, 2001 TB filly
LaRoyce, Standardbred gelding
-
Alderman's Alexander
"Alex"
-
1979 - January 1st,
2004
Subtle Scent, Thoroughbred mare
- Uncle Mustard, TB gelding
- 1977 - 2003
Merry, Rescued QH mare
Foxy Idol, TB mare
|
INDIAN LEGEND |
| There is an Indian
Legend that says when a human dies there is a bridge they must cross
to enter into heaven. At the head of this bridge waits every animal
they have encountered during there lifetime. The animals based upon
what they know of this person, decide which will enter into heaven and
which are turned away. |
-
 The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of Heaven there is a place called the Rainbow Bridge.
-
When an
animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the
Rainbow Bridge.
-
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so
they can run and play together.
-
There is plenty of water, food, and sunshine,
and our friends are warm and comfortable.
-
All of the animals who were ill and
old are restored to health and vigor.
-
Those who were hurt and maimed are made
strong and whole again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times
gone by.
-
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they
each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and
looks into the distance.
-
His eyes are intent. His eager body quivers.
-
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
caring him faster and faster.
-
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you
cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
-
The happy kisses
rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent
from your heart.
-
Then you cross the bridge together...
Author Unknown
-
- Wally, 1987 Thoroughbred gelding
-
- Almore N, Standardbred gelding
-
- Millie Burn, Thoroughbred mare
-
-
- Magic Minnie, Thoroughbred mare
-
Isaac, Warmblood gelding
-
- Just a Keeper, Thoroughbred mare
-
Brett, Trakehner gelding
DON'T CRY FOR THE HORSES
by Brenda Riley-Seymore
Don't cry for the horses
That life has set free
A million white horses
Forever to be
Don't cry for the horses
Now in God's hands
As they dance and they prance
To a heavenly band
They were ours as a gift
But never to keep
As they close their eyes
Forever to sleep
Their spirits unbound
On silver wings they fly
A million white horses
Against the blue sky
Look up into heaven
You'll see them above
The horses we lost
The horses we loved
Manes and tails flowing
They Gallop through time
They were never yours
They were never mine
Don't cry for the horses
They will be back someday
When our time has come
They will show us the way
On silver wings they will lift us
To the warmth of the sun
And dance over the moon
A Ballet of horses and
riders on the winds to a heavenly tune
Do you hear that soft nicker
Close to your ear?
Don't cry for the horses
Love the ones that are here
Don't cry for the horses
Lift up your sad eyes
Can't you see them
As they fly by?
A million white horses
Free from hunger and pain
Their spirits set free
Until we ride again
I'm a Lady Beatle "Noel", Quarter Horse mare
Looking back on the
memory of
The dance we shared beneath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I the king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance
Garth Brooks
Emperor, Trakehner gelding
Flying Cherakee, thoroughbred gelding
Trooper
Madam IRS, rescue horse and thoroughbred mare
Magnum, Arab gelding
Whiteland Quest, Standardbred mare
Slava, Trakehner gelding and grand prix dressage horse
- Summer Satin, Thoroughbred mare
- 1985 - 2000
- Rudder Tree, Standardbred gelding
- 1988 - 2003
- Land Cruiser, Thoroughbred gelding
- 1988 - 2002
- THE LAST GOODBYES
- As you hold them in your arms
- And say your last good-byes
- Look close into the fading light
- that flickers in their eyes
- They are not afraid
- because they know when a sparrow falls
- she falls into the hands of God
- all creatures great and small
- Remember when you found them
- abandoned, frightened, so alone
- shivering at your side you gave comfort
- and shared the warmth of your home
- As the years passed, they were with you
- through every job and sorrow
- Always at your side until on day you knew
- there would be no more tomorrows
- You sign and think
- never again will I give my heart
- it hurts too much to grieve
- when you have to part
- But there are so many animals
- that have no place to go
- who are longing for someone just like you
- to love and call their own
- They don't live as long as humans do
- this too is a part of God's plan
- for animals are God's angels
- to be there for you when he can't
- God's gift is that you can love many
- when your pet has time for only one
- you can give love and happiness to the strays
- who without you would have none.
- So lay your friends to rest, lift up your hearts
- dry your tears, for it is told
- death is but a passage into the hands of God,
- through the gates of gold
- Somewhere others need you
- in shelters, on farms, or wandering the streets
- they want nothing more from life
- than to lay down at your feet or lay their head on
your shoulder
- It is time to give another life
- the love only you can give
- we are the caretakers of Gods creatures
- for not to love.... is not to live.
- Brenda Riley-Seymore
- Sinatra, Thoroughbred gelding
- 1981 - 2002
- Secret Blush, Thoroughbred mare
- 1998 - 2003
- Mingo, Morab gelding
- 1977 - 2002
- Picky, Standardbred gelding
- 1992 - 2003
- Suger, standardbred mare
- 1984 - 2003
- Riley, Thoroughbred gelding
- 1982 - 2003
Singapore, Thoroughbred gelding
The Wings Of Pegasus
by JDE 12/ 29/ 00
As an avid reader and lover of horse stories, I often peruse the antique shops
for out-of-print horse books, stud books of the various breeds... anything that
is 'horsey' that I don't already have. My most treasured book was acquired in
this way.
It was in a quaint New England town that one store drew my attention. This
building seemed out of place among colonial and saltbox homes converted into a
row of collectible shops along Main Street, fondly called 'antique alley' in my
area. The two boutiques flanking it were pristine, almost startling; so bright
were their new coat of white paint and meticulously applied trim of slate blue.
In contrast, this homely structure was drab: weathered and brown paint was
peeling in strips from the siding. What little trim still framed the doors and
windows had rotted, leaving ugly black scars on the soul of this once family
dwelling. The 'antiques for sale' sign dangled precariously from the front door
and 'old books' was written in black marker on a shop-worn cardboard placard
that leaned off-center against the glass window.
Upon entering, the smell was musty and stifling. The proprietor, well over
retirement age, sat behind the counter. He was a short, dumpy man with a ruddy
complexion; engrossed in some sports magazine, he seemed oblivious to my
presence.
There did not appear to be any order or arrangement of the books by category on
the shelves. The old floorboards creaked as I moved from shelf to shelf scanning
the books. It was a book on the fourth shelf that caught my eye. Obviously very
old as the binding was tattered, the leather jacket was mildewed and the size
was unique. It was a small book. Gently I slid it out from between two gigantic
volumes. Such a fragile book, the pages dry, discolored from age. There was no
title, just a black cover with an outline of a winged horse. Intrigued, I opened
the book. The language was totally foreign to me, but written under each word a
previous owner or someone from the past had translated in English. My hands
shook with excitement as I read, "The Wings of Pegasus" dedicated to "Htaruma
Giznad, my beloved stallion."
Upon examining the book further, random notations were written in the margins by
the unknown translator. Chronological dates with question marks, some crossed
out boldly when eliminated with surety from the mystery of the author's identity
and era. Two dates were double underlined, one in 1241 and the other in 1225. |
