"Pony Pastures LLC has been operating an "A" Circuit show and lesson barn (Zone 3) for over 6 years now. When we opened we wanted to give all horses that second look that most people don't have the time to give. That's why we adopt from Second Wind Adoption Program. Celeita Kramer also gives horses in any condition a second look, chance or new start. While working with Second Wind we've adopted 5 horses ourselves from their program as well as our students have adopted another 6 horses. In total within a 12 mile radius of our farm there are 11 SWAP horses. I myself ride one of Celeita's horses on the "A" Circuit and have competed successfully in the jumpers. Our daughter will be competing another one of Celeita's horses on the Circuit in the spring. There's talent in all horses you don't need a $100k horse to win on the circuit all you need is to find the right matched horse for you. I trust Celeita to the point that i'd have horses shipped to me sight unseen. She runs an amazing program. I look forward to riding more of her horses and competing them at higher levels. My horse Ren aka Dr. Feelgood was adopted for $900 and competes with horses that cost over $100k. Horses don't know how much they cost only what they want to become. Give a horse a Second Chance at Second Wind Adoption".

Morgan Crabbs, Owner, Pony Pastures
 

Crossed Sabers Stable
The Mountain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption Program, Inc.
Crossed Sabers International Life School, Inc.
 
Mailing/Physical Address: Rt 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union, WV 26456
Office Phone: 304-873-3532  
Fax: 304-873-1867 (call before faxing)
Email for Second Wind Adoption Program: SecondWindAdopt@aol.com 
 
Visiting Hours: Daily 10am to 2pm (eastern time) by appointment
Pick Up and Delivery of Horses:  9am to 8pm by appointment
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9am to 4pm

Driving Directions: Click here for directions to the Headquarters farm there is a note to all truckers and transporters on this page that is critical to coming to the HQ farm, please read! Follow these Directions, do not follow Mapquest or your GPS, both will put you on bad mountain roads.

Flying In: Fly into Pittsburgh Airport (PIT) and rent a car or call us to pick you up (its about 2.5 hours from the farm) or fly into Clarksburg Airport (CKB) or Parkersburg Airport (PKB) and we can pick you up, both CKB and PKB are less than an hour away.
 
our interactive calendar for adopters, volunteers, interns, students, employees and visitors
http://www.my.calendars.net/crossedsabers/d01/11/2011?display=M&style=B&positioning=A
 
15 Years Serving Horses, the Horse Industry and Horse Owners

SWAP SHOP BOGO SPECIAL

iGive.com color logo

thank you to all who regular buy from IGive and donate to SWAP! We get a check almost every month from them from your purchases!

order your wine and bubbly now from SWAP. All profits go to the SWAP Horses. A wine for every occasion and taste!

 Volunteer to help a horse

Shop for the Best Discounted Pet, Equine, & Livestock Supplies!

Shop Jeffers Equine from this link and SWAP gets an 8% donation, we do much of our shopping for our needs and supplies at Jeffers, great prices and quality!

Shop for the Best Discounted Pet, Equine, & Livestock Supplies!

Super stuff for your small animals too & 8% goes to help the horses and dogs at SWAP

SWAP FEED FUND

MAKE CREDIT CARD DONATIONS TO THE SWAP FEED FUND... CALL FOSTER FEEDS AT 304-269-1333, TALK TO CHARLIE TO GIVE A DONATION TO THE SECOND WIND ADOPTION PROGRAM FEED FUND, WE GO THROUGH 6 TONS OF FEED A MONTH. YOU CAN ALSO PAY FOR ADOPTIONS AND PURCHASES THIS WAY!!

 visitors by country counter blog counter
We do love our international visitors. Welcome! Just a small sample of our visitors. (only shows about 10% of the total visitors or hits)

Visitors By Country

Top 100 Visitors

Last 100 Visitors

Visitors Map

Daily Stats

Award Winning Website from The Pet Directory

Award Winning Rescue and Horse Website from Horse Breeds Info

horse rescue award


 

Stay up with our President/Executive Director, all the directors, volunteers and riders. All the CSS/SWAP supporters and adopters are having a big time sharing stories, pictures, lots of good stuff about their horses. Our President is at her max friends so she is full but we have set up a fan based page so everyone can be added. So sorry to the 2000 + people who have asked for a friendship....  our fan page is now up.

The Wish List of Our Needs:

More than anything we need a large donation to help us pay off our farm, we owe 50k. With a farm paid for, we will never worry about the program and schools closing.

We are looking for 2 to 3 people to work in the barn in exchange for board for their horse and possibly personal board in exchange for part time or full time work/volunteer.

1. New or used truck and 2 to 6 horse trailer, our equipment has seen its better days, we've been using both for nearly 14 years to pick up horses and move them to their new homes.

2. A Farm in any location for low cost long term lease or donation to expand our program to develop a retirement farm for our now aging horses returned to us from adopters who could not retire our horses. Our highest priority locations initially are Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia or Delaware.

3. New or Used Farm utility vehicle (like a john deere gator or mini truck),  farm tractor, & manure spreader

4. Tack and large horse items donated... like carts/buggies, racing bikes, jog carts, harnesses, saddles, horse trailers, blankets/rugs to use or sell on SWAP Shopping. Supplies to use around the barn or office.

5. A bulk feed bin that will hold anywhere from 6 tons to 9 tons of grain donated or at low cost or even a break on the cost of purchase and instillation.

7. Monthly Sponsors for our horse and dogs while they are waiting on their forever homes.

8. Volunteers to commit to doing one fund raiser for SWAP horses at your location during 2011, it can be a golf tournament, a bake sale, book sale, lemonade stand, car wash, setting up an information stand at a horse show. This is a great way to kids to get involved in helping horses.

9 Anyone interested in free high quality top soil (manure already composted) and manure for gardens, you can pick up for free by the truck load at our WV location (bring a loader). If you are a gardener and only need a small amount, pick up in a truck or we'll be selling it by the feed bag full at $2.00 a bag (in a bag that is usually used for 50 lbs of feed). This is beautiful clean top soil.

11. Someone to do dozer work on the farm, level arena/round pen, do terracing on the hill sides to keep water out of the barns and level the top soil and manure pile to increase the level of that land in that bottom so we can put our methane digester in and indoor arena. Volunteer or at a reduced cost.

Reporting Neglect:

Please, if you see neglect (ribs and hip bones showing or no food available), its critical to call the sheriff of the county where the horse/animal is located. Have the address where the horse is located or directions to the farm, pictures and the owners name (if possible). If the sheriff does nothing email PETA's cruelty case workers Stephanie or Tori at sbell@peta.org, or ToriP@peta.org Remember horses can not speak for themselves so we must speak for them!! All reports are kept anonymous.

Getting Help for Your Horses/animals if you can not care for them:

If you can not feed your animals, whether they are horses or other animals, if you are adopters, call SWAP HQ immediately, if not, call your local horse rescue and plead for help, if they are full then call your animal control officer or sheriff to release ownership of your animals so they can get them help Before they are starved to death, do not wait until they are starved, its critical to get help early. Contact us if you do not know what to do. call 304-873-3532 or email secondwindadopt@aol.com. Many counties have pet pantries so you can get feed when times are tough. If things are getting tight with costs, go to a less expensive grain like a simple stock pellet supplemented with corn, according to Ohio State Corn is the leading horse feed in the US according to their research, many large equine schools and large farms feed these all natural feeds because of what they get for the price, a lot of negative stuff has been written about corn but no one can support it with actual proof and research. We feed a simple all stock pellet from southern states and we supplement with cracked corn for those who need more calories, here is the link:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/b
762/b762_7.htm

TOP TEN WAYS YOU CAN HELP PROTECT HORSES
(ASPCA and SWAP Suggestions)

1.  BE THEIR VOICE - your vote is your greatest weapon against injustice, so register and actively support horse protection and preservation legislation.

2.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE - Walk the talk.  Don't support or attend cruel horse activities such as Tennessee Walker events using "soring" techniques - painful techniques to make the horse walk a certain way, or events that use drugs to make horses achieve results.  High-diving horse acts are cruel, as are rodeo events that don't promote respect for animals and their health.

3.  BE AN INFORMED CONSUMER - products made from horses like Premarin (pregnant mare urine pills for estrogen replacement), are created through horses' suffering.  Your spending dollar is a weapon.

4.  SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE - inform people what happens to horses after their short careers are over (slaughter plant bound), or where Premarin comes from, talk to them about over breeding, the hazards of over using young horses or not training a horse.  Engage them in discussion.

5.  SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL HORSE RESCUE OR SANCTUARY - these organizations make life better for horses.

6.  VOLUNTEER - your gift of time is valuable to horse groups and if you have special talents, so much the better.

7.  REPORT CRUELTY - if you witness abuse or neglect, report it to local animal control or your county sheriff.  Someone cruel to animals is cruel to humans, too.

8.  PROTECT THE AMERICAN WILD HORSE - mustangs have a special place in our history and you can support federal and local legislation by writing emails and letters to your government reps.

9.  KEEP YOUR HORSE SAFE AND HEALTHY - if you own a horse, maintain its health with regular hoof, medical and dental check-ups.  Make sure they are companioned as horses suffer living alone - even a goat makes a good companion. Feed what the horse needs, if you are seeing ribs and hip bones, the horse is not getting enough, if you can't afford to buy more feed, then give the horse to someone who can, just be sure to check the person out and make sure they are not selling the horse to slaughter or just going to turn out and sell the horse to anyone that has the money. .

10.  PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR HORSE'S CARE - your health and finances change so what happens to your horse of you can't care for it anymore?  Research your options, including a pet trust.  Horses live into their mid 20s and early 30s now - that's a lifetime of commitment.

Crossed Sabers Stable:

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As many as 60 million visitors per year

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As many as 530,000 hits in one day

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Visitors from 113 different countries

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Website Visitors from every continent of the world

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Thousands of adoptions (of 68 different breeds) in homes today with SWAP

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Horses adopted in 46 states and Canada

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14 Year History

Preparing for a Cold Winter:

HAY: Get your hay now before the prices become outrageous, get enough for the winter (good planning is 2 bales for every 3 days for one horse or 10 bales per month per horse, so to make it until the middle of June (first cutting), you're looking at 90 bales per horse at the very least (from September to June). If you have good thick grass that has been mowed and fertilized then depending on where you live in the US you might just need 60 to 70 bales. For good grazing its recommended  that you have 3 to 5 acres of mowed, seeded, fertilized grass per horse. Remember Grass is dead in WV from Oct/Nov until about April and every state has some months where the grass does not give the horses their calories or nutrients it needs to sustain life (USDA has details of that for each state). They may be grazing in the winter but they are not getting anything from the grass to survive. I know most know that but I say it because we had an adopter last year in WV that thought if they were eating grass that was all they needed and she nearly killed 2 horses.

GRAIN: Remember on average horses need 1 lb of concentrated feed (grain) for every 100 lbs of body weight, so on average horses need about 10 lbs of grain a day, more when its very cold or if they are living outside in a run because much of their calories go to keeping them warm. Also older, sick, skinny, stallions, bred mares and young horses take more feed during the winter. Some  horses need more so its critical to watch to make sure their ribs and hip bones are staying meaty and covered. If you see ribs, the horse is too thin and needs more calories, not supplements but more calories, which means more grain.. Easy keepers may be round but it does not mean they are healthy, most easy keepers need a certain amount of calories and a multi vitamin to stay healthy.

WATER: One of the most critical things needed in winter is clean fresh water all the time, anywhere from 5 to 20 gallons per day per horse and everyone knows what a pain that is when there is ice and snow on the ground but its critical to preventing colic and water helps keep the horses body temperature regulated. Get your electric heaters, defrosters now, heated buckets, what ever it takes to make sure they have good water in front of them all the time and at least 10 gallons (2 flat backed buckets per horse at the very least). Here we keep 100 gallons troughs in the stalls since we have big stalls, its much easier than frozen buckets in winter, all we do is break the ice and remove it most days and put a heater in them on really cold days. We use a sump pump to empty water and scrub troughs each week which keeps water fresh and clean. So look for easy ways to keep water thawed out and clean. This is the biggest reason horses die in winter.

SHELTER: Domestic horses need shelter, they are not wild and can not survive outside without shelter or some kind of heavy waterproof rug to keep them warm during snow/ice and freezing temperatures but the best is a closed in shelter that is free from drafts (meaning its closed on all 4 sides with some sort of ventilation). Wild horses first of all don't live very long, living outside in the elements is very hard on them, secondly wild horses move in cold temperatures to keepselves warm and they often times move over thousands of acres to keep warm or to find cover or water. No domestic horse can not do that on 5, 20 or even 100 acres. Just because your horse has learned to survive in bad weather does not mean its good for them, they need shelter in bad weather.

CARE: Its important to make kids take care of their horses but they must have adult supervision on a daily basis to make sure horses are getting what they need. Trust me, I usually have 30 year olds working in our barn and I still have to be there daily to make sure things are done, that they have clean water, especially when its cold because our young helpers want to get out of the weather and then the horses are left at risk for colic. Every day check your child's work, do not leave your horses care to a child (completely), if you do you are asking for trouble.

The  Woman  I will  Be

I shall wear diamonds and a wide brimmed straw hat with ribbons and flowers on it
And I shall spend my social security on white wine and carrots
And sit in the alley of my barn and listen to my horses breathe.  
I will sneak out in the middle of a summer's night  And ride the dappled mare across the moonstruck meadow, if my old bones will allow. and when people come to call, I will smile and nod, As I walk them past the gardens to the barn And show, instead, the flowers growing there
In stalls fresh-lined with straw. I will shovel and sweat and wear hay in my hair as if it were a jewel. And I will be an embarrassment of all who look down on me Who have not yet found the peace in being free To love a horse as a friend, a friend who waits at midnight hour
With muzzle and nicker and patient eyes For the Woman I will be when I am old.

The perfect analogies for why we have the life school tied into SWAP and animal welfare work:

"Everyone thought we took this broken down horse and saved him but really he saved us"

     Jockey Red Pollard from the movie Seabiscuit

I rescued a human today

Her eyes met mine as she walked down the corridor peering apprehensively into the kennels. I felt her need instantly and knew I had to help her. I wagged my tail, not too exuberantly, so she wouldn't be afraid.

As she stopped at my kennel I blocked her view from a little accident I had in the back of my cage. I didn't want her to know that I hadn't been walked today. Sometimes the shelter keepers get too busy and I didn't want her to think poorly of them.

As she read my kennel card I hoped that she wouldn't feel sad about my past. I only have the future to look forward to and want to make a difference in someone's life.

She got down on her knees and made little kissy sounds at me.
I shoved my shoulder and side of my head up against the bars to comfort her.

Gentle fingertips caressed my neck; she was desperate for companionship. A tear fell down her cheek and I raised my paw to assure her that all would be well.

Soon my kennel door opened and her smile was so bright that I instantly jumped into her arms. I would promise to keep her safe. I would promise to always be by her side. I would promise to do everything I could to see that radiant smile and sparkle in her eyes.

I was so fortunate that she came down my corridor.
So many more are out there who haven't walked the corridors.
So many more to be saved. At least I could save one.

I rescued a human today.

Baggage
by Evelyn Colbath

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked into my warm new bed,
I would like to open my baggage,
Lest I forget
There is so much to carry -
So much to forget.

Hmm, Yes, here it is, right on the top
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my halter hides Fear & Shame
As I look on these things I have tried so hard to leave-
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never re-pack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?

A young boy was walking along the beach 
as high tide came in.  
With every crash of the waves
he noticed that dozens of seahorses were being cast onto the beach, 
where they lay gasping and squirming.  
Hurriedly, he ran to each seahorse he could find 
and gently tossed them back into the surf.  
A man watching all this approached the boy and said; 
"Son, what you are doing won't make a difference", 
to which the boy replied, 

"To that seahorse . . . it will".

Some folks said they missed my great goals list for 2010, so here it is back again

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 and for a drought winter when hay prices skyrocket). Ask friends, family and neighbors to be part of your plan, most people that don't have horses or a farm love the idea of getting away and helping. And 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. 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. Do one hour of walking, yoga or weight training every day and it will make you strong, lean, you'll look great and get wonderful complements from friends, coworkers and loved ones and the horse work will be easier and more enjoyable.

6. Stay clear of negative people and those very negative chat rooms and bulletin boards, they seem innocent but every time you go to them you lose a bit of your positive self, they are truly emotional vampires that will leave only a shell of a person. They are not based on the truth, they are based on harassment, complaining, whining and dishonesty. We all become tomorrow what we are around today, every person we come in contact with defines who we are tomorrow so be careful who you choose for friends, even the websites you go to as each of them affect who you are tomorrow. Do you want to be a bitter, miserable, complaining person or do you want to be happy, inspired and honorable, all that is affected by the decisions you make today. Stay away from Toxic people and Toxic websites/forums that are negative or that spend all their time talking bad about people and their horses. What you are around today and what you are doing today is what you will be tomorrow. Stop Complaining and be Thankful for what you have. If you become a target of harassment or anyone saying anything negative about you, if you are doing only good, positive things and not hurting anyone then ignore them, its all based on jealousy and a sick sort of wish to be like you. They have the problem, not you.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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. 

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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 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).

16. 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.

17. 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..

18. 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?

19. 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.

20. 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 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.

21. 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.

22. 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 are 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.

23. 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 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.

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.

Always in hope and admiration, Celeita

YOUR BANK ACCOUNT  
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
'Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.
'Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged .. it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.
I am still depositing.' Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

 Our lives with horses...

Our lives with horses are rich with feeling.  You know  this if  you've ever.... choked back tears watching a new foal wobble to his feet for the First time ...or watched your good horse wobble to his feet after surgery.... or seen the ends of the reins float straight out as a reining  horse spins beneath them . . or chuckled to yourself as you watched a tiny tot on a patient pony trot through a barrel pattern at a saddle club payday ... or felt the building tremble as an eight-up hitch of feather-legged giants towed a hand-carved beer wagon into the arena ... or had your heart stop when you saw your horse lying motionless in the pasture on a sunny day and waited breathlessly for an ear to flick ... or cheered at the screen when 'The Man From Snowy River' slid Dennie down the mountainside, ..  or when Seabiscuit made his final surge to beat War Admiral ... or cruised along the highway and seen a horse in a pasture and wondered what he's like to ride or pictured him as a prospect ... or sucked in your breath as a horse and rider approached a six-foot wall ... or sworn a solemn oath to your horse that together you would triumph ... or flipped through the TV channels and stopped when you saw a  horse even when it was a commercial ... or laughed aloud when you rubbed your horse's face and he rubbed back ... or gotten chills hearing Dave Johnson's 'and DOWN THE STRETCH THEY COME!' (or 'Run for the Roses' circa 1980 ish?)
 ... or stood in awe at your horse in morning play as  he sprinted around the pasture, then stopped, head erect, and snorted defiance at the rest of the world
... or been thankful to see wild horses grazing casually at the foot of a hill ... or felt calmed by the sleekness of a silky
haircoat beneath your hand ... or felt your jaw drop as you watched a Lipazzan
perform a capriole ... or if you've ever seen someone in the grocery store wearing a certain kind of hat, or boots, or buckle, or have a certain cut and length to their jeans, and felt some remote kind of connection ... or felt warmed by a soft nicker greeting as you entered the barn ... or slid your hand under your horse's blanket to straighten it out, only to pause in the glowing feeling that you get when you touch the
warmth of his coat... or riding on a trail with your horse, thinking how that trail over there looks nice and almost without asking, your horse has sensed your slightest movement in the saddle and he's now taking you there. ... or pulled up to your barn where you board and only your horse greets you with a welcoming hello from the sound of your car or your voice.

HEROES AND HORSES

SOME NOTABLE HEROES AND THEIR HORSES ARE MENTIONED AND WE KNOW YOUR HORSE IS YOUR HERO AND VICE VERSA.

1.  Kanthaka - Buddha's horse, the one he used when he was still Siddhartha the prince, to escape from his father's palace and begin his journey toward enlightenment.  Kanthaka's hooves made no sounds as they fled together and he is often depicted being lifted on his four feet by benign spirits.

2.  Pegasus - the mythical winged horse parented by Neptune and Medusa and ridden by Bellerophon to rid the world of Chimera, the monster.  Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, was able to capture and train Pegasus when he allowed her to place her golden bit in his mouth.

3.  Phosphorus (Light Bearer) - the great Roman racehorse immortalized by the 4th century Roman poet Ausonius (at the emperor's request) in a beautiful eulogy:  Fly with haste to join the wing-footed horses of Elysium; may Pegasus gallop on your right and Arion as your left-wheeler, and let Castor find a fourth horse for the team.

4.  Babieca - famed white gelding of El Cid, Rodrigo Diaz of Bivar, the Spanish hero who united Christians and Muslims against a Moorish onslaught from Africa.  Babieca lived to be 30 years old and carried El Cid into all his battles.  Babieca means "crazy" as Rodrigo made a crazy choice since the colt was the runt of the herd.

5.  Bucephalus (Ox-head) - beloved horse of Alexander the Great who bore the Macedonian hero on his back from Greece to India.  Odds against a horse living past 20 in that era were great, but Bucephalus, in his 20s, endured until he fell in battle in India.

6.  Sleipnir - the eight-legged war horse of Odin, the Norse god,  was able to fly without wings and shape-shift.

7.  Balios and Xanthos - a grey and bay, both sired by Zephyros, the West Wind, who together pulled Achilles' chariot.

8.  Vivasat - a Hindu sun-god who often took the form of a stallion.

9.  Al Burak - Mohammed's horse, on whose back he ascended to heaven, was brought to him by the archangel Gabriel

10.  Chiron - the centaur who taught Achilles, Jason and the first physician, Ascelpius, all he knew.

11.  Rakhsh - blue-eyed and dappled red horse of the legendary Persian warrior, Rustam.  Rakhsh was highly intelligent and saved his sleeping master from a lion's attack, killing the predator.

There are many more famous mythical and real horses and we will be adding to our list. Can you help us add to this list?. thank you Harmony Horse Works.

The question is not: "do you support horse slaughter."

The question is: "do you support the cruel, terrifying transport for days without food and water in their journey to death?"

The question is: "do you support the torture and abuse of the killer chutes, even for crippled horses, pregnant mares, wild horses, protective mares with foals by their sides?"

The question is: “Do you support the horse slaughter factories that lie to their consumers about the many chemicals that taint the horse meat, and call it Organic?

The question is: do you support the breeder who breeds hundreds of horses just to pick out the good ones and cash in the rest to the killer buyer?

The question is: Do you support the person who uses the horse its whole life and when it gets to an old age sends it to slaughter as a thank you?

The question is: “do you support the slaughter workers who cheer a horse on that struggles extra hard for its life?

The question is: Do you support the killer buyer who not only buys up the strong, fat and healthy horses and leaves the meek weak and unhealthy for society, but also bids against the good homes and horse rescues?

The question is: “Can you see though the lies of the ones who stand to loose a buck with the end of horse slaughter?

The question is: Do you support ripping the last of our wild horses away from their families and peaceful lives to be slaughtered?

The question is: As a nation, can we allow this to continue and still call ourselves a civilized country?

The question is: "Can you look at the footage of innocent horses with their eyes gouged out, hooves ripped off, legs broken, beaten by the workers, faces smashed in from being on the transport trucks, horses stabbed in their spines, horses conscious for the entire killing process and do nothing?

That is the question, so what is YOUR answer?

Resolve to make the world a better place for animals (credit: PETA)

bulletIf you haven't already done so, have the companion animals who depend on you spayed or neutered. These simple procedures help protect your furry friends from many types of cancer and prevent thousands of animals from being born only to end up abandoned on the streets or dumped at severely crowded animal shelters.
bulletIf you live with a dog, pledge to walk him or her every day, even when it's cold outside and you'd rather hide under a blanket. If you share your home with cats, set aside some "kitty (or horsey) quality time" every day to play with, brush, and bond with them. It's sometimes too easy to overlook our feline friends, but they can get bored and lonely too.
bulletIf there is a lonely "backyard dog" in your neighborhood, try befriending his or her guardian. Start by politely talking to him or her about the dog's needs, such as companionship, daily portions of fresh food and water, and a weatherproof doghouse filled with straw. Many lucky dogs have had their lives changed because someone like you cared enough to intervene.
bulletIf you're shopping for yourself or buying holidays gifts for your loved ones, stay away from fur, wool, leather, and companies that make or sell products made from the skins of animals.

NOTE: Crossed Sabers can not fully guarantee the accuracy of every page on this website which is huge (38,000 files and over 300 pages). We do not have the personnel or time to keep it up to date and accurate for every situation as this Stable and all its programs have always been a dynamic entity, ever changing and improving itself to meet the needs of horses and horse people. We do try to make sure each page is up to date and accurate but the best thing to do If you have a question, is email or call us. Additionally Crossed Sabers can not guarantee anything that anyone says about us on line, we have no control over other people and their websites, forums or ads, all we can tell people is if you do not know the person, their name, address and their experience, age or history/background/education and location do not trust what they say. That is true for everything on the internet. Some things said about us have been grossly inaccurate and did not come from CSS, some come from past employees we fired for cause (for hurting horses or stealing from us), people that are pro-slaughter and hate our mission and what we do for horses enjoy trying to make us look bad, some are horse traders that we've helped put out of business and some are people we helped put in jail on neglect cases. Again, if you have questions about us, our services, our company structure, how we are licensed, how we pay taxes, how we do things or anything at all, please feel free to contact us, just don't assume that all you read on another website is accurate because 99% of it is not true, especially if you read it on a forum, blog or chat room and don't assume that it came from us, just call 304-873-3532 or email us at secondwindadopt@aol.com, or better yet, come and see our operation and you will see how we do things. I can guarantee it's 1000 times better than what the liars and frauds say who are jealous of our work. All programs and services listed on this website, including SWAP is a part of Crossed Sabers Stable which has been licensed in WV for the last 13 years. The Mountain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption Program, Inc. and Crossed Sabers International Horse School, Inc. was incorporated on 4 Sep 08 to address the education needs and life challenges of people and horses.

Buyer and Seller Beware!! Update on the Robin Hollingsworth of Blacksburg, SC (she has several alias's and about 10 fake names) fraud case for those of you who have been asking. The SC prosecutor accepted a plea bargain from her and dropped the case if she paid the people she ripped off (the people she took money under false pretenses from when she sold them horses she did not own), she did that so she was let go but the 3 arrests will stay on her record and the record of what she did to all those people is still on the books and will stay there. If she is caught again I'm certain she will go to jail but people who are cheated by her must stand up and testify.. If more people that she ripped off would have not chickened out and backed out because of fear (Quote from them was we are scared of her, she is crazy) she would be in jail right now but beware, she is still loose and still taking free horses or companion horses that have things like ringbone and navicular and drugging them and then selling them as high level jumpers and competition horses on the internet. Her daughter works with her, Amanda or Mandy, she helps her rip people off. Beware, I'm getting calls almost every month where Robin has committed more crimes against people, taking horses, not paying for them, bouncing checks, buying vehicles and horse trailers and not paying for them. BEWARE OF THIS WOMAN!! If you want her history or to check a person's name against our black list (our do not adopt to, do not sell to, do not buy from, do not hire or even rent to list), then contact us.

BEWARE: Do not buy a horse from anyone you do not know, ESPECIALLY ON THE INTERNET, unless they have websites like ours, their names and addresses listed and they show they have a long long history on their website and do not buy unless you go to see the horse and have it vet checked and you have contact with the vet, not the seller or even trainer telling you what the vet said. DO NOT GIVE YOUR HORSE OR SELL YOUR HORSE WITHOUT A WRITTEN AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT IS TO HAPPEN WITH THE HORSE, RESELLING, USE/LIMITATIONS, FACILITIES NEEDED, ETC. It you sell or give away a horse with no agreement, they could go to slaughter the same day you release them or they could be sold and misrepresented, living a life of neglect, abuse, over use and miss use the rest of their lives. We hear stories all the time where a best friend or neighbor, the nice lady you gave the horse to sent the horse to slaughter or is neglecting it and there is not a thing the owner can do now because they no longer own the horse and they made no written agreements signed by both parties. If you need help doing written agreements, back ground checks on buyers and sellers, just contact us, that is part of our 'SAFE SELLING' SERVICES. Your horse's life depends on you being safe and thorough!

BEWARE: People are selling horses on the internet that don't even exist so beware, the horse industry is full is liars, cheaters, and thieves, even we have had to deal with them from potential adopters who were in jail applying to adopt, to employees and former trainers who totally ripped us off by stealing tack and tools, asking for huge advances and then leaving after they get them, people who don't even know us or had any experience with us slandering us on forums, harassing us and our supporters, interfering with company operations and even adopters who don't think twice about breaching their contract or forging their vets signature on applications & annual updates or even selling their adoption horse to programs like ours and even 501c3's public charities selling horses to slaughter auctions or being put in jail for neglect and animal cruelty. We are bringing each person that has wronged our horses to justice one at a time and winning all our cases but that does not protect the general public from these liars, thieves, con-artist and cheaters. Your horses life can easily be ruined forever, they could end up in a fate worse than death so buyer and seller beware, your horses life depends on you keeping them safe and you being thorough with doing things like getting references and making sure the people have stable employment, that they really own the farm they say they do, doing background checks to check for criminal records. The horse world is full of dishonesty which ruins it for honest people that really care and always try to do the right thing, such a shame. Just be very careful and get proof that your horse is going to a good home, get more than a feeling because we promise you about 50% of the time when it comes to horses, your feeling that its a 'nice' person or a 'good' person' is wrong. And even when you pick a good home, they can turn around and sell or give away to a bad home.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches and negative people pull you down. People who like to cause trouble will shorten your life and make you just like them... miserable.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen.. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER
:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but  by the moments that take our breath away.

Every Dream Starts with a Single Step, Take Your Step Today!

Women from History Who Dared To Change the World (credit: O Magazine)

600 B.C. TO 200 B.C.: Tribes of statuesque women (and men) roam the Eurasian steppes. The fearsome Amazons of myth? Not exactly. But archeological evidence suggests that among these nomads, the women were the warriors.

Circa 39: Dynamic sister duo Trung Trac and Trung Nhi amass a Vietnamese army in a revolt against Chinese rule. For four years, they lead the rebellion.

Circa 395: Fabiola, a Roman aristocrat whose divorce and subsequent remarriage were condemned by Christian society, founds a hospital for the poor and other outcasts of her city. It's likely one of the first hospitals in the Western world.

Circa 1001: Murasaki Shikibu begins writing The Tale of Genji, an epic portrait of court life (twice as long as War and Peace), considered by many to be the greatest masterpiece of Japanese literature and possibly the world's first novel.

1429: Peasant girl Joan of Arc commands the French army in a series of victorious battles to liberate her homeland from the English; she is burned at the stake for her trouble.

Circa 1579: Grace O'Malley, a swashbuckling Irish pirate known for raiding ships, fights off an English government expedition sent to stop her.

Circa 1613: In her graphically violent painting Judith Slaying Holofernes, Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi slays the ideal of submissive womanhood: Her heroine is fierce, powerful, and ruthless.

1777: Teenager Sybil Ludington rides all night long through a storm to alert the 400 men in her father's militia that the redcoats are coming. She's called the female Paul Revere—but Paul rode with two of his buddies. And he was captured by the British.

1805: Sacagawea joins Lewis and Clark as their expedition's interpreter, traveling thousands of miles across the Rockies with her newborn babe strapped to her back. Who says life ends when you have kids?

1814: As the British torch Washington, D.C., First Lady Dolley Madison remains in the White House long enough to rescue historic valuables—running out moments before the soldiers charge in.

1862: Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, just 19 and dressed as a man, enlists in the Union Army. In a letter home, she assures: "I don't fear the rebel bullets nor I don't fear the cannon."

1867: Ida Lewis rescues three drowning men from wind-whipped swells in Newport Harbor. Then she rows back to save their sheep. Ida later becomes the country's first female lighthouse keeper.

1872: Victoria Claflin Woodhull becomes the first woman to run for president. A colorful candidate, she advocates for free love.

1906: Madam C.J. Walker hawks shampoos and serums door-to-door. The orphaned daughter of former slaves, she becomes one of America's wealthiest businesswomen.

1912: Astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt discovers the period-luminosity relationship (later used to calculate the distances between Earth and the stars).

1914: Barnstorming adrenaline junkie Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick makes the first-ever free fall from a plane.

1916: In a tenement neighborhood in Brooklyn, Margaret Sanger opens the doors of the country's first birth control clinic. Outside at least 150 women are waiting.

1916: Movie star Mary Pickford insists on becoming her own producer. America's Sweetheart is no sucker.

1937: Amelia Earhart disappears on the ultimate adventure—her attempt to fly around the globe. In a note to her husband, she explains: "I want to do it because I want to do it."

1938: Anna Mary Robertson Moses sells her first paintings, at age 78. Known as "Grandma" Moses, she continues to paint for 23 years, becoming one of the century's most renowned folk artists.

1941: Protofeminist superhero Wonder Woman first appears in a comic book, fighting off Fascists in star-spangled hot pants.

1946: Super-geekette Dorothy Hodgkin cracks penicillin's chemical makeup with an X-ray crystallographer. (Eighteen years later she'll earn the Nobel Prize.)

1953: Jackie Cochran flies an F-86 Sabre jet through the sound barrier. She learned to fly so she could travel around selling cosmetics, but it turns out trashing speed records is a lot more fun.

1959: On the edge of the Serengeti Plain, Mary Leakey digs up and pieces together a 1.7-million-year-old hominid skull, one of the most important finds in the history of archeology.

1960: At the Rome Olympics, Wilma Rudolph (left)—once partially paralyzed by polio—earns three gold medals in track-and-field, the first American woman to do so.

1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first female to fly a spacecraft around the globe.

1967: Kathrine Switzer dares to run the all-male Boston Marathon, while an irate race official chases her.

1981: Alexa Canady becomes the first black female neurosurgeon in the United States.

1985: Just 175 miles from the Iditarod finish line, Libby Riddles heads into a blizzard when other mushers opt to stay in camp; this gives her a six-hour lead and, ultimately, the win.

1989: Performance artist Karen Finley smears her body with chocolate to illustrate that women are treated like, you know, dirt. The National Endowment for the Arts rescinds her funding, but she ultimately gets it back.

2005: Roz Savage quits her corporate job, leaves her unraveling marriage, and rows across the Atlantic by herself. Midlife crisis averted.

2008: Sandra Andersen, a barista at a Starbucks in Tacoma, Washington, learns that one of her customers needs a kidney to live. So she gives the woman hers.

2009: Navigator Ann Daniels leads the Catlin Arctic Survey, a 74-day journey from the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole to measure the thickness of sea ice.

**************************************

The Warmth of A Horse

When your day seems out balance...
and so many things go wrong ...
When people fight around you
and the clock drags on so long ...
When some folks act like children
and fill you with remorse ...
Go out into your pasture and wrap
your arms around your horse.

His gentle breath enfolds you as he
watches with those eyes ...
He may not have a PhD but he
is, oh so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder
you hug him good and tight ...
He puts your world in balance
and makes it seem all right.

Your tears will soon stop flowing,
the tension will be eased ...
The nonsense has been lifted.
You are quiet and at peace.
So when you need some balance
from the stresses in your day ...
The therapy you really need
Is out there eating hay!

HORSES (and others)

ADOPTED IN 2004

(106 horse adoptions, 1 dog and 1 cat)

These are horses who are now in their new adopted homes! To see the horses still Available for Adoption, click here!

"Start each day by asking yourself, what is the one thing I could do that would most change my life today. If you do that one thing each day.... you will have a totally different life in just 30 days"

Baggage
by Evelyn Colbath

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked into my warm new bed,
I would like to open my baggage,
Lest I forget
There is so much to carry -
So much to forget.

Hmm, Yes, here it is, right on the top -
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my halter hides Fear & Shame
As I look on these things I have tried so hard to leave-
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough - for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things
And take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never re-pack?
I pray that you do - I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage -
Will you still want me?

© Evelyn Colbath

bar.gif (2705 bytes)

Wallimar: 1996 TB gelding, bay, 15.3 hands, sound for professions on the flat, located in Millville, PA and will be placed from there. Has tons of training under his belt, would make a lovely pleasure mount or show horse, easy to handle, no vices, big personality, loves people

Wallimar is pending adoption by Emily Dewey of Falcon Horse Camp  in Ohio. This is Emily's 3rd SWAP horse.

Art: 1998 Dutch/French warmblood cross gelding, gray, 17.3, donated by Olympic Silver Medalist Peter Leone, by the Grand Prix jumper Artos. Had a wash stall accident as a baby, has been sound but is restricted from any jumping and may never compete. Looking for a pleasure job for him in which he can be ridden regularily (according to the vets at New Bolton he will need regular exercise but he needs only fun stuff, not a working life)

Art is adopted with Stephanie Poston of St. Stephen, SC. Congratulations Stephanie and welcome to the SWAP family.

Roulette: '91 AHSA registered Westphalian x TB cross chestnut mare, 15.2 hands.  Sire is Starman, very well know horse ridden in the Olympics that produced many wonderful hunters and jumpers.  Dam is Mite As Well Gamble.  Has had formal training in hunter, will have no problems riding beginners and kids in the ring, Has done Children's small jr. hunter and has had 4 foals.  She could be a school or lesson horse easily, especially with ring work and even to jump, Totally sound.

Roulette's former adopter has decided to keep Rou. Yea!

Windjammer II, aka "Jamie": 1996 Appendix Quarter Horse mare, blood bay with star, snip, 2 rear stockings, registered with US Eventing Association #21718, 15.3 hands, Sire was Big Splash and dam was from QH racing lines, trained for eventing (competed at Novice and training level) and training level dressage, has done hunter paces (always in the fastest division, Jumpers to 3', has had dressage training from grand prix and USDF gold medal professionals. Recommended for low level dressage, pleasure riding, hunt seat on the flat, local showing, english pleasure or working ranch horse (restricted from jumping). Located in Highland, NC

Jamie is adopted by Lisa Kendrick.

Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description                                  

Farnaway Hanover: 1999 STB gelding, pacing bred but also trots, bay, 15.3 (measured), sound for anythng on the flat, located at CSS, can be ridden or driven by anyone who knows something about riding, no vices, does everything that is asked of him 

Farney is adopted by Dr. Joy McMillian, DVM of Mt. Airy, NC

Sweet Contessa, aka 'Tessa': 2002 registered QH filly, brown, 14.3 hands, registration number is x0604171, sound and healthy, located at Findley, Ohio but coming to WV. Sire is Chipped in Chocolate and Dam is Sassy Red Rascal, being ridden lightly 5 days a week, just started some cantering under saddle, owner releasing registration. Owner can not longer keep her financially and no longer competing but wants the best home for her. Sweet and personable, likes people, does all the ground stuff including clipping and bathing

Tess has been adopted by Janne Myrdal of Edinburg, North Dakota, Janne has been an approved adopter for some time but this is her first time adopting. Welcome!!

some of these are yearling pictures, the picture with the surcingle is the most recent

Dante's Design, aka 'Dante or Mac': 2000 Holsteiner/TB/QH cross gelding, bay, 15.2 hands, sound healthy, pending registration with American Warmblood Society. Sire is Zantarzan (AQHA # 3066117) and dam is International Sporthouse Registry Main mare book and American Holsteiner Horse Assoc (242301 1109 90), Endearing Romance (ISR 90-34128-90). New pictures and more information coming, located in CT.

Dante was adopted Kelli Malave of Ocala, Florida. Mac is getting a vet check and if that goes well, which I'm sure it will, Dante's adoption will be finalized.

Classy Sun, aka "Beau": 1993 Appendix QH gelding, palomino, 16 hands, trained in dressage to 3rd level with a Florida trainer, has spent the last 3 years with the Above and Beyond Equestrian Arts Center as a schooling horse, has had daily training in dressage with the very best, so he's only gotten better. Located in Highlands, NC.

Beau has been adopted by Misty Thomas of Highlands, NC. This is Misty's 5th SWAP horse. She also adopted Chantilly, Duckie, Lovey and Vortray.

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Dawn's Pericles aka Coors: 2000 registered Rocky Mountain horse gelding (RMHA 2001007506), Chocolate/black with blaze, 14.3 1/2 hands (measured). Wonderful bloodlines with Majestic Princy (RMHA # 91006) and Zanna's Shara Chief (RMHA # 940474). Sound, healthy, sensible, wonderful breed known for its calm and willing temperament. This is our first RMH, another milestone (that makes 60 different breeds we've had in this program). One of a kind opportunity. Coors has had 4 months of professional training, has all the natural gaits of a Rocky Mountain Horse.

Coors has been adopted by Dr. Judi Swingen (phd) of Midlothian, VA. This is Judi's first adoption horse but she has two paso fino's and trained them both herself so Coors will have a great home.

Mystical Moments "Emmy": 2001 Connemara x TB cross filly, registered, 14 + hands, dun colored, sound and healthy, located at Spring City, PA   riding video inside

Emmy is pending adoption with Anne Weatherbee of Jay, ME. Congratulations Anne and welcome to the SWAP family!

Phenomenon, aka phenom: 1997 registered Dutch Warmblood, 16.3 hands, sound. Sire is Charmeur and Dam is Ecletant. Trained by many grand prix level jumpers, including Mark Leone. Great flatwork with flying changes, has shown through 3'6". He can no longer jump high and often like the owner needs. Very sweet and attractive. Recommended for low level dressage, low level jumping, hacking, hunt seat on the flat/over fences, local showing, western or english pleasure, not to be a professional lesson horse or not for high level competing, needs a family situation with one handler and rider. Located in Greenwich, CT

Phenom has been adopted by Amanda Vassallo of St. Cloud, FL. Amanda is a former eventer and a student of our adopter, Heidi Erickson (Seoul Olympics in Dressage) and this is her first adoption horse. Thank you and wonderful choice!

Chantilly Pace: 1986 standardbred mare, brown, 15.2 hands, loads of trail riding experience, in wonderful shape and well cared for. 

Quicksilver Girl aka 'Duckie' a 1987 standardbred mare, bay, 15 hands, trail riding queen, fat/round and in good health.

Chantilly and Duckie are both adopted by Misty Thomas in Highlands, NC... she was looking at some of the other standardbreds for her family and ended up liking these two because of all their riding experience. What a great home for two girls who have spent their life together.

Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description                                  

Whitsend's Homerun "Homie": '83 Standardbred mare,  about 16 hands (need to measure), bay, located at CSS, great childs or small beginners horse, for light riding only.

beginner horse with trail experience, needs a light rider and an easy job. Easy keeper that doesn't need 'fu fu' facilities. Never requires lunging before riding, sound even in bare feet 

Homie has been adopted by Selle Privett in Bridgeport, Texas

Network News, aka "Azim": 1986 TB gelding, bay, 15.3 hands, trained and competed in eventing, Has evented at Novice level, done hunter paces, done training level dressage and low jumpers, Recommended for any of those, plus pleasure riding, competitive trail, hunt seat on the flat or over fences, fox hunting, schooling horse or search and rescue. Needs a good rider, have been riding a 15 year old and they have realized he's probably too much horse for her, though she's done well with him (3 of the pictures above are her competing him)

Azim is pending adoption by Holly Wheeler of Burton, Ohio

The Touring Cyclist, aka "Ernie": 1986 registered QH gelding, 16.2 hands with many many AQHA points (AQHA # 2515668 if you want to see his show history). Qualified and shown for World in both western and english classes (western pleasure, english pleasure, trail classes, halter). Placed at Congress several years. Sound.  Lots of professional training. Daughter has gone off to college and the family feels that its not fair to the horse to not having him with someone who will love him, spend time with him and show him. Located in Scarboro, West Virginia about 2.5 hours south from SWAP HQ.

Ernie has been adopted by Angie Hayes in Georgia, she has also taken his buddy Pete since they have gotten so attached. This will be a wonderful home for these two special boys.

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

The Memory Maker "Pete": 1977 Saddlebred gelding, approx. 15.2 hands (measured), chestnut, sound, showed at international levels in Equitation as a youngster. loves people, a child can handle, hard keeper but healthy, looking for an easy job, located at CSS 

Angie Hayes of Georgia has adopted Pete. Normally we would have not allowed this boy to travel that far but Pete has gotten so attached to Ernie and Ernie to him. This has been the first friend that Pete has had, for over a year he's sat in turn out alone. I had to ask Angie to take him since she adopted Ernie and she accepted to give him a home. We are going to miss this boy soooo much. All my personal horses put together do not have his personality, I can't wait till they get old and get this colorful and entertaining.

Serious Business, aka "Big": 1983 TB gelding, 16.2 hands, sound beginner horse, ridden by kids and even in a halter, no vices, no health or soundness issues, has been trail ridden, located in Manasses, VA.

Big has been adopted by Dr. Joy McMillian, DVM of Pilot Mountain, NC,

 

Caesar: 1999 Full Blooded Shire gelding, 18 hands (measured), Black with 3 white stockings with loads of feathers, loads of professional undersaddle training but still has a lot to learn. Kind, big dog type. 

Yea!! Caesar has been adopted by Jere and Nancy Jameson of Coraopolis, PA. Jere and Nancy do medieval reinactments and already have one shire but needed another. Jere is also a professional farrier and getting ready to go to equine dental school so we know Caesar's big feet will be looking wonderful.

Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description                                  

New Ending "Indy": 1996 TB gelding, bay 15.2 hands (15 hands at the back), well trained, located at CSS may be well suited for a lesson or schooling horse, sound for all professions, truly a lover, one of the best TB's we've had in the program. What a little sweetie pie, are you a smaller experienced rider looking for something to show or do you have a child wanting to go into the show ring and they are an intermediate rider, can be forward like most TB's needs a good rider. This is your boy. Personable, fun, a consistent mount and what a looker, easy keeper. Anyone can handle him on the ground.

Indy has been adopted by Sue Munn of Clifton, VA, Congratulations!! This is Sue Munn's first SWAP horse!!

Jazz has been adopted by Judy Kirkman of Virginia Beach, VA. This is Judy's first SWAP horse!! Welcome.

Phenomenon, aka phenom: 1997 registered Dutch Warmblood, 16.3 hands, sound. Sire is Charmeur and Dam is Ecletant. Trained by many grand prix level jumpers, including Mark Leone. Great flatwork with flying changes, has shown through 3'6". He can no longer jump high and often like the owner needs. Very sweet and attractive. Recommended for low level dressage, low level jumping, hacking, hunt seat on the flat/over fences, local showing, western or english pleasure. Located in Shelburne, VT

Phenom has been adopted by Cheryl Miller of Greenwich, CT, wonderful choice!! This is Cheryl's first SWAP Horse. Thank you for your generous help!!

Pot 'O Gold "Trooper": 1995 registered TB gelding, 15.2 hands, bay with small star, located in Stevenson, AL and being placed from there. Sound, schooling 1st and 2nd level in dressage with the trainer but is not a good match for current adopter. Have had tons of training, no vises. Riding Pictures coming, completely sound.

Trooper has been adopted Ernie Satchell of Franklin, TN. This is Ernie's first SWAP horse.

Troy: Dalmatian x Great Pyrenees, 8 month old male, came to CSS in the summer because he was going to be put down by his owners because he was digging holes in their yard. Our intern, Teresa Rainey adopted him and he stayed the entire summer with us. Nothing like a 120 lbs 8 month old puppy. :) At least, we know he has a great home. Congratulations Teresa and Troy!!

    Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description                                  

Many Returns "Orphy": '90 TB gelding, 16.1 hands (measured), bay, big bodied. Has done some lessons with intermediate students on the flat, has worked at training and 1st level dressage but not done much since mid last year. Wonderful horse with lots of potential.

One of the few TB's I would put a beginner on, calm and quiet will pack around someone but the advanced riders can get him perform like a dream. Will stop if he doesn't know what you want, big and lovable boy. Stays sound in bare feet.

Orphy has been adopted by Katie Murphy of Winston Salem, NC

Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description                                  

One Last Alche: 1999 Standardbred gelding, brown, 15 hands (measured), sound for all professions on the flat, drives now, will be put under saddle, very kind and calm horse with people no vices. Pacing bred but so young and spent very little time on the track that he could go either way at this point... w/t/c for trial, showing and competing or a pacing/racking trail or show horse. It's your choice with just a bit of work. My selection for a kids or beginners horse.

Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description   

Kickboxer Kosmos:  1997 Standardbred Gelding.  Sound for all professions, 15.2 1/2  hands (measured), trotting bred, bay, gentle, easy going horse, loves people

Another horse that has really come a long way. GREAT, GREAT RIDING HORSE, here's the potential dressage horse that everyone  might be looking for. Lovely mover, he's trotting bred so he will never pace or show any gaited tendencies, has a lovely canter under saddle and starting to bring his head down and rounding out his back. Long full mane and tail, covered in dapples. Exceptional show horse material under saddle or in harness but could easily be a family or pleasure mount. Athletic but sensible and calm, so easy to train.

Kickboxer has been adopted by Janet Herzberg of Oxford, NC

Sheila, aka "babylove": 2002 (former rescue horse) filly, tri colored, looks to be maybe grade hackney pony, 13 hands (may grow to 13.1 or 2), located in Maryland. Was in terrible shape when we picked her up but now flourishing nicely with her foster mom.

Serious love bug. Will make a wonderful kids riding pony with training or a wonderful driving pony. We have new pictures inside, just click the link above. She's turning into a a beautiful young lady.  

Sheila has been adopted by Susan Hodges of Broadway, VA. A special thank you to adopter/foster mom Celia Rand (who trains babies for Iron Springs Farm) for doing such a great job with this baby.  

Key to the Diary: 1995 TB gelding, 15.3 hands, trained in eventing, located in Spring City, PA and being placed from there. The bay pictures are the most recent. Sound for lower level eventing (has evented at prelim level) and dressage.

Tons of training in a nice package. no vices. Can bring blue on the flat or over fences.

KD has been adopted by Margie Averell of Boothwyn, PA

Skynrd is adopted by Sandra Harris of Afton, VA

 

Mic Mac Danny Boy, aka "Danny": 1998 registered standardbred gelding, 15 hands. Sound and has been riding a child for the past 3 years, just want to move on to jumping and they can't afford both horses, recommended for pleasure riding and driving, competitive trail, showing on the flat..  Likes people, does everything that is asked of him (loads, ties, cross ties, good with vet/farrier, clips, bathes, etc)

Well, he's here and what a cutie!  We'll be taking riding pics of this boy soon . . . so far he's shown us a lovely trot and a great personality!

Danny has been adopted by Holly Wheeler of Burton, Ohio

See the new video and riding pictures in side

Shark's Shuttle aka Ramses: 1997 registered standardbred gelding, bay, 15.3 1/2 hands (measured),  Beautiful, big, friendly boy.  Sire is Cam's Card Shark and dam is Enchanted City.  Riding pics coming soon. Sound for all professions, drives and being put under saddle now.

Wonderful beginner horse, will pack anyone around on the trail, calm, loving, talented boy.

Sharks Shuttle is adopted by the Willer family of Beaver, PA. Congratulations to a wonderful family.

new video inside, click the link below

At a Boy Troy: '96 registered TB gelding, Dark Bay, 16.2 hands,  located in Bridgewater, PA  but coming to CSS soon, sound for all professions but recommended for 4-H/Pony Club, Cross Country, Low level dressage or jumping, upper level jumping, fox hunting, pleasure riding/hacking, local showing, endurance or competitive trail, contest horse or pony horse at the track

Check out Troy's video inside. You'll have an idea of what a great horse this is. This boy needs to be moved from his home in PA very soon. A wonderful horse looking for a chance and a good home.

Troy has been adopted by Holly Wheeler of Huntington Stables in Burton, Ohio

 

Brendel: 1994 registered Welsh pony gelding with wonderful breeding, 12.2 hands, grey, coming up on 2 years of professional training in hunters, many blue ribbons and show ring experience, rides and drives, sound for all professions, located outside of Cleveland, needs an experienced child rider  Check out new riding pics inside!  What a cutie!

Brendel has been adopted by Katie Murphy of Winston-Salem, NC. This is the Murphy's second SWAP horse. Congratulations on a wonderful selection.

  Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Imperial Sageman "Sage":    1999 registered TB gelding, dark bay, 16.1 hands (measured).  Owner will release registration and wants to stay in touch!  Recommended professions are:  companion, low level jumping, hunter on the flat or over fences, pleasure riding, low level dressage, endurance riding, competitive trail riding. 

The best looking horse in the barn, his pictures don't even begin to show his great looks. Fun, fun, fun boy. Huge personality... always saying "look at me, pet me, come see me, what's that in your pocket, I want to go, pick me." Can untie lead lines and unsnap double ended snaps. Smart, brave, curious, total fun. Young and going to make a great horse with tons of talent.

Bravo! Sage has been adopted by Judy Bartlett of Oxford, Ohio. This is Judy's first SWAP horse though her long time trainer, Laurie Guest has several SWAP horses so her daughter has ridden SWAP horses.

 

Click the link below to see new riding and training video, more pictures and description                                  

Lovey Gurr, aka Lovey: 2001 registered standardbred filly, bay,16 hands (measured), Sound for all professions, gentle and friendly, likes people, no vices. Pacing bred but so young and spent very little time on the track that she could go either way at this point... w/t/c for showing and competing or a pacing/racking trail or show horse. Its your choice with just a bit of work. 

Check out our new June riding pics!  Lovey is quickly becoming the horse anyone can ride! What a love bug. This is grandma's and your kids horse but don't underestimate her talent, she will go with the more advanced riders but pack around the beginner.

Lovey has been adopted by Misty Thomas of Highlands, NC. Misty is coming tomorrow to pick another standardbred for her family... hmmmm I wonder who it will be??

New videos and riding pictures inside, click link below

She's a Cad "Caddy": 1989 registered Thoroughbred mare, 15.2 hands, grey, located at CSS.  Proven broodmare, good mother, produces a beautiful foal, sound for riding, turning into a really nice ride.  Her biggest asset is she is beautiful, grey, flea bitten girl with a beautiful face and head, nice confirmation. Never raced.

This girl has come so far in her under saddle training. Wonderful mare. Check out the video and new riding pictures (just click the link above).

Caddy has been adopted by Angie Macy of Indianapolis, IN. She will be joining Rosie and 6 other SWAP horses at Angie's. They do everything from compete in Dressage to broodmare duties.

New Videos and riding pictures inside

A Votre Sante, aka "Vortray": 2001 registered STB gelding, bay, 15.1+ hh (measured), sound for all professions, just didn't make a race horse. Drives and rides. No vises, sweet calm boy.

The makings of a beginner horse, calm, sweet, sensible, experience riding and driving. Great family horse.

Vortray has been adopted by Misty Thomas of Highlands, NC. as a family horse for her, her husband and her two kids.

click link below to see more pictures and video inside

Son of Sapphire "Skyler:  15 y/o gray TB gelding. 17 hands. Owner will
release registration and would like to stay in touch with adopter. Healthy and sound! Recommended professions are dressage and trail riding.
 Shown in dressage through 3rd level, took the 4th level, 1st test and scored in the mid 60's in Arizona. USDF All Breeds Horse of the Year through Thoroughbred Horses for Sport. 

Love bug, really likes people, not hot at all, could ride a beginner as easy as a 4th level rider. 

Perfect schoolmaster material! We don't get horses this trained and this talented but maybe a couple times a year. Where are all of our dressage riders and competitors? Don't miss this one.

Skylar has been adopted by Nancy Motyka of Blairstown, NJ. Congratulations Nancy, great choice and thank you for making the hopes of the coming winter much better. Nancy has donated two of her former dressage horses but this is her first time adopting. Bravo!!

click link below to see more pictures and video inside

Seth: 1988 Warmblood stallion (dutch bred, not registered), bay, 15 hands (measured), trained and competed in childrens open jumper or open speed jumper, trained by olympic riders, sound for all professions and ridden consistently now, a child can handle and ride this horse, has fox hunted in a group as well, according to his past adopter he can jump 4 ' flat footed from a stand still, never been bred (doesn't really know he's a stallion)

Seth has been adopted by Carol Paramore from Apex, NC. for her daughter Caitlin. Seth will be castrated and then ridden and shown at her. This is the Paramore's first SWAP horse. What a wonderful home for Seth!!

  Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description 
                                 

Bravo, Rock Doctor has been adopted by Mark Gordon and family of Milan, MI. This is their second SWAP Horse. Thank you for giving this boy a wonderful home, Something he's been waiting on for some time now. Kudos'!!

Toby: 1986 rose grey Anglo-Arab (Arab x TB cross) gelding, 16 hands located in Knoxville, MD. Wonderful to ride, very friendly, loves attention, no vises, a beginner or child can handle on the ground. Trained in dressage but had EPM back in '99 and shows too much right hind weakness to compete in something that takes such strong hindquarters. Looking for a pleasure riding job, lead line or any fun job with kids or light riders.  Fun boy to ride and be around.

Toby's previous adopter has decided to keep Toby. Just can't seem to say goodbye to this boy. Bravo!!

Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description                                  

Andrew: '88 TB, gelding, chestnut, 16. hands, returning to SWAP from the adoption fraud, loveable big lug, likes people and sound. Needs an adopter who is a good leader and that has confidence.

One of our supporters called Andrew a "greek god". What looks! His injury from the former fraud adopter is coming along so nicely. He's sound and we'll start riding him again soon. A horse that will love you forever, he makes an attachment with his human more like a dog would his human. Rocking chair canter and one of the best and smoothest rides you'll ever find.

Andrew has been adopted by his original donor Sara Kovarovics.  She decided that she just missed him too much and had to have him back home.  Good for her!

Click the link below to see New video, more pictures and description 

Dusty: 1999 Buckskin gelding, 14.3 hands (measured), sound for all professions, located at CSS

Those of you who have passed by this boy would be kicking yourself if you came to meet him now. He's learned so much and he's growing up to be a fine young man. Still much smarter than every other horse in the barn so he takes a savvy adopter but what a ride, that on top of the great looks and build. One of the horses that people here can't figure out why people aren't fighting over him. He would max out anyone's "fun meter".

Dusty has been adopted by the Joe and Tammie Mullis of Marshville, NC.  During their visit here they said that his online photos didn't do him justice and that they just had to try him out.  After they both rode him, they knew that they had to take this boy home.  Besides taking him out on the trails (which they have already done), Tammie will also be training Dusty as a trick horse.  We're sure that he'll be doing tricks and delighting his new family for years to come!

Click the link below to see NEW video, more pictures and description                                  

Barney: 2000 STB gelding, 15 hands (measured), bay, sound for all professions, just doesn't want to be a racehorse, started under saddle, will make wonderful gaited trail or show horse, paces and racks ... just needs some work to be consistent in all gaits. Sweet horse, loves attention, no vises. 

Great horse, one of a kind. Big dog, easy to work around and ride. CALM and EASY. Another one that will pack your grandma and kids around but will show serious talent in w/t/c or gaited stuff with the experienced rider.

Barney has been adopted by Joe and Tammie Mullis of Marshville, NC.  Barney and Dusty will be trail horses for this great husband-and-wife team!

 

  Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description                                  

Curly: 1999 registered TB mare, dark bay, 15.2 hands (measured) sound for all professions. located at SWAP HQ, absolutely a love bug, sweet sweet horse, sensible and laid back. One of those rare finds.

Serious Love bug and looker. Put under saddle here and needs more training but very willing and learning so quickly. The big dog that you could love on all the time.

Curly has been adopted by Maria Ludwig of Millville, PA, as a lesson horse and broodmare. Maria doesn't mind putting the time into her to get her to the point of being able to do lessons. This is Maria's 3rd SWAP horse.

Click the link below to see new video, more pictures and description - Check out our new June riding pics!

Wallimar: 1996 TB gelding, bay, 15.3 hands, sound for all professions, located in TN and will be placed from there. Has tons of training under his belt and ready to move on to competition.

Oh, my gosh. What a great horse this guy has turned into. A sweetheart who loves to do things, loves to work and really likes people, no vices. Talent, looks and athletic ability and totally sound.

Wallimar has been adopted by Maria Ludwig of Millville, PA. 

 

Doubtful Debt: '91 Thoroughbred gelding, 16.2 hands, located in VA. Coming back from an adopter who thinks he needs to be ridden more regularly than she is able to ride. When he came from the owner he was working 5 to 6 days per week at novice level eventing-schooling, has some training in cross country. Has shown at novice and can go on.

Serious lover, talent, athletic and looks to die for at a great age. Looking to compete, do schooling or show? This is your boy. No vices, does it all.

Debt has been adopted by Angela Ruiz of Viera, FL. Congratulations Angela on a wonderful selection!! This is Angela's first SWAP horse.

 

Lunar Princess Zara, aka "Luna": 1998 registered Anglo-Arab mare, chestnut, 15.2 hands, located in Williamsburg, VA, loves everyone, sound for all professions, has been primarily a pleasure mount, requires an experienced rider.

Luna has been adopted by Bonne McHenry of Mass. There is 'Bonne's second SWAP horse that she's adopted.

click link below to see new pictures and video inside

Wishful "Ziggy": 1993 registered Paint gelding, 16.2 hands, sorrel with minimal color (hind sock, blaze, white patch on both sides of barrel), located in Virginia but coming to CSS. Sire is Great White Hope and Dam is Two Eyed Goldseeker, owner releasing papers for showing. Trained and competed in eventing but also recommended for low level dressage, first flight fox hunting, pleasure riding, hunt seat on the flat, hunt seat over fences, local showing, western pleasure, english pleasure, eventing or combined training.

Talent and well trained in one great package. An exceptional find.

Ziggy has been adopted by Anne Warner of Lewisburg, WV. This is Anne's 3rd SWAP horse.

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description, check out his video of his dressage lesson.                                  

Peppy's Little Angel Heart, aka "Pip": 1994 registered QH gelding, chestnut, 15 hands (measured), by Little Angel Peppy, located at CSS, sound, healthy, 3 years of professional training in hunter/jumper and dressage, has even had some western training, no vices, serious love bug, wonderful horse.

Pip has been adopted by Charles and Holly McChesney of Claysville, PA.

Roberto's Amigo, aka "Henry": 1990 thoroughbred gelding, chestnut, 17 hands, sound for all professions but trained to jumpers to 3'6" and shown in equitation and hunters as well. Probably one of the few TB's this big that we would consider being as close to a beginners horse as any TB this size. Friendly, never bucks, always takes care of his rider.  Recommended for lead line, pony club, low level dressage or jumping, pleasure riding, hunt seat on the flat or over fences, showing, lesson or school horse, english pleasure. A very rare find, coming to us for personal reasons that have nothing to do with the horse. Located at Hollidaysburg, PA but have a feeling this one will be adopted immediately. Doubt if we will see him here.

Henry has been adopted by Lind Sawyer of Virginia Beach, VA. This is Lind's second SWAP horse!!

Chanel: TB bay mare, 15 hands, estimated age of 15, tattoo unreadable, has been a hunter/jumper but can no longer jump, great for ring work, easy to handle and ride,, well trained can be ridden by advanced beginners and kids, perhaps some showing, and broodmare duties.

This is always good news, The former adopter can't seem to let Chanel go. She told us that Chanel has become part of her family and she just can't bear to part with her. Kuddo's to the adopters and families who just refuse to give up!!

    Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                      

Bravo!! Rosie is pending adoption with Angie Macy of Indianapolis, IN. That will be Angie's 9th SWAP horse, the others are companions and dressage mounts.

 

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Hold Tight aka "HT": 2001 STB gelding, bay, 15.3 hands (measured), sound for all professions, trotter by breeding, perfect choice for pleasure driving or riding, dressage or professions requiring w/t/c with an exceptional trot.

HT has been adopted by Anne Kawski of Rochester, NY

Ocean Rise, aka "Ocean":  1991 TB gelding, 15.3 hands (measured by AHSA), AHSA number 4030719, gray, located in Jacksonville, FL. Top A show hunter, showed 1st - 2nd and regular hunter. Grand Champion Junior Hunter at Capital Challenge, Children's Hunter Champion at the National Horse Show. Sound but takes some maintenance to stay that way if competed. Needs to be competing at lower than national level and the big A level shows.  Wonderful horse to work with and be around.

Ocean has been adopted by Emily Devey of Falcon Camp of Carrollton, Ohio

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Leona Marie:  1993 15.2 hands TB mare, grey.  Professionally trained as a hunter/jumper.   Owner is releasing her for jumping, novice eventing, low level dressage, fox hunting, pleasure riding, endurance, showing, breeding.   Mare is healthy and sound. 

Leonia Marie has been adopted by Emily Devey of Falcon Camp of Carrollton, Ohio

Val's Image, aka "Jelly Bean": 1989 registered TB mare, 16 hands, bay, proven broodmare, former hunter/jumper and fox hunter looking for a light pleasure job or broodmare position, very quiet, good with kids, no vises, proven broodmare, located in Lexington, KY but will be coming to CSS if not adopted before then. The optimum situation would be a broodmare job for this girl.

National Scooter: 1992 STB gelding, located in Shadyside, Ohio but coming to CSS, sound, drives and rides, some professional under saddle training.

Scooter has been adopted by Kristina Ickes of Brentwood, NH. This is their first SWAP horse.

Money is pending adoption with Joel Wing of Locust, NC. This is Joel's second SWAP horse, they adopted Hershey last year.

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description, the cutest video!!                                  

Chavez: 1987 Mule gelding, grey and white, 13 hands (measured), nice to ride but like some mules he seems to have a mind of his own on the ground/in hand but yet, he's just getting to know us. HUGE personality, talks to everyone that comes up the drive way, especially school buses. Sound for pleasure riding. What a hoot, braes at everyone, fun little guy to ride.

Yea, our favorite little mule is pending adoption with the Conquest Family of Epsom, NH. This is the first SWAP equine friend that the Conquest family has adopted but they've been approved since 2001. Guess they were just waiting on this very special boy!!

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Herc's Big Boy: 1984 Appaloosa gelding, around 14.1 hands (measured), has done it all from cow penning, to trail riding with kids to search and rescue. Sound, great beginner, kid or family horse. Big Boy still needs about 200 lbs in weight but coming up quickly, recovered from an adopter that was starving him. Criminal charges are pending.

Big Boy is adopted by Jan Fredericks of Oak Hill, WV, this is Jan's second SWAP horse, she has former rescue horse and TB mare, Dee.

  Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Meg: 1990 Appaloosa or possibly a QH mare, 15 hands (measured), red roan, very pretty, proven broodmare. Needs a experienced handler and rider, not someone timid because Meg will 'take charge' if you let her, not bad just needs a confident rider. Meg still needs about 200 lbs in weight but coming up quickly, recovered from an adopter that was starving her. Criminal charges are pending.

Meg is has been adopted by with Jim, Necole, and Madison Clouse of Bradford, Ohio (this is their third SWAP horse, No Alibi "buddy" was their first and they are adopting Holly above).

Gyro's Pleasure, aka "Petey": 1987 registered TB mare, bay, 16.3 hands, former dressage, show jumping and event horse (won many championships and year end awards, competed thru 1st level dressage and jumped 5' courses) looking for a broodmare position, proven broodmare, wonderful temperament, likes everyone, located in Jemison, AL and will be placed from there.

Katrin Klemm of Jemison, AL (Petey's foster) has decided to go ahead and adopt her. Bravo!!

Copper: '90 TB x warmblood cross gelding, 17 hands, chestnut. Located with foster in Washington State.  Copper was donated by the New Canaan Mounted Troop where he was a school horse.   Recommended professions are: 4-H, pony club, low level dressage, fox hunting (hilltopper), pleasure riding, hunt seat on the flat, local showing, competitive trail riding, English pleasure.

Yea, Copper's adopter wants to try to keep him and we never want to move these horses if we can help it. So, let's hope for the best for them both.

Carey Lynn, aka "Skye": 1989 registered Percheron mare, dapple gray, 17 hands, owner releasing registration, professionally trained to ride and drive, beginner and child safe as long as they aren't intimidated by the size, no vises, sound, lovely personality, proven broodmare, located in Lexington, KY but will be coming to CSS in May if not adopted before then.  Really needs to go up north somewhere because she has some breathing problems, not heaves but just some allergies. Should not go near the coast or down south.

Skye has been adopted by Tina Kocker of Bralow, Ohio. This is Tina's second horse and the farm where she keeps him has 3 of our horses.

    Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description         

Country Lane: 2000 registered Standardbred gelding (trotter, son of Lindy Lane), 15.1 3/4 hands (measured), bay, sound for all professions just didn't want to be a harness racing horse, perfect manners, Wonderful horse, just going to get even better, rides and drives.

Country is adopted by Beth Smak of Smithfield, Virginia. This is Beth's first SWAP horse.

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Dawn's Pericles aka Coors: 2000 registered Rocky Mountain horse stallion (RMHA 2001007506), Chocolate/black with blaze, 14.3 1/2 hands (measured). Wonderful bloodlines with Majestic Princy (RMHA # 91006) and Zanna's Shara Chief (RMHA # 940474). Sound, healthy, sensible, wonderful breed known for its calm and willing temperament. This is our first RMH, another milestone (that makes 60 different breeds we've had in this program). One of a kind opportunity. Coors is now started under saddle and doing very well, has all the natural gaits of a Rocky Mountain Horse.

Coors has been adopted by joint adopters Andrea Vag of South Orange, NJ and Kurt Blodgett of Baltimore, MD. This is Kurt's 2nd SWAP horse, his first was Blackhawk, the black TWH horse stallion.

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Shangrila Kosmos aka "Monkey": 1994 registered Standardbred mare, bay, 15.2 + (measured) rides and drives, sweet girl, has experience with pleasure riding and pleasure driving, sound, trotting bred and would make a lovely gaited trail horse. Half sister to Kickboxer.  

Monkey is pending adoption by Sally Droske of Versailles, KY. This is Sally's third SWAP horse, standardbred geldings Almore N and Burning Ground were adopted by Sally.

Click the link below to see video, more pictures and description                                  

Hollysbewitched "Holly": 1994 registered Standardbred mare, black, 15.2 hands (measured), sound, located at SWAP. Trail riding experience, rides and drives, sound, wonderful, lovely mare, can go either way at this point, a gaited trail or show horse or a w/t/c horse for competing. A pacer that trots and paces.

Holly has been adopted by Jim, Necole, and Madison Clouse of Bradford, Ohio (this is their second SWAP horse, No Alibi "buddy" was their first.

Monica Love: 1990 TB mare, 17 hands, bay, sound for anything on the flat or low level jumping (2' and below), located in Douglas, GA but coming to SWAP

Monica Love has been adopted by Katrin Klemm of Jemison, AL

American Destiny: 1992 Shire x TB cross mare, 17 hands, bay, registered with AWS, former eventing and dressage horse looking for a broodmare, pleasure or low level competition or schooling horse, located in Lexington, KY but will either need to go to new adopter before May 21st, coming to CSS after that.

Destiny has been adopted by Katrin Klemm of Jemison, AL

Benjamin: '86 American Saddlebred gelding, chestnut, 15.2 hands, sound and healthy, always had all health care kept up to date, never taken a lame step. Sweetheart of a horse that loves his job. Manners, Manners, Manners. The absolute best horse in hand. Rides and drives. Seasoned show horse but also trail rides.

Benjamin was adopted by Teresa Davis of PA

Fourth Story: 2000 STB mare, brown, approx. 15 hands, located at CSS, pacing bred. Sound for all jobs on the flat, being so young she could go either way at this point, anything requiring w/t/c or go the other way and make her a gaited trail horse. The adopters choice. Very pretty mare!!

Fourth Story and Ring Dem Bells has been adopted by the Pardun Family of Ohio

Sheila: (rescue) 2002 grade filly, about 14 hands, sound, ties and leads, pretty tri-colored girl, looks to be Quarter horse breeding. 

Sheila was adopted by Celia Rand of Spring City, PA

Ivory Prestiage: 1991 Standardbred gelding, trotter, 16.3 hands (measured), brown (black with brown points), located at CSS, extensive trail experience, looking for a light pleasure job (guest horse or hubby horse).

Ivory was adopted by Cynthia Morris of Harrisville, WV

 
 
Azim is adopted Jeff Havlin of Middlefield, Ohio

Regal Native: 1993 registered TB gelding, brown, 16.2 hands (measured) located at CSS, sound and professionally trained the last two years in dressage, doing 1st level work consistently. Will continue with 3 months of training here at CSS prior to being adopted. Will be available for adoption but will not go to adopter until the 3 months of training is completed (4/15/04).

Regal is adopted by Andrea Chisholm of Mount Morris, PA. Wonderful fit for this boy, couldn't ask for a better home. Bravo!!

Hodja: 1988 bay TB gelding, 17 hands, located at CSS, sound, trained in dressage, excellent hubby horse or great beginners horse for someone big or tall.

Hodja was adopted by Sue Miles of Brooksville, FL

Jack Frost, aka "Frosty":1985 registered Welsh pony, 12.2 hands, gray, located in Bloomfield, NY and will be placed from that location. Sound, healthy, has been a lesson pony in an eventing barn for the last 2 years but the facility is downsizing and they don't have that many small students, before that he had done costume classes, lead line and hunter classes.

Jack Frost  was adopted by Renee Depietro of Lincoln, VT

Traveller: 1982 TWH/QH cross gelding.  Red roan, 15 hands. Recommended for pleasure riding as a gaited trail horse. Bomb proof, very experienced. Looking for a rider at 150 lbs or below. being returned from the adoption fraud case

Traveller was adopted by Amy Payne of Sugar Grove, IL

Windsor's Dynasty: '85 STB gelding, pacing bred, bay, 15.3 hands (measured).  Sound and beautiful! Rides and drives, located at CSS

Windsor was adopted by Kelly Geissler of Baldwin, WI

Independent Uprising, aka "Indy": 1999 registered Appendix D Trakehner mare, chestnut, 15.3 hands, located in Columbus, MI, will be placed from there. The owner is offering 250 mile delivery for free. Sire is Mercury Rising and Dam is Granny Up looking for a broodmare, pleasure riding or driving job, loves people and to work. Sorry no jumping!!

Indy  was adopted by Renee DiPietro of Lincoln, VT

Art: 1998 Dutch/French warmblood cross gelding, gray, 17.3, donated by Olympic Silver Medalist Peter Leone, by the Grand Prix jumper Artos. Had a wash stall accident as a baby, has been sound but is restricted from any jumping and may never compete. Looking for a pleasure job for him in which he can be ridden regularily (according to the vets at New Bolton he will need regular exercise but he needs only fun stuff, not a working life) coming back to us from the fraud adoption recovery

Art was adopted by Patty Axtell of Stillwater, PA

 

Sukhoi was adopted by Mark Gordon of Milan, MI. Mark has trained horses for 20 years and is looking for something young for his daughter to move into.

Fools Rush In "Samson": 1993 Selle Francais x TB cross gelding, 17.1 hands, bay, returning to SWAP from adoption fraud case, barefoot, trained jumper, was jumping 3' with owner but was expected to be able to do more. Going to evaluate Samson when he arrives, believe he needs some time off but not sure how much at this point.

Samson has been adopted by Kathy McKinney of Houtzdale Pa for her son who is tall and has extensive experience.

Bria: 1994 Shire x TB cross mare, 16.3 hands, dark bay, located in Shelton, CT but coming to SWAP HQ the week of the 15th. Has been shown in schooling shows, trained in low level dressage, former hunter (sorry no more jumping). Looking for any job on the flat or broodmare duties.

Bria has been adopted by Carrie Tarte of Murrells Inlet, SC. Bria will be a pleasure mount for Carrie. Carrie was all ready to take care of things on Bria on Friday but SWAP needed time to review the application more and compare it to what the horse needs, so we took the weekend to review more of the details.

Badger's April Breeze "Kabuki": 1993 registered Pinto mare (black with white and bald face), 16.1 hands, big beautiful broodmare and former eventer looking for a broodmare's job, proven with several beautiful babies on the ground. Passes along her wonderful temperament, size and athletic ability.  located at SWAP HQ returning from adoption fraud case

Well that was quick, Kabuki was adopted by one of our really good adopters, Alexis Bevevino of Confluence, PA. She promised the horses would never go anywhere and not come back either. Bravo. Now that is the type of adopter we want to have our horses.

Cutlass: 1985 Thoroughbred gelding, 16.1 hands, returning to CSS from the adoption fraud. I don't think the boy is 16.1 but I don't have his measurement in my file. I will put a stick on him as soon as he returns to us. I would say 16 hands at the most but I would think more like 15.2 or 3. Looking for a fun job (pleasure or light showing on the flat, nothing too serious, with a person that is experienced with TB's that has confidence and can be a good leader for him, prefer an adult woman for this guy).

Alexis Bevevino of Confluence, PA. adopted Cutlass. She said no worries he would be fat again in no time.

Rulz N Regulations, aka "Scooter": 1995 QH, Registered Paint gelding, 16.1 hands, bright chestnut, coming to CSS this week. Sound. Trained in low level dressage, started in jumping and has been trail ridden.

Scooter has been adopted by the transporter that was bringing him to us. He fell in love with Scooter and sat in my office (all day long) to get approved.  Monte Hollingsworth (no relation) from McLoud, OK. Monte has already ridden Scooter twice and thinks he's wanted to be a "western pony" all along. That is our second transporter who has adopted, both with lovely farms (that we know they own). 

 
Joffree: '85 Swedish Warmblood gelding, 15.2 1/4 hands (measured), sound, located at CSS
 
 
Alexis Bevevino of Confluence, PA. adopted Joffree today. When she walked out with Joffree and Cutlass they left with all our hearts. Absolutely love this boy, so glad he has a wonderful home for life.

Nuggett Bill: 1981 QH gelding, 14 hands (measured), sound and healthy, being ridden and shown every weekend by beginners and kids. In great shape, does not look or act his age at all, located at CSS.

Nuggett Bill was adopted by Ann and Carl Niles of Nineveh, NY

Boomer: 1986 Appaloosa gelding, grey, 15 hands (measured), sound, former lesson horse, also done extensive trail riding, a beginner and child can ride, owner calls him bomb proof, ridden consistently, located at CSS, looking for a family home for this boy, no more working.

Boomer was adopted by Sherry and Eugene Roberts of Fairmont, WV and left for his new home today.

She's a Cad "Caddy": 1989 Thoroughbred mare, 15.2 hands,  grey, located at CSS.

Caddy was adopted by Sal Bomdardiere and Jamie Everett of Westover, WV (adoption complete, boarding at CSS until Jamie starts at SIU for her Equine Education)

Morph: 2001 registered STB gelding, trotting bred, bay, 16+ hh (measured), sound for all professions, just not going to make a race horse, drives now, putting under saddle now.

Morph was adopted by Sarah Larson of Hoytville, Ohio

A Votre Sante: 2001 registered STB gelding, pacing bred but also trots, bay, 15.1+ hh (measured), sound for all professions, just not going to make a race horse. Drives now, will put under saddle upon arrival.

Votre was adopted by Sal Bomdardiere and Jamie Everett of Westover, WV (adoption complete, boarding at CSS until Jamie starts at SIU for her Equine Education)

The Rock Rocks: 2001 Standardbred gelding, trotter, 16.1 hands (measured), bay located at currently located at CSS, sound for all professions

Rock was adopted by Lori and Cliff Harding of Newton Falls, Ohio before the start of the adoption auction. Guess they didn't want to miss out on their favorite. :) Congratulations!! They've put Rock into 2 months of training with Paula and plan to send their daughter down to spend a week with us in training with Rock. This is really the way to best prepare the horse for its new job and home. Bravo!!

Mocha: 1998 STB mare, Bay, 14 hands (measured), sound for all professions, located at CSS. Great beginners and child's horse, sweet, game for anything. Has had tons of riding, also drives.

Mocha by adopted by Ann and Carl Niles of Nineveh, NY

Benjamin was adopted by Sarah Frederick of Winston-Salem, NC

 

This is a first, Olympic dressage rider (1988 Olympics) Heidi Erickson is adopting Bec for her nieces, its pending now but should be finalized soon. Check out Heidi's web, very impressive: heidi's webpage Our little round "redhead" should have fun with all those big warmbloods and all the attention. Great home!! About now we all wish we could go to Florida with him.

ILF Apache Fire "Raji": 1988 Arab gelding, 15 hands, bay, sound but looking for a easy job like lead line for a light rider or driving, or in hand classes in showing (beautiful movement, just has an old back injury that prevents him from carry much weight). Striking good looks. The owner says he's almost human. Located in Stephens City, VA coming to CSS in March to learn to drive.

Bravo!! A neighbors of Raji's has offered to keep him for his owner so she doesn't have to find him a home. That is great news!!.

Simply Magic: 1995 Irish Draught, bay 16.1 hands, located in Millbrook, NY, sound, trained in dressage and jumping.

Magic has been adopted by his facility manager, Mary Cookingham of Coole ParK Farm in Red Hook, NY. This is great news, he doesn't even have to be moved.

Belle: 1984 TB mare, 16 hands, gray, trained, rides beginners, no vises, wonderful horse, needs to be moved further north and looking for a home in New England or one of the very northern states, located at CSS.

Belle has been adopted by Renee DiPietro of Hinesburg, VT for her girls to ride. Bravo, she has a home where she can live a normal life with that leg.

Miss Priss, aka "Melody": 1993 Appendix Quarter Horse mare, 15 hands, bay, ridden and jumped kids to 2', done small schooling shows. Professionally trained. Has done fox hunting and polo. Great manners and no vises. Sounds like a very nice little mare, pictures coming very soon.

Miss Priss has been adopted by Jim and Mary Grove of Charlottesville, VA. This is their second SWAP horse. Congratulations!!

Tropic Knight: 1994 STB gelding, 15.2 hands, bay, sound, extensive trail riding  experience the last 3 years with a beginner family, taken everywhere, even ridden in parades. Don't miss this one.

Knighty was adopted by Dennis and Sandy Dent of Hartville, Ohio for their daughter Megan. Congratulations and welcome to the Second Wind Family!!

Silas: 1999 Quarterhorse x draft cross (grade), 15 hands (measured), Sorrel with Flaxen mane and tail, located at CSS

Silas has been adopted by Rich and Maureen Kinney of Picayuni, MS.

 

Best of 2011

 

-Foster Mom of the Year, Lydia Millner, we didn’t have a lot of horses in foster homes this year but Lydia was so different from most fosters who want a certain horse or a certain capability and only want it for the summer. Lydia called and offered to help by taking any horse for the winter, now that is a foster mom that all programs dream about having. Someone who is more concerned about helping any horse in need than thinking of themselves she even paid to ship him to her place, what selfless devotion to helping a horse that would have never had a chance without us and her. Lydia is fostering Aargon for the winter and is focusing on helping him become an even better horse, he’s not just going there and sitting in a field, she’s handling him every day and this will end up really helping this horse find a great home and help him be success in that home. I would give my right arm to have more fosters like her.

 

-Adopter Update of the Year, Pony Pastures along with all their students that are our adopters!! What can you say, with all their SWAP horses and many of their students with our horses and all the pictures we get all through the year on facebook… we have no doubt what a great home they are all in. Nothing like constant updates, we love it and the pictures of the kids and horses are priceless. We are so thrilled to have found Pony Pastures, they have become a SWAP East helping us find horses homes and putting the word out about our work. What great adopters, every one of them.

  

-Best All Around Volunteer, Ellen Mitchell, Esq.…. Anyone who will drive 12 hours one way about every 3 months to spend a weekend to clean stalls and troughs and sit all day helping with inventory in the SWAP store, plus donating funds to the feed fund, donating stuff for the SWAP store, donating her legal expertise on different issues deserves much more than this recognition. Ellen has gone above and beyond the call of duty and asks nothing in return but the chance to help a horse in need. We are so praying to keep her around for a long time and begging for more like her this year!!

 

-Best Fund Raisers of the Year, Delaware Harness Racing Golf Tournament for SWAP, the Ring Raffle Sponsored by Faye York and The Donor Challenge by Sherry Galt and all the donors that accepted her challenge. We can thank these three fund raisers for our continued existence. The golf tournament paid for all of our hay, the Ring Raffle paid the farm mortgage for 10 months and the Challenge continues to help us pay for feed, farrier, vet and monthly expenses. Shew, what do you say to people that saved your life and the lives of so many animals that we helped this year and the years to come. Reminds us all to have the faith of a child that there are good people out there that really care and when help is so badly needed, help comes when you’re heart and work is in the right place.

 

-Best All Around Supporters: We had so many that helped this year that its hard to pick out of handful but Dale Ames, David Ferrell, Jim Gerchow, Chip Copper, George & Tina Dennis along with so many from Delaware Harness Racing, Faye York, Sherry Galt, Carole and Clint Wade, Peggy Breakiron, Gene Swansey, Sara Gauer, Kaitlyn Snodgrass, Diana Greenhalgh, Donna Moore, McKinzi Straub, the Swisher Family that brings us all our hay, Foster Feeds, all those transporters that kept our horses safe on the road …..these folks have made all the difference in the world in the programs operation...

 

-Donor of the Year, Quang Hua and Vietopia Restaurant of Houston bought $5000. worth of raffle tickets for the ring raffle… no matter how hard I wished they would have won, they didn’t and I was heartbroken but they made the ring raffle a success and kept the farm running for another year. Wishing we could do something special for so many that have given so much in money and time.

 

-Presidents Award, Diana Greenhalgh,  Years of working at Second Wind, doing whatever needed to be done for over 11 years now but this year with Celeitas injury Diana was at the farm every day to make sure the horses were cared for, she was the one that came daily to pack and wrap Sonny’s feet, cleaning up after dogs and doing all the things that Celeita could not do for over 3 months, she was the one that covered the operation when Celeita had to have surgery or be gone all day at the VA hospital. There is no way we could have ever paid her for her time, gas money and for all the work she did this year. It was a hard year on everyone, the volunteers were tired and worn out with Celeita’s injury it put a strain on the whole operation, many just stopped coming to help. Diana was the only one coming to help consistently even when Celeita was begging for help from anyone. The program and the critters owe her so much, so much more  than we’ve ever been able to give her for her devotion and dedication to the animals in our care.

 

-Life Time Achievement, Rhonda Ross was a longtime friend, adopter and supporter of Second Wind. She spent a lifetime of loving horses but her life was shortened from diabetes, which first took her sight, then took her kidney of which she got a transplant. She always talked about SWAP to her family and friends, she had dreams of being a professional horse woman and dreams of showing and competing, even dreams of doing what we do here at SWAP. Unfortunately all those things had to be put aside for Rhonda to fight for her life, which she did for many years and then her poor heart could not handle all the stress any more. Rhonda was really an inspiration because she took great care of 2 SWAP horses, riding both as well, proving a good relationship with a horse and respect will compensate for strength in the rider. I saw her ride the first time, already legally blind and had already had the transplant. It was one of those times when you think, I have no excuses, if she can ride that well, I should be able to do anything. She was riding horses that many able bodied riders could not, she showed us anything is possible, it just depends on how badly you want it and she wanted to ride badly. Rhonda lost her battle this year and sent all her horses to SWAP plus told her family she wanted all her horse stuff to come to us. Even in her death she was thinking about helping horses. She was a precious delicate gift to horses and to us, she is so desperately missed by all who knew her.

  

-Most Dedicated Vet, Dr. Shannon Loomis along with Marla, her vet tech.. this year was such a tough year for Second Wind, we had to put down more animals in one year than all the past 15 years total. Dr Loomis and Marla helped us make good decisions about animals in pain and about our toughest welfare decisions because we never got into horse/dog adoption to put animals down. When you have feet and legs falling apart, illness so bad that the horse is hurting itself, legs breaking down so badly that it takes 4 people to trim the horse, horses sloughing their hooves from poor care, excessive seizures that we could not stop, then we are forced to consider what is humane. We expect people to dump horses here when they don’t want to put them down, and when they are old and lame, when they have not been fed or cared for but its never easy when we can’t fix the problem or help them. We’ve realized that ending the pain, pain we never caused is the most humane thing we can do. To be there for them, to put them down where they were loved and cared for, to do it humanely with lethal injection and bury on the farm is the best answer. Shannon, Marla and Audubon always handled these animals with care and compassion and they were there for the SWAP staff, knowing how painful those decisions are to us.  Many of them we had had in the program for many years, following them through years of homes and then allowing some of them to live out any good life they had left in the Old Timers Sanctuary until they were in so much pain and could barely walk or barely get up. We hate the whole thing but as a rescue we have to find a way to give horses relief, relief from past injuries, from serious illness, from damage done from past owners. We are always attacked for all our decisions, regardless, attacked by people who think we should put the horse down at the first sign of an issue and also attacked by those who feel that you never put any horse down regardless, that they should always die on their own from natural causes so the attacks and outside opinions make things even worse and its already a very painful situation because we love the animal. Dr. Loomis made this so much easier, reminding us that quality of life is a major consideration, as is the horses safety and survival. I know I will think of these animals for the rest of my life, but I know we made the right decisions for each with the knowledge and experience of our veterinary team. 

 

-Directors Award, Michael Asthalter, Michael has been a long time friend to SWAP as an adopter, donor, foster, transporter, advisor and even checking out new homes when he delivered horses to their home but this year he returned to Germany because of the limited opportunities in the horse industry in the US. The decision all started with the death of his beloved wife Zorana Ristic, a veterinarian that always gave us free advice and supported our operation completely for many years. We miss Michael and it was a huge loss to SWAP, he was a meticulous transporter and worker, his knowledge of horses is unmatched and being German he was always kind but always honest, even when it was something we didn’t want to hear. We hope that his home land will give him all the opportunities for great work that he longs for.

 

-Vice Presidents Award, Alan Macy in Indiana, We all lost a great animal advocate when we lost Alan Macy to cancer. He and Angie have been adopters, volunteers, fosters, rescue assistance and emergency transport for Second Wind since the late 1990’s while helping Angie care for their 20 + equine, dog and cat family and two kids. Alan was what most horse women would call a loveable puppy dog, he was always ready to do whatever was needed to be done and had the patience of a saint. He was a good man, husband, father and animal lover. This is a small tribute to his years of selfless work to help animals and care for animals. Sorely missed does not describe the huge loss to the animals and to his family.

 

-Most Dedicated Riders, McKinzi Staub and Donna Moore, what a year we had, seems like every horse came to us untrained, unhandled, crazy from mishandling, uncastrated, completely herd bound. At times I was starting to think I was getting too old to take the really hard rescues. None were completely starved but all of them needed training. McKinzi and Donna were ready to take on any problem they had, from mounting issues to just never being trained or handled. They were becoming old pros at putting new horses under saddle and most of the horses we found homes for this year was because we had these two ladies and their gentling talents to bring horses along so they could be adopted and be successful in the home. Donna brought McKinzi on board and McKinzi brought her college church group to volunteer as well so they are much more than a couple of riders/trainers… they are two caring young ladies who really want to help animals. Kudos!

 

-8 years of Service, Aldine Hart... Wow!! What a work history. For many years Aldine was the barn and farm manger, then he retired but has continued to help us with farm maintenance, building, fixing, mowing, weed eating, fence repairs and walking the miles of fence lines, helping us stay up on stalls and even horse care on occasion. He’s been a trooper for so many years and such a great dedicated, honest worker that always does his best work.

 

-Adopter of the Year, Dr. Sherry Galt of TX, at first we thought Sherry was going to be just another great adopter, keeping her horse beautiful, good about doing her updates, then she was given a professional award and she could either take a donation to a program of her choice or take an extended vacation in the Bahamas. She had her award sent to us. She always got our newsletter and stayed in touch when we started struggling because of the economy Sherry’s challenge kicked in, getting several others donating monthly to the mission to match her donation, she also put $3500. Into our feed fund this winter, nearly paying our winter feed bill for the horses. How do you ever pay someone back for that kind of support and how do you thank them? We have no clue but she is certainly adopter and donor of the year all in one. She deserves so much more. We’ve seen some real heroes step forward this year and make a big difference in the horses lives and we have all been sleeping much better, not having a fret over feed and care for the horses. Outstanding dedication to helping the ones who cannot help themselves. Bravo!!

  

-Groom of the Year, Sara Gouer, Our bathing, clipping, grooming, spit shining geru... she goes all day taking horses to the wash stall making them all looking marvelous! We’ve not found anyone who enjoys this more and does quite the job she does when it comes to spit shining up a dog or horse. The animals love her for it too.

 

-Animals Best Friend, Jean Kruse of WV Jean runs our county Spay Neuter Program, of which all the SWAP small animals went to but she has been instrumental in helping dogs and cats that need help…. even horses too, does transports, pick ups, placements, tracking down abandoned/stranded animals and dogs that have landed in shelters by mistake, takes in animals and finds them homes, helps us get our dogs placed into homes too, she is an animal’s best friend for sure and its so nice to finally see someone in our own county step up and do something for animals besides us and Donna Francisco!

 

-Adopters with the Best Horse Pictures: Amanda Rockower with Fior in PA, The Stouts with Ebony in WV, The Riehl’s with Banner in Indiana, Betsy Bailey and the Bailey family with Classy and Mistral in VA, Marissa St. Clair with Melody and LilBit in Maryland, Morgan Crabbs with Ren and several SWAP horses in Maryland, Alexandra with Zahara in Florida, Kim Stark with Country Lane in Oklahoma, Wendal and his human family in Arkansas and Pat Pape in Texas. This is always a hard choice, all these folks send the best pictures of them and their horses, when things are hard here and we’re really struggling, we turn to these pictures as a critical reminder as to why we work so hard for no money, why we struggle, why we continue even though we have sleepless nights worrying over horses, why we ignore the BS on the forums being written by people we helped put in jail for horrific neglect or people that abused their horses and even the ones we didn’t approve their applications for dishonesty or extreme selfishness… these pictures serve such an important purpose to us, not only in fulfilling the adoption contract and letting us now the horse is safe but also that all important reminder that some people do really care and it’s so badly needed.

 

-Biggest Transformation in Horses: You expect rescues to go through a huge transformation, certainly Aargon comes to mind, going from a dangerous jerk to a sweet easy going confident pony in training but also watching Morgan Crabbs and Ren go from a well cared for TB with a wonderful beginning to a big beefy competitor jumping big in big shows was a sight to see. Also Cortez has turned into a fit, capable lesson and dressage horse in the hands of Andra Constantin and Carol Popp in CT, Rocky is another in CT that is looking wonderful and coming along so well with Lynda Morhardt. All very dedicated people who take pride in how their horses look, knowing that your horse is a reflection of you as a person.

 

-Best All Around Adopters: Carole and Clint, The Wade Family of WV adopted yet another horse this year, all are always fat and shining, they have donated to the mission, worked at the SWAP store building tables for us, bought a ton of stuff from the SWAP store, volunteered, bought calendars, offered transport help to volunteers and to Celeita when she fractured her arm… the list goes on and on as they are always looking for a way to help, this couple is a dream come true to any program trying to get things done with very little money.

 

-Adopters with the biggest hearts: Nancy Trotter of GA, Micki Ollman of NC and Dana Limpert of Maryland. Nancy and Micki for adopting completely blind horses just because they needed a home and they could give them that home, this is the second year we’ve selected them for this honor. Nancy has gone through a major injury with Amber, a family move and even found a Donkey to be Ambers buddy. Micki now runs a blind horse sanctuary in NC and we’ve recommended several blind horses to her that she’s accepted into her program. She even had our beloved 41 year old Kochese a birthday party with local kids attending and walked him in the local Christmas parade, she even went out of her way to meet Kochese’s original owner who had him for many many years but lost her home to foreclosure after a major family illness. When a blind horse comes to you as a rescue, it’s the biggest worry wondering if anyone will ever adopt or if they will ever have a family of their own and then you worry about them being neglected or abused… most rescues just turn them away and many times It’s their last chance. When such a needy horse finds a great home it is really a gift from god. They will both tell you there is nothing better than having an animal that needs you so much and they realize what a gift to them that it really is to have such horses in their lives. Dana Limpert adopted Klack and is working to get his OCD removed as promised, it took us 2 years to find someone that cared enough about the horse to accept the challenge, amazing how many people want something great for nothing, not Dana, she has no expectations except to get him healthy and give him a chance. You just do not find people with the spiritual and personal strength and faith, courage and selflessness to take on horses like this every day. It is truly commendable.

 

-Adopter that has learned the most since adopting: Katharine Owens and Arab mare Melody of VA, she adopted unhandled 10 month old SA Melody who came to us from a breeder that was over breeding many years and then would send us 10 to 15 unhandled youngsters each year. Melody was lovely but needed so much training…. Fast forward 11 years and they are showing, competing and winning in halter, dressage and stock seat show classes and Katharine is not a professional, she paid a trainer, went to lessons, she got trained and got Melody trained, it really shows that with the investment of time and money and many years of dedication, everyone can raise the horse of their dreams, no matter what their start has been but it does not happen in a month and many times it does not even happen in a year, slow and steady always wins the race.

 

-SWAP horse that has lived the most interesting life: Mikado and Revue, Mikado was born in Ireland, competed in eventing there, then imported to the US and competed around NY and the east coast, then was adopted into a home in Fairbanks, Alaska. That boy’s been around and his personality is bigger than life. Revue was born in Australia, competed there, went to Europe and was owned by the FEI President, competed there, imported into the US and competed here. Came to us as too much horse for an amateur and not enough for a professional to win but to the surprise of many we placed her with Rhonda Ross, a legally blind rider who built a relationship with her and Revue would ride her anywhere, we sadly lost Rhonda this year and Revue is back with us looking for another home that will give her the time she needs to establish a relationship with in order to see the best of her abilities.

 

Thank you all for a super year. Without you, SWAP today would just be a memory of the past.

 

      "Saving the life of one horse may not change the world,

          but the world will surely change for that one horse”

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