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 9 to 4 (eastern time) by appointment
Pick Up and Delivery of Horses:  9am to 8pm by appointment
Office Hours: 9 to 4 (eastern time) Monday through Friday
Driving Directions: Click here for directions to the Headquarters farm
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.

Crossed Sabers Stable

Cape Cod Cottage and week long Vacation for up to 8 people, auction and fund raiser, Bid NOW, bidding ends 5pm EST on St. Patricks Day!!... Be watching! Click on the SWAP Shopping picture below to get details on how to bid on this super week!

Luck of the Irish St. Patricks Day Adoption Special going on now, see the available page for details of the even better prices now, special ends March 17th at 5pm est, St. Patricks Day. Have the Lluck of the Irish and find the horse of your dreams here at SWAP

 

volunteers, interns needing college credit for independent studies, visit for a weekend, a week or a semester, get a badly needed break from your daily grind and help horses that need YOU!

Click the picture above to see the details about the St. Pats Day, Luck of the Irish Adoption Special, we're making it even easier to get the horse of your dreams!!

Saturday has become our regular volunteer day, we've had so many people wanting to help we had to set aside a day for all to come at the same time. YEA!!

 

Click the SWAP Shopping picture to see details about the Cape Cod Cottage auction and fund raiser going on right now!

iGive.com color logo

click here, sign up and shop at over 750 stores, every time you shop, SWAP gets a donation of up to 26% of your purchase. ISearch at IGive gives money every time you do a search.

Services to keep you and horse safe from fraud, fake horses, dishonesty with sellers and buyers. Safe Selling services include marketing, mediation, background checks on buyers/sellers, purchase/lease agreements, expert witness for contracts, leases and sales gone wrong, guidance for fixing sales and lease issues, research and PI services.

Safe Sharing is a program to allow horse owners to keep their horses by sharing costs with another person. Safe Sharing is available to all horse owners.

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 visitors by country counter blog counter
monthly counters started on February 13, 2010 for the website, because this is a free counter, it will not show our total numbers, only a portion of them, so its not an accurate depiction of all of our visitors, just gives an idea about all the people that visit our site. We do love our international visitors. Welcome!

Visitors By Country

Top 100 Visitors

Last 100 Visitors

Visitors Map

Daily Stats

stay up with our President/Executive Director, all the directors, volunteers and riders (Crossed Sabers is on Facebook too). All the CSS/SWAP supporters are having a big time sharing stories, pictures, lots of good stuff about their horses.

The Wish List of Our Needs:

1. New or lightly used truck and 3 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. Farms in every state for low cost long term lease or donation to expand our program to develop more adoption locations and retirement farms for our now aging horses returned to us from adopters who could not retire our horses. Our highest priority locations initially are Northern Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Indiana, Maryland, Delaware.

3. New or lightly used 2 horse trailer to pick up horses when rescued and to deliver them to their new home

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.

6. Someone to sponsor our annual Harness Racing Driving School Scholarship, $500. annually. This gives some youngster the opportunity to go to the USTA Driving School and get qualified as a Harness Racing Driver.

7. Someone to sponsor our annual Intern of the Year Scholarship, $500. annually.

Someone to sponsor our annual Volunteer of the Year Educational Scholarship, $500. Both of these scholarships goes toward school costs or school supplies for the Intern and Volunteer.

8. A company with the ability to install a methane digester/cleaner for the horse farm and the ability to tie in to gas or electric companies and run the farm off the digester. Any other companies who can convert the farm to a more green operation, reduce our carbon footprint and reduce our overhead by use of wind, solar or methane.

9. A volunteer or low cost employee who can help us fix our database that lists all adopters, donors, supporters and horses/dogs/cats in the program.

10. We need about 25 to 50 fosters parents in every state to volunteer, especially in WV, VA, PA, OH, KY, NC, SC, TN, MD, DE, NJ, NY, these are used when owners in that area can not afford to transport the horse to SWAP HQ but need to be able to move the horse into a safe place.

11. People/farms to act as SWAP Mini Rescues, those who have the ability to take in a rescue, get it healthy, train it and then SWAP will help you place the horse into a home using our website and all supporting adoption documents.

12. Some sort of a cloth facility like Cover-all or Farm-Tek building to increase our abilities to be able to take more horses and have an indoor area to work and train horses in winter, donated, grant or partially donated. anywhere from 50 x 200 to 72 x 300.

13. Monthly Sponsors for our light use, elderly or retirement/sanctuary horses who's possibilities for adoption are very low, ie. Orphy, Jelly Bean, Dixie, Allie, Kochese, Darlin, etc.

14. Volunteers for Spring/Summer and Fall Seasons and Interns for Summer. We should be starting our regular Saturday Volunteer days in March, lets all hope the weather will be better. We already have 2 interns for summer now, looking for as many as 16 more for June, July and August... just remember there is not a lot of riding in August because the farm is overcome by horse flies then. So we work/train horses the most from March to July and then again from Mid September through Christmas as long as we have goot weather.

15. Sponsors and Tickets to take 10 to 20 less fortunate kids to WEG in Lexington, KY on an educational trip. Other educational trips are also options if you have something else in mind.

16. Volunteers to help during our Veterans Days at the Stable, these are exploratory days to evaluate if we can do a handicapped veterans riding and therapy program.

17. Volunteers to commit to doing one fund raiser for SWAP horses at your location during 2010, 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.

18. 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 $3.00 a bag (in a bag that is usually used for 100 lbs of feed). This is beautiful clean top soil. This offer will only last so long because we will be leveling the manure pile this August when its dry enough to get a dozer in there.

19. 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 our cruelty case workers Tom and Ruby Fleming at tomfleming64@cebridge.net or 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 67 different breeds) in homes today with SWAP

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Horses adopted in 46 states and Canada

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13 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. 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.. Easy keepers may be round but it does not mean they are healthy, most easy keepers need 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. 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 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.

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).

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.

Proud to be an American!!

Crossed Sabers Stable

Home of

 

 

 

 

2009 Year in Reviews

Below is our 2009  Pictorial review (staring some of our adoption horses), also some of our SWAP friends, supporters and family. I wish we could show all the pictures from our annual updates but we get thousands of updates from adopters each year so we have to choose our favorites. Saying Goodbye to the people and animals the SWAP family has lost this year, they all leave us with a piece of our heart and will never be forgotten. A special thank you to all our adopters who have opened up their homes and hearts to our 4 legged friends, for always doing what is best for them and for being such a great friend to SWAP. We thank you for being such an important part of the SWAP family. To all the kids from Pony Pastures who sent us so many letters and thank you's, we wish we could show everyone of them because they are all cherished. Turn up your sound, click on the video and enjoy... hit your back button to return here when finished.

 

The video below is life on the farm and all our acitivities. Our wonderful volunteers, supporters, friends and family in action, plus all the critters that we've helped this year... doing what we do best ... helping horses, dogs and cats that come to us in search of a home. The first pictures are just a  few of our BEFORE AND AFTER pictures of our rescues...just so you can see the transformation of just a few of these horses. If you see a picture of a skinny horse or dog, that was taken upon their arrival at Crossed Sabers Stable, they don't stay that way long, its one thing we are very good at. Turn up your sound, hit the link and enjoy and remember to click your back button to return here.

 

 visitors by country counter blog counter
monthly counters started on February 13, 2010 for the website, does not count individual pages or hits, only numbers of visitors and country they are from. These are updated once a day about 8:30am. We do love our international visitors. Welcome!

For Email Marketing you can trust

here is our most recent news letter:

Subject: See Horses Here! One More Week of Super St. Pats Day Special, Deeper Price Cuts!

adoption header
Adoption Special Ending March 17th at 5pm... Prices Lowered Even More! Month Year
Please consider adopting or a donation to help our horses....
 

see all the great horses below and their current adoption fee....

 
The barn is over full of super horses ready to go to their new home, many more horses needing our help, funds are low and work load and the winter has left us in need of great homes, less work and over head. We'd love to help more horses but we need to get our horses into homes to do that. Many are ready for a forever home.
 
I'm hopeful that each of you will consider opening up your home to one of these great horses, each just need a good home and lots of love to be their best.
 
If you can't adopt, please consider a donation to help with the $1800. feed bill that we have each month with the 30 horses we have at this time. Donations and sponsorships can be sent to SWAP at Rt. 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union, WV 26456
 
The St. Patricks Day Adoption Special goes until 5pm on March 17th... we've lowered the prices again, they are listed below for your convenience.
 
Remember we have the Cape Cod Cottage Auction going on right now until 5pm on the 17th as well. We have 2 weeks available in the cottage so two great families will have a week at this super location. Bidding starts at $1100. it covers 7 days at this cottage that sleeps 8 and located across the street from the Harbour, what more could you ask for. Bids will have to be paid by the 1st of April, if you need more time, just let us know if you are one of the high bidders.
 
Sincerely,
 
Celeita Kramer, Owner/Executor/Director
Crossed Sabers Stable
IN THIS ISSUE
Gameel
Cinder & Her Foal
Chester
Dante
Klack
Monty
Denver & Her Foal
Cavalier
Gracie
Rock Doctor
Snowy Savannah
Jasfar
Beau
Sassy
Happy
Ren
Lucy
Miss B
Azim
Dreamer
Cassie
Danny
Cincinnati Red
Missile Fire
Trinket
Cody
Sukhoi
Brioso
Kismet
Kochese, Dixie, Allie, Orphy, Jelly Bean, Orphy
GAMEEL
 
SEXY 
 
 WD Gameel, aka "Sexy" 2007 registered bay rabicano (with white in tail), 14.1 hands but growing, registration number is 634661, gelding, exceptional straight egyptian bloodlines being donated by a very well known arab breeder that exports most of their horses (Sire is Mohummed Sadden  and dam is Aravaipa Sharafa), papers will be released for showing after our normal probationary period. This gelding loads, baths, clips, farriers, vets, longes, has been saddled. Located at CSS in WV.  Sexy is a really sweet horse and has good manners for a youngster. He likes people, has a good temperament, he is very confident, smart and is easily trained, cross ties, clips, bathes, good alone, he likes to talk around feed time but other than that he is quiet in his stall, he lunges with and without a line. he comes when called, has been turned out with mares and been fine/respectful, easily trained, likes to work, good with farrier/vet/shots, loads. good mind, wants to please. Lovely mover, completely sound and healthy, always had the best care, breeder just needed to downsize and wanted to know these babies got the best home during a bad economy. Possible jobs are showing, 4-H, Pony Club, lower or upper level dressage, lower level jumping, fox hunting, pleasure riding, hunt seat on the flat and over fences, endurance or competitive trail, western pleasure, english pleasure, polo, police horse or mounted patrol, lesson or school horse, excellent prospect for a youth horse.  located at SWAP HQ Sexy had been adopted by someone in Mississippi but she backed out because of transport issues having to do with the weather so after several months of waiting for a ride for him to go to his home, she backed out. He never left here and this decision had nothing to do with him. Please don't disregard him because she gave up because of weather/roads. We are thinking he was just supposed to be in a home with someone else. 
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY: $500. (if paying cash up front vs. paying payments)
CINDER AND HER FOAL
 
CINDER
 
  Cinder: Pony mare, according to the owner she is in foal to a palomino 1/2 arab, she is close to foaling but we have no idea when, she will be coming to SWAP soon. Looks like we'll be doing some foaling this year with Cinder and Denver. (more information coming)  We have a wonderful foster for Miss Cinder very close to her home so this baby that is very close to foaling does not have to travel very far. YEA, thank you Susan!!

 
 ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY: $500. (if paying cash up front vs. paying payments)
CHESTER
 
CHESTER
 
Chester is an older founder Quarter Horse gelding, foundation stock, ridden kids and beginners, healthy and sound. A wonderful horse with many years of riding left to do.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY: $500. (if paying in cash up front vs. paying payments)
DANTE
 
dante 2
 
 Dante, 15.3 1/2 hands registered Hanoverian gelding imported from Germany, foaled 5/2000.
Dante is a GORGEOUS mover, schooling 3rd level Dressage and he knows some 4th level movements but sadly Dante's dressage career is finished, with any extensive work at all his stifle starts to hurt him but luckily he is good for trail riding, he is coming to SWAP HQ to see if any rehab at all will help but I suspect his days at doing dressage are finished, so we are restricting him to pleasure riding only, no ring work.  Dante loves to work, and is a real puppy dog. He is a sensible guy and a great traveler, no spookiness in him!  Dante is super friendly, a snuggler and loves hugs and kisses! So sad that a mid west trainer thought his hesitating was a training issue so she just worked him harder and basically ruined him for dressage. Terribly sad that ignorance and disregard for Dante ruined his life for the very discipline that he was born and raised to do, especially at such a young age.  Grand son of world famous Donnerhall, grand daughter of Espri Don't miss out on an opportunity to get a fantastic horse at an unbelievable price!  Dante arrived at SWAP, he walked off the trailer totally sound, interesting, and of course, no vet paperwork came with him. I have to wonder now if I was told the truth about him. Well, we'll do our evaluation and see what we find. I still think his days of competing and spending a lot of time in the ring going round and round just to entertain someone is done. Hopefully we'll know soon what we have and what kind of rehab he needs if he needs any.
 
UPDATE: Dante needs slow rehab and a final job that includes no collection, no jumping and a rare day in the ring. A $30,000. horse who has been used up by trainers only thinking of money and not this boy, even our adopter who was suppose to rehab him did the same thing and hurt him again. No more. If someone is looking for a pleasure mount and prepared to ride a wonderful sweet horse on the buckle for years to come, then this is your horse.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $3000. (if paying in cash vs. paying payments)
KLACK (SPORT HORSE, DRESSAGE, EVENTING, HUNTER)
 
KLACK
 
 Klack: 2006 Holsteiner x Trakehner cross gelding, estimating about 16 hands (but will measure), he is by Ciceras Icewater, imported Holsteiner crossed with an big imported Trakehner mare, Ginger. Young, healthy, sound, sensible, will turn gray and already starting to change color. Nice bone, nice big feet, loads of leg, balanced boy. His Dam, Ginger was a really big girl, looks like he's going to get much of her size. Came from a breeder who lost his wife and farm. Exceptional boy for almost any discipline, dressage, hunter, eventing... you chose.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $2000. (if paying cash vs. paying payments)
MONTY
 
MONTY
 
 Monty: 2004 Haflinger gelding, estimate about 14 hands (will measure) don't know if he was ever registered, we have no information on that, he came in with Cavalier on a neglect case, though these two were not neglected, healthy and sound, hardy and very easy keeper, no past injuries or illnesses, sound barefoot, he is more senior in the group and should probably be fed alone as he will go and eat everyone else's food, on a regular deworming schedule, been ridden a couple of times about 4 months ago, ridden bareback, takes some time to trust and gentle handling, good temperament, loads well, good with a gentle farrier that he trusts, learning to tie and cross tie, bathes, good alone, good in stall, free lunges, lunges on a line, higher in the pecking order in the herd but not mean, natural training methods have been used to train him, mostly monty roberts, sound barefoot, great mover, quit the looker. Recommended for lead line with kids, driving, lower level dressage or jumping, possibly upper level with training, pleasure riding, vaulting, carriage or fine harness, eventually maybe a school or lesson horse, needs a quiet handler and environment until he learns to completely trust humans again but he might be okay if in a situation where he's handled daily, he's really coming along here.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $750. (if paying cash vs. paying payments)
 
DENVER AND HER UNBORN FOAL
 
DENVER
 
Denver Darling: 1995 Arab mare, bred to Imported Trakehner Stallion Hakan, due to foal 5 March 2010, the foal in the picture was her last foal also by Hakan, nice big baby. She just arrived to SWAP HQ so we will foal her out and let her stay here until the foal is ready to wean and place them both into homes. Certainly if someone wants to adopt both together they can once the foal is old enough to travel and handle a move.
Doing foal watch now, she was due March 5th, still no foal as of March 8th.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $1000. (if paying cash vs. paying payments)
CAVALIER (4-H, PONY CLUB, RIDING/DRIVING, KIDS MOUNT)
 
CAVALIER
 
 Cavalier: 2004 Black and White Mountain Pony, estimate about 14 hands (will measure), sound barefoot, easy to handle and kind, not sure if he is broke to ride, he was brought here by the county sheriff in a neglect case. Their care was find but they were with other horses that were in poor condition. Shy but not aggressive at all, needs a tender touch and he responds to that, appears to have a sarcoid on his sheath but does not affect his health. has been on a regular deworming program, good manners, gentile, respects your space, needs under saddle training, will jump at liberty in the pasture, good with other horses and other animals, low in rank in the herd, good with farrier and vet, loads, good alone, quiet in a stall, comes when called, can catch, very hardy easy keepers, lived outside in a herd, very sweet natured, recommended for pleasure riding or driving, companion, lower level jumping or dressage, western pleasure, carriage or fine harness, needs a short or small rider.
 
ADOPTION FEE FOR THIS WEEK ONLY $300. (if paying in cash vs. paying in payments)
GRACIE (PLEASURE RIDING/DRIVING, FAMILY HORSE)
 
GRACIE
 
Gracie Gray, aka GG or Gracie: Gracie was abandoned on a farm in Marion County and the authorities did not have facilities for them so we got them, Gracie is a Percheron mare, was black turning gray like so many percherons do, looks to be 5 or 6 years old (all adult teeth are in and none of the cups are worn down), at least 15.3 to 16 hands but we will measure as soon as the weather breaks. very sweet, curious, in your face for scratches, in good health, feet now in good shape and spring shots/coggins will be coming up soon. The people that knew this family that had them said the grandfather was very active and used all his draft horses for driving and farm work and they were always well cared for, sadly the grandfather died and the kids all deserted the farm and the horses. Many skeletons were found on the farm of large animals. Gracie is lucky that the neighbors started feeding her and she had a draft horse metabolism, easy keeper, that is probably the only way she survived. sweet friendly horse,  likes other horses and people a lot. Like a big puppy dog, can't wait to ride this girl.
 
ADOPTION FEE FOR THIS WEEK ONLY $750. (if payin up front vs. paying payments)
 
ROCK DOCTOR (DRESSAGE, HUNTER, PLEASURE)
 
rock doctor
 
Rock Doctor 1996, 15.2 Thoroughbred gelding Doc is a sweet, beautiful, sensible boy who is looking for a job to do. He would be perfect for hunter on the flat, 4H, lower-level dressage, or any other job suitable for a willing, patient, and laid-back partner. While Doc's donors did not pursue jumping with him, he has been schooled over cross-rails.  He did race as a baby and had a bone chip that was removed over five years ago. He has not had any lameness issues and goes barefoot.  He is easy to handle on the ground, lunges, and is great for the farrier. Doc does not like the vet however, and does not like to stand for him. He has a beautiful, floating trot. One of Doc's best traits is that it takes a lot to rattle him and he thinks before he reacts. If you are patient and consistent with him he is a good learner and once he learns a new skill he retains it. Doc is used to being blanketed if it gets below 30 degrees. He likes his stall and would probably not enjoy being in a situation where he would be out 24/7.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $300. (when paying up front vs paying payments)
SAVANNAH (PLEASURE RIDING/DRIVING, FAMILY HORSE)
 
savannah
 
Snowy Savannah: 2004 standardbred mare, 16 hands estimated (will measure), bay, sound and healthy, rides and drives, has had 7 months of professional training under saddle, still has a pretty fast metabolism so she will need more food until it slows down a bit but I would not consider her a hard keeper by comparison to what we've seen with other race horses. Accustomed to a stall with regular turn out, health care up to date, goes in a snaffle bit, likes people, good manners, respects your space, very quiet, good temperament, can be ridden today, confident, knows leads, likes to work, easily trained, smart, good with other animals and horses, good with the farrier and vet/shots, loads, ties and cross ties, clips, bathes, good alone, quiet in stall, free lunges or on a line, can catch in an open field, low in pecking order, walk trot under saddle is good, still working on a clean canter, not been on grass, former harness racing horse. loads easily, quiet in new places. Recommended for jobs like being a companion, baby sitter, pasture buddy, lead line with kids, 4-H, pony club, pleasure driving, competitive driving (not racing), low level dressage, low level jumping, pleasure riding, hunt seat on the flat, local showing, competitive trail riding, english or western pleasure, field trials, outrider or marshall at a harness track, pony horse at a TB race track, police horse, reenacting, ceremonial or color guards, carriage or fine harness. Neck freeze brand 2BB92
 
ADOPTION FEE FOR THIS WEEK ONLY $600. (when paying up front vs. paying payments)
JASFAR 
 
jasfar and jen
 
Jasfar: '89 TB x Trakehner cross gelding, 15.3 hands, sound, super all around horse for low level showing, fun dressage or trail riding, extremely easy keeper, sweet boy, not the best about traveling in a trailer but a super ride around home. Beautiful well trained horse comes with experience. Done lessons and competed in Dressage at lower levels, a Cadillac to ride, super under saddle, nearly perfect for every level rider, extremely well trained, cute, very very easy keeper, no special care required. Many years left of good riding. super horse. Located at SWAP HQ/CSS.
 
ADOPTION FEE NEXT WEEK ONLY IS $400. (when paying in cash vs. paying payments)
BEAU  (3RD LEVEL DRESSAGE, PLEASURE)
 
Beau in ny 
 
 Classy Sun, aka "Beau": 1993 Appendix QH gelding, palomino, 15.3 hands, trained in dressage to 3rd level with a Florida trainer, spent 3 years with the Above and Beyond Equestrian Arts Dressage Center as a schooling horse, had daily training in dressage with the very best, so he's only gotten better. Located in CT now. He has completed even more training with his most recent adopter who must give him up because his job has put him on the road most of the time, Beau had done plenty of clinics, regular training and riding, progressing. Still completely sound. A very rare opportunity for some lucky adopter.
here is a note from a past adopter: He's an "easy" keeper and goes with the flow. I keep shoes on him in the front and he's never had any problems. He's current on everything. I have him adjusted by my chiropractor every few months. It's a preventive measure at this point. His hip seemed to bother him two years ago and so now I just keep him adjusted to prevent any problems. He's been turned out with two other geldings and gets alone well with a group. He's not an aggressor in the pasture. He's been on grass in the past. He's been ridden in an indoor in the winter and an outdoor in the summer. I have a dog so he's used to a dog being around. He is good on trail with another horse but gets very anxious alone to the point where it's not enjoyable for him or safe.I've done a bunch of clinics with him: Jennifer Baumert, Sherry Ackerman,  Sarah Geike,  and they always love him.  I've shown him in schooling shows at training level (her level, not his). He's great in a new place, has taught several riders about dressage . Comes off the trailer completely relaxed. (He's an easy loader on the trailer-just gets right on every time). Eye candy too!
 
ADOPITON FEE THIS WEEK ONLY $3000 (if paying up front vs. paying payments)
SASSY (PLEASURE, FAMILY HORSE, GAITED TRAIL)
 
SASSY
 
Crystals Red Lady L aka "Sassy": 2002 registered MO. Foxtrotter mare, sorrel, 15 hands. registration number is 02-73274 with the Missouri FoxTrotting Association, completely sound, in good healthy and always had exceptional care and regular dewormings. Sire is Black Sonny L and Dam is Missouri's Blue Crystal G. Lately she's been a pet so she's not fit but won't take long to get fit for a new job. She has been on 24/7 turn out. Goes in a snaffle in english or western saddle and bridle. She has been ridden for 4 years and been out on trails. She likes people, has good manners, good temperament, can be ridden today, easilly trained, smart, good with other animals and horses, good with the farrier/vet and shots, she loads, trained to ride, ties and cross ties, is gaited for a perfect trail and pleasure mount, clips, bathes, good alone, comes when called, can catch in an open field, low in the pecking order in a herd. Her best quality is her loving disposition, the owner has no time for her and is starting to feel bad for her and is hoping she can be the center of someone's life. She's been on a few long trips and never had an issue loading and several types of trailers. Recommended as a companion horse, pasture buddy, lead line for kids, 4H, Pony Club, Pleasure riding, local showing, endurance riding, competitive trail riding, working livestock, gaited trail horse, field trials or bird hunting on horseback, lesson or school horse.
ADOPTION FEE FOR THIS WEEK ONLY $800. (if paying up front vs. paying payments)
HAPPY (PLEASURE, FAMILY HORSE, SHOWING)
 
HAPPY
 
Happy: 2000 American Saddlebred gelding, 16 hands (estimated, will measure), chestnut, healthy and sound, up to date on all health care, including dental, goes in a snaffle, wonderful beginner or kids horse that at least knows how to control a horse but will ride anyone. Likes people, good manners, respects your space, good temperament, can be ridden today, confident, knows leads, likes to work, easily trained, smart, good with other animals and other horses, good with farrier and vet/shots, trained to ride, ties, good alone, quiet in stall, not sure about bathing but we'll find out in the spring, lunges on a line or free lunges, comes when called, can catch in an open field, higher in pecking order but not at all mean in any way, he's used to having a stall with regular turn out, he's well trained and easy to handle, he'll get a little high headed when he's surprised (like most saddlebreds) but his feet always stay where you want them. He was rescued from a family in WV, a bit of a rescue half way house that takes horses in or buys them at auction, gets them healthy, rides them and then passes them along to rescues to place them, wonderful idea and way for a family to help one or two horses at a time. He can be slow to load in a small 2 stall trailer but loads into others fine and will load into a 2 stall with some urging. Accustomed to board and electric fence, used mostly natural means and natural aids for training. Recommended for trail, lead line showing with young kids, 4-H, Pony club, competitive trail, lesson or school horse.
Updated pictures coming soon, just waiting for better footing.
 
ADOPTION FEE FOR THIS WEEK ONLY IS $800. (if paying up front vs. paying monthly payments)
REN (HUNTER, FOX HUNTER, DRESSAGE, PLEASURE)
 
ren jumping
 
 Renaissance aka "Ren" 2003 (6 yo) 16.2 hand thoroughbred gelding. Health care is up to date and kept current. He is in regular light work about 3 times a week with daily turnout. He really needs at least 8 to 10 hours of daily turnout, if not he tends to not perform as well as he should. He has very good manners, good temperament, likes to work and jump, he is a very smart horse, good with other horses, good with farrier, he loads, cross ties, clips, bathes, and you can catch him in an open field. He has been working on basic dressage, trail riding, hacking, limited jumping, horse shows and gone on fox hunts. Ren also has great ground manners and a friendly personality. He really is a sweet and amazing horse!  He would make a great low level dressage or low level jumper, fox hunting (1st flight or hilltopper), pleasure riding, hunt seat on the flat, hunt seat over fences, competitive trail riding, english pleasure. Never raced/not tattooed. No illnesses, no special care, no lamenesses. He likes a rider who is a good leader, he gets his confidence from his rider so a confident quiet rider is best for him. Very quiet for a TB when getting turned out, ground ties even, amazing just how quiet and unnerved he is by being in a new place and being ridden/jumped upon arrival here. Sweet willing boy who wants to please, really likes people. Have I said enough, this is a super nice horse. Nothing negative to say about this boy except he does best with more turn out. Respects your space, easy to handle, knows leads, likes to work, likes to jump, good with other horses, good with farrier, good with vet/shots, good alone, quiet in stall, free lunges and on a line, friendly personality, comes with some 'household goods'... some tack and supplies. We feel the best place for him is on a family farm where they don't mind throwing on a rug and letting him out in winter time, vs. being stuck in a stall during the winter months up north.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $1250. (when paying up front vs. paying monthly payments)
LUCY (PLEASURE, HUNTER, 4-H, PONY CLUB)
 
LUCY
 
 Lucy: 2007 Paint/Pinto pony filly, 12 hands estimated (will measure), wonderful in hand and loves people, a sweet friendly looker, going to make a wonderful pony for someone, saved from slaughter, healthy and sound, no past illnesses, just a sponge waiting to learn even more, loads, leads, halters, good with farrier, still learning about respecting people's space but that's typical of a young horse, easy keeper, has shown to not be that crazy about dogs or cats in her space but never mean, accustomed to a stall, all health care up to date, good temperament, confident, easily trained, smart, good with the farrier, ties, the past owner thinks she's gaited but we've not seen that yet, she may be gaited under saddle but she's been trotting in the pasture, comes when called, can catch in an open field, she was higher in pecking order with the owner but is pretty low in our group, she's even lower than the other ponies, she is not mean to other horses or animals. Could potentially do any job on the flat or over fences, we'll start working with her as the weather gets better.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $500. (when paying up front vs. paying payments
MISS B (3RD LEVEL DRESSAGE/PLEASURE MOUNT)
 
Bee
 
 Miss Bee is a 1989 Thoroughbred mare, 16.1 hands, a 3rd level dressage master (including tempi's) and has been teaching kids dressage for the last 2 years at Meredith Manor International Equestrian School, sweet, sensible and sound. Will be an excellent horse for someone wanting to learn dressage or just do some fun dressage, clinics and personal lessons. No special care beyond some consideration for her age. We want to keep her from being a lesson horse for a lot of different riders and just have her with an individual rider that wants to learn and enjoy a super well trained horse but may not be ready for competition or no desire to compete. A real love bug. Many students from Meredith Manor tell us that Miss Bee taught them everything they know about dressage, that is a pretty good resume for this lovely girl. She deserves a great home where she can have some fun with one special person. She is a sweet mare that loves people. If well cared for she has a good 10 years of dressage in her and maybe another 5 of pleasure riding. Remember 20 is the new 10! Goes in a snaffle, never raced, good manners, good temperament, confident, easily trained, smart, sound barefoot, good with other horses and animals, good around kids on the ground, good with farrier and vet, loads, ties, cross ties, bathes, good alone, quiet in stall, free lunges or lunges on a line, can catch in an open field.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $1500. (when paying up front vs. paying payments)
AZIM (HUNTER, PLEASURE, FAMILY HORSE)
 
AZIM
 
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 dressageand 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 andrescue. Needs a good rider, has ridden teenagers but they need to be good riders.
Being returned because the stable he is at has too many horses and not enough riders. He is way too nice to go to waste! Like so many of these old timers, they have really turned into great horses with age, much better than they were as youngsters. Too bad most people don't appreciate an older horses, sadly usually those people do not have the experience to ride a younger horse so everyone loses. they get a horse they can't ride and the old timers who they could be having a big time on goes without a home. Is being fostered by Huntington Stables in Burton, Ohio until placed into a home
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $300. (paying up front vs. paying payments) 
DREAMER (PLEASURE RIDING/DRIVING, FAMILY HORSE) 
 
DREAMER
 
 It Was All a Dream aka "Dreamer" 2001 registered saddlebred gelding, registration number is 110625, he's out of Stephanie's Winged Lady and by Highpoint's Dream of Genius, he has many well known saddlebreds in his family tree (CH The King of High Point, CH Superior Odds, CH Valley View Supreme, CH Wing Commander), lovely dark bay with just a few white hairs on his forehead and 2 hind pasterns. Dreamer was removed from his home by the Taylor County authorities for not getting needed vet care for an terrible injury. We picked him up as an injured stallion and delivered him straight to Audubon Animal hospital for a castration and 4 surgeries to repair his leg and he's now with his foster mom Angie who will spend the next several months getting him better. He'll go back a few more times to see if we can totally repair his leg. Since his surgery he's been walking sound and he's a perfect gentleman, easy to handle, quiet, good with the vet/farrier, now current on shots and deworming. We'll get better pictures soon. He's going to be a super choice for anyone's home. Getting better every day, can't wait to see the finished product. An update from Dreamers foster mom: Here are a few of the wound photos from yesterday.  The one w/ the grey stuff (equi-aide) shows what is actually the granulation tissue and you can see how much new growth we are getting. I don't put the equiaide on the new skin.  I am putting corona on it to soften it.  You can see the new pink skin w/ grey stripes growing on the outside edge.  That has just started in the past month and I was really excited to see it :)  You can see as it tightens down it is bulging more in the center and bottom.  I am trimming it in that area as the new skin gets closer.  It is slow but we are getting there.  The cold weather will make it harder, but we'll get it done.  I've been using pop bottles to haul warm water over to wash him with.  Then I dry his leg as best I can.  He tolerates it well.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $300. (when paying up front
CASSIE (PLEASURE MOUNT, COMPANION, BROODMARE) 
 
CASSIE
 
 Caesarea, aka "Cassie": 1988 registered straight egyptian mare, 14.3 hands, AHA # 483967, one of the last living daughters of El Hilal and out of JML Cassiopeia by TheEgyptianPrince, Nazeer on both top and bottom of her pedigree, enjoys turn out, doesn't seem to care for hay but an easy keeper and loves her grain, proven broodmare, current on shots and healthy care, always had the best care, came from the same breeder at Sexy and Lil Mo, likes people, easy to handle, kind, respects your space, good manners, good temperament, confident, easily trained, smart, good with animals and horses, good with farrier and vet/shots, loads, cross ties, ties, clips, bathes, quiet in stall, can catch anywhere, always comes right to you, outstanding pedigree, sound, one foot smaller in front than the other but does not affect her movement, she could do lead line, 4-H, pony club, pleasure riding, local showing, trail riding. Lovely sweet girl.
 
ADOPTION FEE ONLY THIS WEEK $500. (when paying up front vs. paying payments
DANNY (PLEASURE, TRAIL, FAMILY HORSE, HUNTER, 4-H)
 
DANNY
 
Mic Mac Danny Boy, aka "Danny": 1998 registered standardbred gelding, 15 hands. Sound and has been riding children for several years,  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). He's shown us a lovely trot and a great personality! Danny is so smooth under saddle, his foster says he is a real gentleman, and a really fun ride!  Danny has a big trot and is a bigger mover so he would be probably be best for someone with a little experience riding, no bad habits or vices, just  a forward mover. Danny was in a lesson program and is being returned because the program has too many horses and not enough riders. They feel he is going to waste and deserves to be somewhere where he will be ridden and given more attention. Is being fostered by Huntington Stables in Burton, Ohio until placed into a home.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK IS $400. (when paying up front)
CINCINNATI RED (PLEASURE, HUNTER, ENDURANCE, TRAIL)
 
RED
 
JK Cincinnati Red: 2000 Arab gelding, chestnut, reg#0579539, by JK Major League and out of NBS Fyre Dawl, 14.3 hands (measured), loves people and attention, totally sound and healthy, no allergies, fractures, illnesses, or injuries besides bump on leg from a cut, great personality, has been started undersaddle, low in pecking order, good with other horses and animals, likes children, will crib without a collar, quiet in stall, can catch in open field, good with vet/shots and farrier, comes when called, recommended for 4-H, pleasure riding, local or national showing, endurance riding, competitive trail riding, or reining.  Great horse, very sweet and ready for anything.   he was taken from an adopter for breach of contract and for starving 3 of our horses to death and lying about it for over a year.  Red was the only one still alive once we found out. He's been with a wonderful adopter for several years since then but she's lost her job and her daughter is also very ill so Red is back with us. Red is so smart and will do just about anything but the rider must be smarter than him (like most arabs)... they will get your number quick if you have any weaknesses, he is talented and athletic, of course, very beautiful.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK IS $400. (when paying up front vs paying payments)
MISSILE FIRE (PLEASURE, LIGHT SHOWING, FAMILY HORSE)
 
MISSLE
 
 Missile Fire: 1989 National Show horse, 1/2 Arab (double registered), flashy beautiful former show horse, sound and healthy, always well cared for. Sire is Easter Vanity and Dam is Rare Form, chestnut with tons of chrome, health care always kept up to date, goes in a snaffle, he showed halter until he was 5 years old, then English Pleasure horse in the show ring and then shown as a Hunter Pleasure Show Horse at the national level (was 6th in the Nation), for the last several years he's been a pleasure horse and not been in the ring, has done bridleless work with the adopter who is now having some family illness and has to give him up, good manners, knows leads, easily trained, respect your space but is better with people he knows and respects, loads, good with vet/shots and farrier, likes people, sensitive to cold, bugs and sun, good alone, comes when called, good with other horses, high on pecking order in a group, ties and cross ties, can be ridden today, confident, clips and bathes, quiet in stall, can catch in an open field, smart, high energy when showing, has slowed down some but still needs an experienced rider, good temperament, needs a stable home, does not do well with a lot of moves, free lunges or on a line, no jumping at his age, no speed events and no serious campaigning/competition. Always lived in a stall with loads of horse clothes but does like his turn out time too.
 
ADOPTION FEE FOR THIS WEEK IS $400. (when paying up front vs paying payments)
TRINKET (HUNTER, PONY CLUB, 4-H, FAMILY HORSE)
 
TRINKET
 
  Cuties Katie 126 "Trinket": 1992 bay QH mare, 14.1 and 1/2 hands, AQHA # 3130585, by Laurels Cutie and out of El Barmaid, excellent bloodlinesincluding Wimpy, Poco Rack, and Cee Bars Doc, experienced hunter show pony, calm and easy to handle at shows, no allergies, sensitivities,surgeries, fractures, injuries, or illnesses, likes to go, great manners, not spooky, no vices, has been shown but will need conditioning and tune up,likes people, respects your space, good temperament, can be ridden today, confident, knows leads, likes to work, likes to jump, easily trained, smart, good with other animals and horses, a child could handle, a supervisedbeginner could ride, good with the farrier and vet/shots, kid safe, loads, ties, cross ties, clips, bathes, quiet in stall, lunges on line, can catch in open field, high in the pecking order, very responsive to your seat and will turn on a dime,may have some reining training, sweet, kind, flashy, lots of energy, wants to please, great horse, recommended for lead line with young kids, 4-H, Pony Club, low level dressage, low level jumping, fox hunting (first flight or hilltopper), huntseat on the flat or over fences, Western or English pleasure, eventing, lesson horse, located in Davidson, NC, and will be placed from there,  
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK IS $1750. (when paying up front vs. paying payments)
CODY (GAITED TRAIL, SEARCH/RESCUE, SHOWS/PARADES)
 
CODY
 
 Ebonys Secret Code, aka Cody: 5/6/1988 TWH, registered racking horse Stallion, reigstration number 922345, black, approx. 15 hands (will measure), has traveled all over the country trail riding in many of the US states, there is even a book published about his travels and a copy will go to the adopter. He's even ridden with huge groups of horses, both mares and geldings. Amazing, gorgeous boy with tons of presence. He loves to rack, looks to be about age 10 from his looks and energy level and he's in perfect health. Have many years of trail riding left in him. He's also produced some beautiful babies, last bred in 2009. His owner is 71 years young and dealing with a family illness so they sadly had to let him go, he had been with them since he was 6 months old. His sire is Mr. Ebony and his dam was Secret. No past injuries or illnesses, health care always kept current, goes in a snaffle halter bridle, likes people, good manners, respects your space, good temperament, can be ridden today, confident, likes to work, easily trained, smart, good with the farrier and vet/shots, loads, ties, cross ties, gaited (racks), clips, bathes, good alone, quiet in stall, lunges on line, comes when called, can catch in an open field, high in pecking order in a group, proven breeding stallion, stays in a stall and then turned out in a paddock, strong horse, tough/hardy, stays in gait, proud horse, been moved in several different types of trailers, a seasoned traveler, he is a self loader, he's accustomed to board fence or vinyl, does not challenge fencing, a super horse for trail riding and traveling, gaited trail horse, trick horse or ceremonial or color guard, he's also done a bit of rescue work as well. Amazing, one of a kind horse.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $500. (when paying up front vs. paying payments)
SUKHOI (DRESSAGE, PLEASURE) 
 
sukhoi
 
Sukhoi: 2001 registered and branded Swedish Warmblood mare, dark bay, 15.1 hands, a very well built mare in a small package, currently located in Michigan.  sound for all professions, no vices, completes all ground requirements (loading, tying, etc), likes people, good manners, respects your space, good temperament, easily trained, smart, good with other animals and horses, good with the farrier and vet, loads, ties and cross ties, easy keeper, health care up to date and always been on a consistent worming program. Sensitive but well behaved, She will make a very nice horse. She is perfectly sound with breath-taking movement and a loving personality that is the essence of femininity and elegance. She is by Johanniter (SW) and out of a Martini daughter, Sterling (Trak).  She has had extensive ground training and ground driven prior to riding. She is a very balanced horse with an exceptional trot, forward mover. She learns quickly as she learned the turn on the forehand in one 15 minute ride and promptly remembered the lesson the next ride. Sukhoi has had training in dressage and hunter/jumper, plus Clinton Anderson level 1, 2 and some 3 ground work and level 1 riding.. Best with an experienced patient rider or a rider working with an experienced patient trainer. Super horse for any profession.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK ONLY IS $2000. (when paying cash vs. paying payments)
BRIOSO (DRESSAGE MASTER, PLEASURE)
 
BRIOSO
 
Brioso: '90 registered Hanoverian, with brand on left hip, 17.2 hands, chestnut, white star, RF sock, RH/LH stockings.  Sire is Banter, has shown through 1st level dressage, working at 3rd level (has lateral movements and changes), has jumped 2' and done hunter and dressage lessons ,  looking for a pleasure or 'fun' dressage situation, no jumping beyond cross rails and logs on the trail. healthy and vet care up to date, good manners, large boned, knows leads, likes to work, good with other animals and horses but usually near the top of the pecking order, smart, easily trained, respects your space, loads, will chew if bored or stressed, good with farrier and vet, ties, cross ties, low energy when its hot weather and has huge gaits, good temperament, clips, bathes, likes people, quiet in stall, free lunges and on a line.  a wonderful boy who needs a home with a family that doesn't ride or work their horses hard, he's a bit of a hot house flower so he's accustomed to a high level of care, he is not the type of horse you can toss outside and forget about, he likes and needs a nice big clean stall with regular turn out. Brioso should never be loose around any really tiny kids (say age 5 and below), keep small kids and small animals out of his stall and pasture, fine with large kids and adults, has ridden kids at camps and in lessons. Many horses are protective of their pasture and stall and many horses are frightened of little tiny kids but Brioso is more sensitive about his space. He needs to be treated as a cold backed horse and just warmed up before riding.  Brioso had colic surgery in 1995 with no loss of intestines and has never had any reoccurrences or shown any signs of being sensitive to feed, stress or grass since then. He's been on Horse Sense Horse Feed and has done exceptionally well on it, if the adopter could keep him on that feed it would be great, otherwise he becomes a super duper hard keeper. He is a nice guy and really knows his stuff. Brioso is really a joy to ride.  He knows at least some first level movements well -- can leg yield very easily, knows his leads, performs transitions well and is very forward.  He seems light on the aids and has a very nice floating trot.  He enjoys working.  He can also jump although we have only asked him to trot over poles which he willingly went over.  We have been riding him in a double jointed snaffle, is nice to work around, enjoys being vacuumed and is quite a gentlemen under saddle and on the ground.  He went out on a trail ride the other day and was also well behaved.  I think that he could give confidence to an intermediate rider to continue on and also teach them a lot.  Brioso has some large joints in his legs, but I have not noticed any problems with stiffness or soundness since he has been on the Horse Sense feed.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK IS $1500. (when paying up front vs. paying payments)
KISMET (PLEASURE, HUNTER ON THE FLAT)
 
KSIMET
 
 Krisie's Prospect "Kismet": '94 TB mare, 15.2 hands, going to be located at CSS/SWAP HQ in WV. Kismet was one of our rescue horses from the Charles Town, WV rescue we did back in Dec 2000 through Feb 2001 (40 abandoned horses), as you can see she has really filled out and gained a lot in energy, movement and talent but because it was a rescue and none of us really knew what any of those horses would do once fed and at normal weight.  She has excellent ground manners and a kind heart; gorgeous movement!.... Kismet is very intelligent.  She has also been barefoot for the last several years. She is usually very slow eating. She takes a bite, then paces. Kismet is excellent for the farrier and the vet, can be antsy for baths but never bad. She also loads and clips with no problem.  She knows her name well, but will only come to you if it suits her (just like a cat. Kismet is a wonderful horse.  even if it is simply being a broodmare. She is a very nice mover and is very graceful.  She has Mr. Prospector in her pedigree, she is a proven broodmare and had a foal a year ago. She is very low on the pecking order.  She could be possibly ridden on trails, but she is going to require an experienced rider. Kismet is coming back to us from an adopter after a death in the family.
 
ADOPTION FEE THIS WEEK IS $300. (when paying up front vs. paying payments)
COMPANIONS, LIGHT USE, PETS, LEAD LINE HORSES
 
These are the horses the we hope to find life long homes or long term foster homes, all very sweet, no special care required, lots of love and a stable home... over and over again we've gotten most of these horses back for the last 5 to 12 years, we had hoped they would stay in a home forever but sadly many horses are returned to us when they can no longer do what the adopter wants them to do. This is a sad fact of the hose world, the idea of using up and dumping. All these horses are free to a good home, if you can't adopt, consier fostering or even sponsoring one of these lovely babies.
 
allie 2 ALLIE, 1985 APPENDIX QUARTER HORSE MARE
 
dixie DIXIE, 1991 QUARTER HORSE MARE
 
darlin DARLIN, 1991 REGISTERED THOROUGHBRED MARE
 
jelly bean JELLY BEAN, 1989 REGISTERED THOROUGHBRED MARE
 
orphy riding ORPHY, REGISTERED THOROUGHBRED GELDING
 
KOCHESE KOCHESE, 1971 PAINT GELDING, BLIND BUT SOUND AND HEALTHY
 
Please pass this along to anyone who might be looking for a horse, help us help the horses in our care, help them find their forever home.
 
Remember this special ends March 17th at 5pm eastern time, keep this email as these prices are not listed on the website. This is a first come, best homes, first serve so don't wait.
 

Download or email us at secondwindadopt@aol.com for your application to adopt today!

 
Bid Now for the Cape Cod Cottage, we're accepting bids now for our 7 day vacation.  
Sincerely,
 

Celeita Kramer, Owner/Executor/Director
Crossed Sabers Stable

Subject: Pics of Horses in Their Homes, A thank you to Adopters and a Reminder

adoptedHorses
       in their Homes
Spring is coming, thank goodness. With all the frozen buckets and troughs, electric being out, phones being down, roads being blocked with snow making it harder to get hay and grain.  With all the things that make it so hard to have horses at this time of year, we often times forget how therapeutic they are, how they change and enrich our lives. I like to look at pictures of our horses in happy homes and read our Happy Endings page and it helps me to realize how lucky we are to have these majestic animals in our lives and how blessed we are that we have such wonderful adopters. I hope these pictures help you to remember as well.....

lucky midnight blue walking horse Lucky Midnight Blue in training at home with Julie in Ohio

 
 dixie zephyr karrera warmbloods Zephyr, Kerrara and spotted saddle horse Dixie soak up the winter sun at Jennifers in Virginia
 
alex in al Spanish Norman Alex entertains his adopter, Jennifer in Alabama
 
commander Standardbred gelding Command Post enjoys the winter weather at his home in Cape Cod with Art and Mary
 
deputy posey bloo Pintaloosa gelding Deputy Posey aka Bloo winning ribbons in a winter show with a lovely student rider of Morgan, Mel and Chris at Pony Pastures in Maryland
 
honey  Buckskin mare Honey and a friend enjoys a snowy day in West Virginia at home with Aminah
 
 
 cody and barbara Pinto 1/2 draft gelding Cody getting a hug from his adopter, Barbara at their home in New Hampshire, Lucky girl was leaving for Hawaii the next morning
 
cookie figment former rescue horse Cookie aka Figment proves she can jump even in the snow, at home with Pony Pastures
 
fanelli Arab gelding Fanelli looks at his mommy Maureen like he's asking, "Does this blanket make me look fat?" at their home in North Carolina
 
jack and shelly Quarter Horse gelding Jack aka Jake, is usually a trail horse but with all the bad weather Jake and Adopter Shelly tried their hand at contest events
 
lucy and ruby Adoption dog  and female Boxer Lucy with her Mommy Ruby having fun at home in West Virginia
 
magic National Show Horse Magic enjoying the snow at home with Jenai in West Virginia
 
shadow Quarter Horse mare Shadow and Adopter Marianne enjoy riding indoors during bad weather in southern Ohio
 
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?
Click here to see our annual Video from 2009 of all our horses in their homes
 
 
turn up your sound and enjoy!
thank you to all the adopters for accepting the baggage of each of our horses and for loving them anyway, for not making them pay their life for not being perfect, for not holding their past against them when they come from a poor history.  There is nothing that give us more than the gift of love and understanding when its easier to just walk away and do nothing, the right answer is never the easy way out.
We look forward to hearing from each of you this year. Don't forget your annual updates in June, the annual update form is on the website under Adoption/Annual Update.  Its easiest to have the vet sign it when he comes out to do spring shots.
 
We are looking for pictures of our adopters and their horses so we can use them for our corner picture on the header of the website... if you have a great picture of you and your adoption horse, send it to us and be famous!!
 
Don't forget the St. Patricks Day Adoption Special going on now until March 17th and our 2nd Annual Cape Cod Auction also going on until St. Pats Day, bids are being taken now.
 
Hang in there until spring!
 
 

Everyone at The Moutain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption Program, Inc.

Subject: Cape Cod Cottage Auction, St. Pat's Adoption Special

Crossed Sabers Stable

 
Events Going on Right NOW
Cape Cod Cottage Auction & St. Pats Day Adoption Special
       
 
St. Patrick's Day
'Luck of the Irish'
Adoption Special
ends 5pm (WV time)
St. Pats Day, Wednesday, March 17th
 

1. 30% off all horse's adoption fees (when paying the adoption fee up front vs. paying payments, max of $500.off)

2. If paying payments, take 20% off the regular adoption fees listed below.

3. this is a first come, best home, first serve, so don't wait, fill out the application and adopt today! All the horses are in this special, more horses being added daily. Horses are considered adopted when the application, the adoption agreement and the fee is in.


5. For transport estimates and scheduling call Michael (equine shuttle service) at 540-250-6436 or Trish at hopefulhillfarm@yahoo.com 804 883 7691 (h), 804 477 5506 (c)

6. Call 304-873-3532 or email secondwindadopt@aol.com to get questions answered or to schedule a visit.
 

 
8. Here's just a few horses available: a big young sound fox hunter, several beginners horses, several kids show and event horses, a 4th level dressage horse and two 3rd level dressage horses, several gaited horses, a gaited stallion with tons of trail riding experience, several experienced, well trained warmbloods, a young holsteiner x Trakehner cross, several pleasure horses, driving horses, a draft horse mare, several paints/pintos, a halflinger pony, an arab mare ready to foal bred by a super nice Trakehner stallion, TB and STB's, Arabs, a National Show Horse that was formerly ranked 6th in the nation in hunter on the flat, a Saddlebred that is a beginner trail horse and so much more!!
2nd Annual Cape Cod Cottage Auction for a week long vacation... taking bids Now!

 
cape cod cottage 
Don't miss out on this super vacation!!

Bidding Ends St. Patrick's Day (March 17th at 5pm eastern time). The winner must have their bid paid for by the end of March.

Bidding starts at $1100. with a minimum rise of $100. per bid (for example if the bid is $1100. then the next bid must be $1200.)

call 304-873-3532 or email secondwindadopt@aol.com to bid today!

All we need for a bid is your full name, address, email address, phone number, your current bid and max bid.

Curent Bids will be posted on our SWAP Shopping Page!!


Bid NOW for a week long stay in a West Falmouth Cape Cod Cottage right across from the harbor shown below.

The cottage is owned by two of our wonderful adopters who have offered it up for a fund raiser and a super vacation for some lucky family. The cottage sleeps 8 people, the week long stay is valued at $3500.

The weeks available are listed below. The high bidder has the first pick of weeks.  
 
Buy Now Fee: $1500. (buy now option is available until we have our first bid)
 
Bidding will start at $1100.  (call 304-873-3532 or email
secondwindadopt@aol.com to bid)
 
several weeks are available (pick from these dates...the last week of June, all of July, the first, third, and last weeks of August, and all of September, the top bidder will get the first week choice and then the
second bidder)

 
 The Mountain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption Program, Inc currently has 33 horses in the program right now and 4 dogs looking for their forever home and about 15 more horses scheduled to come in very soon.
 
Some horses were neglected by their past owners and brought to us by the authorities, some abandoned, some ended up here because of the economy, loss of jobs and homes, some are race horses and show horses that are wonderful horses just needing a new home or a new job. All of them just need a chance to be the horse of your dreams, they just need love, care and understanding.
 
Last year we placed 55 horses, 6 cats and 11 dogs into homes and accepted several more into retirement.
 
In our 14 years experience at animal welfare we have completed over 2000 adoptions in 46 states and canada with 68 different breeds. Help us help these horses by supporting our fund raisers or by opening up your home and heart to one of our animals looking for a home.
 
 
Celeita A. Kramer, President and Executive Director
Diana Greenhalgh, Secretary/Treasurer, Office Manager
Jerry Shultz, Vice President, Barn Manager
Beth Dombrowsky & Maureen Lee, Directors
Tom and Ruby Fleming, Neglect/Abuse Case Worker
Trainers/Riders/Grooms: Donna Moore, Hilary Heaster, Sara Gauer
Trish Rhoades, transporter, 804 883 7691, 804 477 5506
Michael Asthater, Equine Shuttle Service, Transporter, 540-250-6436
Stable Vet/Dentist: Dr. Loomis, Dr. Thompson, Dr. Masset, Dr. McDonald
Stable Farriers: Tom Powers & Farrier Students from Meredith Manor

Crossed Sabers Stable
The Mountain State Horse School and Second Wind Adoption Program, Inc
Crossed Sabers International Life School, Inc
Address: RR 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union, WV 26456
Office: 304- 873-3532 Fax number: 304-873-1867 (call before faxing)
Website Link: http://www.crossedsabers.com

"Where Dreams become Reality, See the Vision, Live the Dream"
Celebrating 14 years of Service to Horses and the Horse Industry,  1996 - 2010
Over 2000 Adoptions of 68 Different Breeds of Horses in 46 States and Canada
Over 350 Dogs and Cats of all Breeds in Loving Homes
Join Our Mailing List!
 
 
Save 30% off if paying up front vs. paying payments and 20% off when paying our low monthly payments on your adoption fee  
Offer Expires: March 17th 5pm eastern time 
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Crossed Sabers Stable | Rt 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road | West Union | WV | 26456