Mistral and best friend, photo by adopter Betsy Bailey of Virginia www.ebaileyportraits.com

Rt 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union, West Virginia 26456 Office: 304-873-3532 Fax: 304-873-1867 SWAP Email: SecondWindAdopt@aol.com  Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9am to 4pm Stable Visiting Hours, Pick Up and Delivery of Horses: by appointment Click here to see all the Horses up for Adoption Right Now

Attention SWAP Adopters, Click here to buy your horse!! Once in a lifetime offer from SWAP!!

Proud to be an American!! Crossed Sabers Stable Home of As many as 60 million visitors per year As many as 530,000 hits in one day Visitors from 113 different countries Visitors from every continent of the world Thousands of horses (of 65 different breeds) in homes today with SWAP Horses adopted in 46 of the 50 states and Canada Between 75 and 300 adoptions each year 12 Year History "You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.         Be part of the solution." 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". 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. 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? Hug Your Horse   When your day seems out of balance and so many things go wrong, when people fight around you and the day drags on so long, when parents act like children, in-laws make you think "Divorce", go out in your pasture... wrap your arms around your horse. His gentle breath enfolds you and he watches with those eyes. He may not have a PhD, but he is oh, so wise! His head rests on your shoulder. You embrace him oh so tight. He puts your world in balance, and makes it seem all right. Your tears will soon stop flowing. The tension is now eased. The garbage has been lifted, and you're quiet and at peace. So when you need the balance from circumstances in your day, the best therapy that you can seek is out there eating hay!!     ~Mary Ann Miller~ The Horses' Prayer Feed me, give me water, and care for me, and when the day's work is done, give me shelter, a clean bed and a wide stall. Talk to me. Your voice often substitutes for the reins for me. Be good to me and I will serve you cheerfully and love you. Don't jerk the reins and don't raise the whip. Don't beat or kick me when I don't understand you, but rather give me time to understand you. Don't consider it disobedience if I don't follow your commands. Perhaps there is a problem with my saddle and bridle or hooves. Check my teeth if I don't eat, maybe I have a toothache. You know how that hurts. Don't halter me too short and don't dock my tail... it's my only weapon against flies and mosquitoes. And at the end, dear master, when I am no longer any use to you, don't let me go hungry or freeze and don't sell me. Don't give me a master who slowly tortures me to death and lets me starve, but rather be merciful and take care of me, by letting me run and enjoy a warm pasture. Let me request this of you and please don't regard it as disrespectful if I ask it in the name of Him who was born in a stable like me. Amen My ladies (at SWAP) have promised that I shall never be sold, and so I have nothing to fear; and here my story ends.   My troubles are all over, and I am at home...... standing with my old friends under the apple-trees.   Black Beauty If the only cost was love, we could save them all. PRIMARY MISSION OF THE SECOND WIND ADOPTION PROGRAM Prevent animal abuse/neglect of all the equus species and the need for rescue through adoption, there by being a catalyst for “Rescue Prevention” by placing horses into quality homes before the need arises for rescue or intervention by authorities. Make up for the lack of state protection laws by having adoption contracts that govern minimum care and use of each horse. Allow exceptional adopters the opportunity to purchase their adoption horse with a safe selling contract that will protect the horse for life, after any where from a 2 to 5 year probation period. Whenever possible, provide all horses (everyone in the equine family) including race, show, eventing, fox hunting, steeplechase, contest & working horses, polo ponies or any other sport or endurance horse an easy transition to a second career and give owners in every facet of the horse industry and private owners a viable, safe place for their horses to go and a more humane place than a bad home, selling or giving the horse to just anyone or resorting to unnecessary slaughter. Offer educational and support services to horse owners/donors and adopters (transportation, foster homes, training, follow up, guidance with problems, lessons and clinics for adopters).  Offer adopters training services (lessons, clinics, training of their adopted horses, continued follow-up to insure continued success with their adoption horse, and organized trips to regional, state and national horse events that can be both educational and fun). Whenever financially and physically possible, provide horses in the Adoption Program ground and under saddle training to insure every chance for success in their next home. Provide horses that are in need, the required vet care, rest and rehab needed to get better and find companion horses or horses that can no longer be ridden or driven a safe and loving home for the rest of their lives. Give people that might not normally have a lot of up front money to buy a trained horse but can afford the daily care of a horse have the opportunity to adopt and experience the joys of horse ownership and for kids to be able to grow up with horses and learn responsibility, dedication and the satisfaction to a job well done and to offer people, individuals, families and kids opportunities that can be both educational and fun but additionally that gives families and friends something that they can experience together that is good for the body, mind and spirit. When possible, support equine and animal rescue in times of natural disasters. When possible, support state and regional officials with abuse cases by being the expert in care and conditioning of the equine and by giving them a place to send horses that are taken from owners for abuse or neglect. When possible, as a secondary mission, support other equine and small animal adoptions and programs. Support all rescue and adoption programs in order to offer a more educated, well managed, unified approach to animal welfare.   SECONDARY MISSION  SUPPORT SERVICES Basic And Transitional Job Training For Horses Lay-Up, Rehabilitation From Injury Equine Appraisals For Donors Spend A Week, Pick Your Horse Program Over Night Boarding And Housing For Donors/Adopters And Their Horses Estate Planning (Preparing Your Animals For Your Death) Boarding and Retiremente Horse Transportation Services and referrals EDUCATIONAL SERVICES Advisory Program For Adopters Local And Regional Adopter Follow Up And Assistance SWAP Educational Library For Adopters Training And Riding Instruction For Adopters Student Internships, Work Studies And College Credit Sponsored Trips To Educational And Fun Equine Events  Scholarship Opportunities Breaking And Training Services Instructional Clinics Training (Training 101) Training Under Saddle (Training 102) Driving (Training 103) Horse and Barn 101 Transitional Training for Race Horses (STB, Arab, QH and TB)