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SWAP
FEED FUND
MAKE CREDIT CARD DONATIONS TO THE SWAP FEED FUND... CALL
FOSTER FEEDS AT 304-269-1333, TALK TO CHARLIE TO GIVE A DONATION TO THE SECOND
WIND ADOPTION PROGRAM FEED FUND, WE GO THROUGH 6 TONS OF FEED A MONTH. YOU CAN
ALSO PAY FOR ADOPTIONS AND PURCHASES THIS WAY!!
monthly counters started on February 13, 2010 for the website, because this is a
free counter, it will only show about a 1/4 of our total numbers, 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
Congrats to our President for the nomination and eventual induction to the
ROTC Hall of Fame at West Virginia State University, nominated by the former VP
of the University, the induction will take place at the Embassy Suites in
Charleston, WV October 14, 2010. A former military school, rich in a history of
national defense has only inducted just over 100 military retirees to its Hall
of Fame, many of them general officers. Congratulations on this huge honor.
Stay up with our President/Executive Director, all the
directors, volunteers and riders. All the CSS/SWAP supporters and adopters are
having a big time sharing stories, pictures, lots of good stuff about their
horses. Our President is at her max friends so she is full but we are going to
set up a fan based page so everyone can be added. So sorry to the 200 + people
who have asked for a friendship.... we'll get our fan page up soon.
Benefit Wines is a unique online retail wine shop that partners with
non-profit organizations to raise funds. Every charity partner has their
own unique wine label. Supporters enjoy fine, organic wines while
supporting their favorite cause. Cheers!
Raise $1000. for Second Wind
Adoption Program and have a 1 in 70 chance at a 15 carat Ruby/Diamond
Ring! ... mail donations to Rt. 2 Box 24A Jockey Camp Road, West Union,
WV 26456
The Wish List of Our Needs:
More than anything we need a large donation to help us pay off our farm, we just
owe 70k. With a farm paid for, we will never worry about the program and schools
closing.
We are looking for 2 to 3 people to do work in exchange for a place to live.
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. A Farm in any
location for low cost long term lease or donation to expand our program
to develop a retirement farm for our now aging horses returned to us from
adopters who could not retire our horses. Our highest priority locations
initially are Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
or Delaware.
3. New or Lightly
Used Farm utility vehicle (like a john deere gator), farm tractor,
& manure spreader
4. Tack and large
horse items donated... like carts/buggies, racing bikes, jog carts,
harnesses, saddles, horse trailers, blankets/rugs to use or sell on SWAP
Shopping. Supplies to use around the barn or office.
5. A bulk feed bin
that will hold anywhere from 6 tons to 9 tons of grain donated or at low cost or
even a break on the cost of purchase and instillation.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8.
Monthly Sponsors for our light
use, elderly or retirement/sanctuary horses/dogs who's possibilities for
adoption are very low, ie. Orphy, Jelly Bean, Dixie, Allie, Kochese, Darlin, Mr.
Darcey, JoJo, Freckles, Lucy, Bandit, Max, etc.
9. 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.
10 Anyone interested in
free high quality top soil
(manure already composted) and manure for gardens, you can pick up for free by
the truck load at our WV location (bring a loader). If you are a gardener and
only need a small amount, pick up in a truck or we'll be selling it by the feed
bag full at $2.00 a bag (in a bag that is usually used for 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.
11. Someone to do
dozer work on the farm, level arena/round pen, do terracing on the hill
sides to keep water out of the barns and level the top soil and manure pile to
increase the level of that land in that bottom so we can put our methane
digester in and indoor arena. Volunteer or at a reduced cost.
Reporting Neglect:
Please, if you see neglect (ribs and hip bones showing or no
food available), its critical to call the sheriff of the county where the
horse/animal is located. Have the address where the horse is located or
directions to the farm, pictures and the owners name (if possible). If the
sheriff does nothing email 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 68
different breeds) in homes today with SWAP |
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Horses adopted in 46 states and
Canada |
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14 Year History |
Preparing for a Cold Winter:
HAY: Get
your hay now before the prices become outrageous, get enough for the winter
(good planning is 2 bales for every 3 days for one horse or 10 bales per month
per horse, so to make it until the middle of June (first cutting), you're
looking at 90 bales per horse at the very least (from September to June). If you
have good thick grass that has been mowed and fertilized then depending on where
you live in the US you might just need 60 to 70 bales. For good grazing its
recommended that you have 3 to 5 acres of mowed, seeded, fertilized grass per
horse. Remember Grass is dead in WV from Oct/Nov until about April and every
state has some months where the grass does not give the horses their calories or
nutrients it needs to sustain life (USDA has details of that for each state).
They may be grazing in the winter but they are not getting anything from the
grass to survive. I know most know that but I say it because we had an adopter
last year in WV that thought if they were eating grass that was all they needed
and she nearly killed 2 horses.
GRAIN:
Remember on average horses need 1 lb of concentrated feed (grain) for every 100
lbs of body weight, so on average horses need about 10 lbs of grain a day, more
when its very cold or if they are living outside in a run because much of their
calories go to keeping them warm. 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)
| If 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.
|
| If 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. |
| If 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.
|
| If 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
| |
Saying Goodbye to Our Beloved 4 Legged Friends
and Family Members
"It's
better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all"
- "If tears could build a stairway, and memories were a lane,
- We would walk right up to heaven and bring you back again.
- No farewell words were spoken. No time to say goodbye.
- You were gone before we knew it, and only God knows why.
- Our hearts still ache in sadness, and secret tears still flow.
- What it meant to lose you--no one can ever know.
- But now we know you want us to mourn for you no more.
- To remember all the happy times, life still has much in store.
- Since you'll never be forgotten, we pledge to you today--
- a hallowed place within our hearts is where you'll always stay."
-
Miss Elizabeth, heart broken over our loss of one
of our first Old Timers, such a sweetheart
June Toth (on right) long time friend, supporter, volunteer and former
employee of SWAP, a friend to all animals and animal lovers, rest in peace
dear June....
June 18, 1959 - April 21, 2010
Road Test aka Roadie or Dennie
1984 - 2010
Maggie Mae
January 2010
at least she was loved and cared for her last days instead of abandoned
by her family, the way we found her
Dakota
1977 - December 2009
loved by all
.JPG)
Formal Attire, "Mr P"
1990 - November 2009
Georgia
1984 - December 2009
.JPG)
Mandy, my BFF for so many years
Eve, 20 wonderful years, gone but never forgotten
Babe
- Dr. Zorana Ristic, DVM, a long time adopter, foster, advocate,
advisor and friend to Crossed Sabers and Second Wind,
- she will be sorely missed
- Jun 1957 - Nov 21 2009
Windsor's Dynasty, one of the last living sons of the great Albatross
1985 - Sep 30th, 2009
Nations Cup Winner, Omnibus
1975 - 2009
Bandit
Prestigious Gem
Celeita,
It was my pleasure to have Gem as part of our family. There is an
emptiness in the barn without her. We were lucky enough to have her
buried here. We are going to plant a tree at her grave so no one
will dig there, even when we are gone. We have named our miniature
foal Mystic Moon Gem, in remembrance of her.
Michelle
Over The Creek
Rene
Celeita,
Rennie
peacefully went to the Rainbow Bridge this afternoon…and I wanted to share
some pictures of her. I think you can see where we ended up…. I’m glad we
were able to spare her suffering and pain in the end. Thank you for
bringing her into my life!
Allison
- Moonstone
-
8-28-95 to 10-03-08
-
Dear SWAP,
I am sadly writing to let you know that we lost our battle with
Moonstone on Friday. For the first time in 20 some years, I had my
first colic. My vet could not save him and said that surgery was not
even an option as he had twisted I guess. He was euthanized on the spot
to save him from any further suffering. This horse was such a huge part
of our lives the past 7 years and my other two left behind have been
greatly effected also. We were both blessed I guess to have found one
another.
Sincerely,
Jen (Baker) Thackery
Celeita, There is no
easy way to say this. River passed away this morning about 25 minutes
ago. I went down to feed them and he was fine, I even laughed at him
because he snorted for his food and was feeling his oats. They all ate
and I turned them out. I had put hay on the ground for them to eat
before they went to graze and play. They all went off to play and left
the hay. I cleaned my stalls and started back to the house but decided
to go see them all playing and I as I walked I saw River on the ground
still. I thought it odd because its chilly and he wasn’t moving and I
didn’t even think for a second that he was gone. But as I approached I
knew in my heart he was. I knelt by him and talked to him and felt him I
hugged him, I screamed I cried and even yelled at God. This is my heart
horse, I love him and I am just heartbroken. I will have him buried
today but I don’t know what I need to do. He is laying with his feet
still in a lope position, I can only imagine that he had a heart attack
and he just left us before he hit the ground. I don’t know what I am
going to do. I am not ready to let him go.
Sharon
Boone
It's sad, isn't it, that animals who have given their lives to
help humans can't be fed and nurtured in old age by those humans
who have used them?
Celeita this is how I would like for us to remember
him, with the wind playing with his mane on a bright sunny day. I don’t
know that anything is usually said on the saying goodbye page but if I
need a poem I will get one, I have had some sent to me.
River 1986 - 2008
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,
It's about learning to dance in the rain!"
unknown
Foyt Sparkler
1988 - July 2008
Cosmopolitan Mike, "Mikey"
Baron Von Pink, "Varoom"
Mar Dera El Eucher
1990 to July 2008
Ike Kramer
1 August 1993 - 26 June 2008
Turn up your sound and see our tribute to the old man of the farm
![]()
Zoe
Bonnie's Boy (BB)
Selle Francais gelding
Kathy, I hope you've been able to get BB in the ground now and
hopefully you've started healing. It will take a long time to stop
missing him, just try to remember the good times you had had with him.
He is always with you, all you have to do is think of him and he'll be
there. I promise. Thank you for giving him such a great home for so
many years. I know he was quite happy there. Celeita
Thank you Celeita for your kind words. Yes, he is/was well loved. BB
was 26 yo. We promised BB a forever home so we decided to bury him on
the property. The pain we are feeling is deep but as I laid in bed
this morning thinking of BB and memories…. I went back and forth about
it. I finally came to the conclusion that the pain is worth every bit
of the joy and happiness BB brought over the years to Gary, me, our
families and neighbors. Gary and I want to thank you, Celeita also
Second Wind and the Leones…… BB had a phenomenal life, we were blessed
to have share it with him and to have him in our lives. Well, the
dogs are barking so I think the farmer is here. The vet said she
would talk to you and send you a letter certifying his death/cause if
you would want to call her.
Take care,
Gary and Kathy
.JPG)
Dance with Diane
Thoroughbred mare
- Rastus, the most loyal dog I've ever known, found on the road
starved and her coat in a mess,
- with only 6 teeth, the vet thought she was somewhere between 16
and 20. We were able to give her a couple of extra years I'm sure she
would not have had. Our time
- with her is cherished
I'm a Wap Two "Two Wap"
1977 - 2007
Bunny, warmblood mare
Lilly, TB mare
Cash, Nakota mare
Princess, Arab mare
Silent Charm, aka Sam 1985 - 2007
- Gunny, faithful best friend
- 1995 - September 9, 2007
Bandit (approx 1996 - 2007)
One of the many dogs SWAP was lucky enough to place into a wonderful
home. Also shown with Blondie, also one of our precious SWAP dogs. Thanks
to the Grant family in VA for giving them both such a great home for so
many years.
 
Toby, Anglo Arab Gelding
1986 - April 1 2007
Yesterday was a sad day. Mark's big Anglo/Arab, "Toby" went down
around noon. He had been normal, no sign of distress and, just
suddenly went down. Dean actually saw him go down from his backporch,
felt something wasn't right and came running over. He wasn't down more
than 10 min when we got to him. We managed to get him up several times
and even got him out of the paddock and into the little hay field
during the afternoon. He had none of the signs we would generally
associate with colic but we did dose him with banamine and drenched
him just to be on the safe side. When he was up, he pooped, peed, and
was interested in grass for a few hours. As the afternoon went on, he
declined and we just sat with him, letting him get up and down at
will. It became harder and harder for him to keep his feet under him
and it appears he possibly had a stroke. It didn't seem like he could
see us but, he would follow Mark's voice with his head. The last time
he was up, he couldn't walk forward and listed to the right.
Of course, thunderstorms were raging through all day and by
nightfall, we had been soaking wet for hours. Our wonderful neighbors,
Tammy, Herb, and Dean, stayed with us and Tammy even brought a light
supper and lots of hot coffee out to the meadow for us. Shortly after
dark, we came in to put dry clothes on and went back out 15 min. later
and Toby was gone..................Toby was only 21.
We are devastated at the loss of this boy. He was so bonded with
Mark and such a joy to have around. As I've said before, he was our
biggest personality and I wish we had more years with him. Dean is
grieving the way young boys with huge hearts do and Mark isn't doing
much better. Now, we have to wait for the backhoe to come this
evening. Today will not be any easier than yesterday! mary
Miss Poppit
Thoroughbred mare
1985 - 2007
Thank you, Celeita, for your kind words
with the passing of Poppy (as we called her).
She truly was a "never-say-die" sort of
Thoroughbred…fighting to the end, I bet.
I do feel terribly that we weren't able to
help her this last time but as you said she's in no pain now,
which is truly better off with that knee and
her poor, sore front feet.
It's was just her time, I guess.
We meet a wonderful farmer just up the
road that very understandingly came and buried her for us,
out in our big field, under a tree….there's a
nice view from there & it's very peaceful.
Several of the horses watched…they knew, I'm
sure, and they'll miss her…
She was one of a kind. Amazing what a strong
spirit an old, crippled Thoroughbred can have!
Thanks again for being so supportive
through this and be certain that she had better days here than she'd had
before.
She was a sweet soul and certainly deserved
it!
Best,
Angie
Applegate's Sultan's Lady Heir, 'Miss Apple' Saddlebred mare
Apple had an interesting story, she came to us as a mare that could
only do light riding, after a long show career and then years of doing a
lot of trail riding she was in her mid twenties and looking for an easier
home. Angie Hughart had grown up on Apple, being raised by her and with
her, showing and competing. Apple was sold when Angie went away to school,
she then married and had kids of her own. Needless to say she started
looking for a horse and found her old friend in our program. Adopted her
to give her the retirement home she deserved after so many
years of loyal service. Apple died on her farm in her sleep after a very long life and
in the best home she could have ever wanted.
-
Miss Browick Hillside Gigi aka 'Gigi'
- 1992 - December 11,
2006
- Gigi's mommy is
Christina Brown, SWAP trainer and adopter of Trak gelding Adlige
- we were all very
lucky to have her in our lives, she will be missed
I lost my beloved male Doberman, Aladdin last Saturday and hoped you
could
add him to the memorial page. He died with all of us at his side, just
like
my beautiful Kaila. They are together again! Aladdin was the perfect
example
of "man's best friend", he and my husband were inseparable. We will miss
him
every day. We'll see you both at the bridge my friends!
Love Michelle Sussman, Tom, Nick & Quincy
Louie
Sally
.JPG)
- Daisy
- beloved pony
- Ernie
- Quarter Horse Gelding
Cutlass, 1985 TB gelding
Joffree, 1985 Swedish Warmblood gelding
- Ginger
- 1999 - Jan 2006
- Female Dobie, best buddy of adopter Beth Large Dombrosky, friend
to all the SWAP and Chagrin Valley Hunt Club horses and all the Dobie's
that came through the Cleveland Doberman Rescue.
- Armbro Debonair, Standardbred Stallion
- He greeted everyone who came to SWAP HQ with a kind eye, a sweet
disposition and a trusting soul. Rest in Peace my beautiful boy. I'll
see you at Rainbow Bridge.
April 19, 1982 - December 23, 2005
Marissa Sutton, adopter of Resolute and mother of his rider Maddie,
thank you for your love of all animals and for the special care you took
with Resolute. We'll miss you.
-
SIGLAVY AMOROSA II
-
“Siggy”
-
1981-2005
.JPG)
- Kurageous
- 1982 Hanoverian Gelding
God Jumps
by Lauren Davis Baker
thank you to Flying Changes Magazine
www.flyingchanges.com for
allowing us to publish this lovely poem
God gives us horses and compels some of us to love them. Yet why does
the horse, an animal with such a big heart, live such a short life?
Perhaps it's because if our horses lived any longer, we wouldn't be able
to bear losing them. Or, perhaps it's because God wants to jump.
Perhaps God looks down on the fine horses we raise and decides when it's
His turn to ride. He gives us a few good years to care for and learn
from them, but when the time is right, it's up to us to see them off
gracefully.
O.K., perhaps not gracefully. Blowing into a Kleenex is rarely graceful.
But we can be grateful.
To have a horse in your life is a gift. In the matter of a few short
years, a horse can teach a girl courage, if she chooses to grab mane and
hang on for dear life. Even the smallest of ponies is mightier than the
tallest of girls. To conquer the fear of falling off, having one's toes
crushed, or being publicly humiliated at a horse show is an admirable
feat for any child. For that, we can be grateful.
Horses teach us responsibility. Unlike a bicycle-or a computer-a horse
needs regular care and most of it requires that you get dirty and smelly
and up off the couch. Choosing to leave your cozy kitchen to break the
crust of ice off the water buckets is to choose responsibility. When our
horses dip their noses and drink heartily,we know we've made the right
choice.
Learning to care for a horse is both an art and a science. Some are easy
keepers, requiring little more than regular turn-out, a flake of hay,
and a trough of clean water. Others will test you-you'll struggle to
keep them from being too fat or too thin. You'll have their feet shod
regularly only to find shoes gone missing. Some are so accident-prone
you'll swear they're intentionally finding new ways to injure
themselves.
If you weren't raised with horses, you can't know that they have unique
personalities. You'd expect this from dogs, but horses? Indeed, there
are clever horses, grumpy horses, and even horses with a sense of humor.
Those prone to humor will test you by finding new ways to escape from
the barn when you least expect it. I found one of ours on the front
porch one morning, eating the cornstalks I'd carefully arranged as
Halloween decorations.
Horses can be timid or brave, lazy or athletic, obstinate or willing.
You will hit it off with some horses and others will elude you
altogether.
There are as many "types" of horses as there are people-which makes the
whole partnership thing all the more interesting.
If you've never ridden a horse, you probably assume it's a simple thing
you can learn in a weekend. You can, in fact, learn the basics on a
Sunday-but to truly ride well takes a lifetime. Working with a living
being is far more complex than turning a key in the ignition and putting
the car in "drive."
In addition to listening to your instructor, your horse will have a few
things to say to you as well. On a good day, he'll be happy to go along
with the program and tolerate your mistakes; on a bad day, you'll swear
he's trying to kill you. Perhaps he's naughty or perhaps he's fed up
with how slowly you're learning his language. Regardless, the horse will
have an opinion. He may choose to challenge you (which can ultimately
make you a better rider) or he may carefully carry you over fences-if it
suit s him. It all depends on the partnership-and partnership is what
it's all about.
If you face your fears, swallow your pride, and are willing to work at
it, you'll learn lessons in courage, commitment, and compassion in
addition to basic survival skills. You'll discover just how hard you're
willing to work toward a goal, how little you know, and how much you
have to learn. And, while some people think the horse "does all the
work", you'll be challenged physically as well as mentally. Your horse
may humble you completely. Or, you may find that sitting on his back is
the closest you'll get to heaven.
You can choose to intimidate your horse, but do you really want to? The
results may come more quickly but will your work ever be as graceful as
that gained through trust? The best partners choose to listen, as well
as to tell. When it works, we experience a sweet sense of accomplishment
brought about by smarts, hard work, and mutual understanding between
horse and ri der. T hese are the days when you know with absolute
certainty that your horse is enjoying his work.
If we make it to adulthood with horses still in our lives, most of us
have to squeeze riding into our oversaturated schedules; balancing our
need for things equine with those of our households and employers. There
is never enough time to ride, or to ride as well as we'd like. Hours in
the barn are stolen pleasures.
If it is in your blood to love horses, you share your life with them.
Our horses know our secrets; we braid our tears into their manes and
whisper our hopes into their ears. A barn is a sanctuary in an unsettled
world, a sheltered place where life's true priorities are clear: a warm
place to sleep, someone who loves us, and the luxury of regular meals.
Some of us need these reminders.
When you step back, it's not just about horses-it's about love, life,
and learning. On any given day, a friend is celebrating the birth of a
foal, a blue ribbon, or recovery from an illness. That same day, there
is also loss:
a broken limb, a case of colic, a decision to sustain a life or end it
gently. As horse people, we share the accelerated life cycle of horses:
the hurried rush of life, love, loss, and death that caring for these
animals brings us. When our partners pass, it is more than a moment of
sorrow.
We mark our loss with words of gratitude for the ways our lives have
been blessed. Our memories are of joy, awe, and wonder. Absolute union.
We honor our horses for their brave hearts, courage, and willingness to
give.
To those outside our circle, it must seem strange. To see us in our
muddy boots, who would guess such poetry lives in our hearts? We
celebrate our companions with praise worthy of heroes. Indeed, horses
have the hearts of warriors and often carry us into and out of fields of
battle.
Listen to stories of that once-in-a-lifetime horse; of journeys made and
challenges met. The best of horses rise to th e chal lenges we set
before them, asking little in return.
Those who know them understand how fully a horse can hold a human heart.
Together, we share the pain of sudden loss and the lingering taste of
long-term illness. We shoulder the burden of deciding when or whether to
end the life of a true companion.
In the end, we're not certain if God entrusts us to our horses or our
horses to us. Does it matter? We're grateful God loaned us the horse in
the first place. And so we pray:
Dear God,
After You've enjoyed a bit of jumping, please give our fine horses the
best of care. And, if it's not too much, might we have at least one more
good gallop when we meet again?
Amen
Belle
Spago
Ben
Beau,
Westphalian gelding, former German grand prix show jumper
Dunny. QH gelding 1985 - 2005
-
1.JPG)
- Casco, TB gelding
- 1990 - 2004
- Ana Malika, Arab Mare
- 1979 - 2004
- Dr. Kelly Stevenson, found dead on her farm in Arizona Monday
August 23rd, 2004
- Adopter of warmblood mare Galant, Volunteer & Foster Mom
- We all miss her!!
- Christie's Bonanza
- 1975 - 2004
Karashell, 1980 Arab Mare
1980 - May 2004
Sunrise, Quarter Horse gelding
Jag, standardbred gelding
KABUKI, PAINT MARE
SCUDBUSTER, TB GELDING
God looked around his garden, and saw an empty space.
He then looked down upon this Earth, and saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you, and lifted you to rest, God's garden
must be beautiful, he only takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering, he knew you were in pain.
He knew you might never, get well upon this Earth again.
He saw the road was getting tough, and the hills were hard to climb,
so he closed your weary eyelids and whispered, "Peace be Thine".
It broke our hearts to lose you, but you never went alone, for part
of us went with you, the day God called you home.
author unknown
Galano, 1989 Peruvian Paso gelding
Nuggett Bill, 1981 Quarter horse gelding - April 3rd, 2004
Buddy, Standardbred gelding
Icy, 2001 TB filly
LaRoyce, Standardbred gelding
-
Alderman's Alexander
"Alex"
-
1979 - January 1st,
2004
Subtle Scent, Thoroughbred mare
- Uncle Mustard, TB gelding
- 1977 - 2003
Merry, Rescued QH mare
Foxy Idol, TB mare
|
INDIAN LEGEND |
| There is an Indian
Legend that says when a human dies there is a bridge they must cross
to enter into heaven. At the head of this bridge waits every animal
they have encountered during there lifetime. The animals based upon
what they know of this person, decide which will enter into heaven and
which are turned away. |
-
-
The Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of Heaven there is a place called the Rainbow Bridge.
-
When an
animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to the
Rainbow Bridge.
-
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so
they can run and play together.
-
There is plenty of water, food, and sunshine,
and our friends are warm and comfortable.
-
All of the animals who were ill and
old are restored to health and vigor.
-
Those who were hurt and maimed are made
strong and whole again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times
gone by.
-
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they
each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and
looks into the distance.
-
His eyes are intent. His eager body quivers.
-
Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs
caring him faster and faster.
-
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you
cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again.
-
The happy kisses
rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, you look once
more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent
from your heart.
-
Then you cross the bridge together...
Author Unknown
-
- Wally, 1987 Thoroughbred gelding
-
- Almore N, Standardbred gelding
-
- Millie Burn, Thoroughbred mare
-
-
- Magic Minnie, Thoroughbred mare
-
Isaac, Warmblood gelding
-
- Just a Keeper, Thoroughbred mare
-
Brett, Trakehner gelding
DON'T CRY FOR THE HORSES
by Brenda Riley-Seymore
Don't cry for the horses
That life has set free
A million white horses
Forever to be
Don't cry for the horses
Now in God's hands
As they dance and they prance
To a heavenly band
They were ours as a gift
But never to keep
As they close their eyes
Forever to sleep
Their spirits unbound
On silver wings they fly
A million white horses
Against the blue sky
Look up into heaven
You'll see them above
The horses we lost
The horses we loved
Manes and tails flowing
They Gallop through time
They were never yours
They were never mine
Don't cry for the horses
They will be back someday
When our time has come
They will show us the way
On silver wings they will lift us
To the warmth of the sun
And dance over the moon
A Ballet of horses and
riders on the winds to a heavenly tune
Do you hear that soft nicker
Close to your ear?
Don't cry for the horses
Love the ones that are here
Don't cry for the horses
Lift up your sad eyes
Can't you see them
As they fly by?
A million white horses
Free from hunger and pain
Their spirits set free
Until we ride again
I'm a Lady Beatle "Noel", Quarter Horse mare
Looking back on the
memory of
The dance we shared beneath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known you'd ever say goodbye
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I the king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all
And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance
Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance
Garth Brooks
Emperor, Trakehner gelding
Flying Cherakee, thoroughbred gelding
Trooper
Madam IRS, rescue horse and thoroughbred mare
Magnum, Arab gelding
Whiteland Quest, Standardbred mare
Slava, Trakehner gelding and grand prix dressage horse (on the right
with mommy Angie, Siggy on the left)
- Summer Satin, Thoroughbred mare
- 1985 - 2000
- Rudder Tree, Standardbred gelding
- 1988 - 2003
- Land Cruiser, Thoroughbred gelding
- 1988 - 2002
- THE LAST GOODBYES
- As you hold them in your arms
- And say your last good-byes
- Look close into the fading light
- that flickers in their eyes
- They are not afraid
- because they know when a sparrow falls
- she falls into the hands of God
- all creatures great and small
- Remember when you found them
- abandoned, frightened, so alone
- shivering at your side you gave comfort
- and shared the warmth of your home
- As the years passed, they were with you
- through every job and sorrow
- Always at your side until on day you knew
- there would be no more tomorrows
- You sign and think
- never again will I give my heart
- it hurts too much to grieve
- when you have to part
- But there are so many animals
- that have no place to go
- who are longing for someone just like you
- to love and call their own
- They don't live as long as humans do
- this too is a part of God's plan
- for animals are God's angels
- to be there for you when he can't
- God's gift is that you can love many
- when your pet has time for only one
- you can give love and happiness to the strays
- who without you would have none.
- So lay your friends to rest, lift up your hearts
- dry your tears, for it is told
- death is but a passage into the hands of God,
- through the gates of gold
- Somewhere others need you
- in shelters, on farms, or wandering the streets
- they want nothing more from life
- than to lay down at your feet or lay their head on
your shoulder
- It is time to give another life
- the love only you can give
- we are the caretakers of Gods creatures
- for not to love.... is not to live.
- Brenda Riley-Seymore
- Sinatra, Thoroughbred gelding
- 1981 - 2002
- Secret Blush, Thoroughbred mare
- 1998 - 2003
- Mingo, Morab gelding
- 1977 - 2002
- Picky, Standardbred gelding
- 1992 - 2003
- Suger, standardbred mare
- 1984 - 2003
- Riley, Thoroughbred gelding
- 1982 - 2003
Singapore, Thoroughbred gelding
The Wings Of Pegasus
by JDE 12/ 29/ 00
As an avid reader and lover of horse stories, I often peruse the antique shops
for out-of-print horse books, stud books of the various breeds... anything that
is 'horsey' that I don't already have. My most treasured book was acquired in
this way.
It was in a quaint New England town that one store drew my attention. This
building seemed out of place among colonial and saltbox homes converted into a
row of collectible shops along Main Street, fondly called 'antique alley' in my
area. The two boutiques flanking it were pristine, almost startling; so bright
were their new coat of white paint and meticulously applied trim of slate blue.
In contrast, this homely structure was drab: weathered and brown paint was
peeling in strips from the siding. What little trim still framed the doors and
windows had rotted, leaving ugly black scars on the soul of this once family
dwelling. The 'antiques for sale' sign dangled precariously from the front door
and 'old books' was written in black marker on a shop-worn cardboard placard
that leaned off-center against the glass window.
Upon entering, the smell was musty and stifling. The proprietor, well over
retirement age, sat behind the counter. He was a short, dumpy man with a ruddy
complexion; engrossed in some sports magazine, he seemed oblivious to my
presence.
There did not appear to be any order or arrangement of the books by category on
the shelves. The old floorboards creaked as I moved from shelf to shelf scanning
the books. It was a book on the fourth shelf that caught my eye. Obviously very
old as the binding was tattered, the leather jacket was mildewed and the size
was unique. It was a small book. Gently I slid it out from between two gigantic
volumes. Such a fragile book, the pages dry, discolored from age. There was no
title, just a black cover with an outline of a winged horse. Intrigued, I opened
the book. The language was totally foreign to me, but written under each word a
previous owner or someone from the past had translated in English. My hands
shook with excitement as I read, "The Wings of Pegasus" dedicated to "Htaruma
Giznad, my beloved stallion."
Upon examining the book further, random notations were written in the margins by
the unknown translator. Chronological dates with question marks, some crossed
out boldly when eliminated with surety from the mystery of the author's identity
and era. Two dates were double underlined, one in 1241 and the other in 1225.
A brief exchange with the proprietor concluded the sale of the book. I could
barely contain my elation as I left the shop, the book tightly clutched in my
hand. There was no doubt in my mind that I would be totally engrossed reading
tonight.
The story was set somewhere in the Middle East. I do not know the current name
of the country as boundaries have changed over the centuries. A young princess,
the only daughter of the Caliph, had a magnificent bay Arabian stallion. His
name was Htaruma Giznad. They were inseparable. The princess was often seen on
Giznad, galloping over the sands, her veil flowing behind her, laughing as they
raced the wind. Giznad, too, loved this, as his tail was held straight up, like
a banner, as he ran; his dark eyes intent on some distant finish line. This
familiar sight brought smiles to the Caliph's people, as the princess was loved
by all.
Than one day a messenger brought word to the Caliph's people that Giznad had
become ill and died. The princess had been by his side throughout his brief
illness and was now inconsolable. She wanted to know that life was not over for
Giznad and that Allah had a special place for horses. Above all, she wanted to
know that she would see him again.
The Caliph sent envoys to all the surrounding countries for someone who could
put the princess's mind at rest. Great wealth would be bestowed on the one who
could answer the question.
I do not know how much time passed, as those pages of the book were brittle with
age, and crumbled into ashes in my hand. But the book continues when the
princess is very ill. In her delirium, the princess would call Giznad and relive
their wonderful times together
One of her attendants was an ancient looking woman. Her skin dark and wrinkled
from age and weather. She was not from the Caliph's province but from another
remote country. It was she that was tending the princess when she woke from a
long period of unconsciousness.
"Tell me everything you felt when you were with Giznad when he died", she said.
"I felt a gentle breeze", said the princess.
"Tell me everything you heard when you were with Giznad when he died", she said.
"I heard the fluttering of wings as if a great bird was near", said the
princess.
The old woman smiled. "Can you not see that your question has been answered?
Pegasus was sent to Earth to bring Giznad home to the Creator of all beings. The
gentle breeze was Pegasus breathing Life into Giznad. The "fluttering" was the
wings of Pegasus taking him home."
This little known book has brought me peace and comfort as well. For I, too, had
the same question as the princess. May this story bring solace to all that have
loved and lost a special horse.
In loving memory of Amurath Danzig, AHR # 110678 who died Christmas Eve 2000
Baileraghnaill Arabians. Newtown, CT
| |
Every Dream Starts with a Single Step, Take Your Step Today!
Women from History Who Dared To Change the World (credit: O Magazine)
600 B.C. TO 200 B.C.: Tribes of statuesque women (and men) roam
the Eurasian steppes. The fearsome Amazons of myth? Not exactly. But
archeological evidence suggests that among these nomads, the women were the
warriors.
Circa 39: Dynamic sister duo Trung Trac and Trung Nhi amass a
Vietnamese army in a revolt against Chinese rule. For four years, they lead
the rebellion.
Circa 395: Fabiola, a Roman aristocrat whose divorce and subsequent
remarriage were condemned by Christian society, founds a hospital for the
poor and other outcasts of her city. It's likely one of the first hospitals
in the Western world.
Circa 1001: Murasaki Shikibu begins writing The Tale of Genji,
an epic portrait of court life (twice as long as War and Peace),
considered by many to be the greatest masterpiece of Japanese literature and
possibly the world's first novel.
1429: Peasant girl Joan of Arc commands the French army in a series
of victorious battles to liberate her homeland from the English; she is
burned at the stake for her trouble.
Circa 1579: Grace O'Malley, a swashbuckling Irish pirate known for
raiding ships, fights off an English government expedition sent to stop her.
Circa 1613: In her graphically violent painting Judith Slaying
Holofernes, Italian artist Artemisia Gentileschi slays the ideal of
submissive womanhood: Her heroine is fierce, powerful, and ruthless.
1777: Teenager Sybil Ludington rides all night long through a storm
to alert the 400 men in her father's militia that the redcoats are coming.
She's called the female Paul Revere—but Paul rode with two of his buddies.
And he was captured by the British.
1805: Sacagawea joins Lewis and Clark as their expedition's
interpreter, traveling thousands of miles across the Rockies with her
newborn babe strapped to her back. Who says life ends when you have kids?
1814: As the British torch Washington, D.C., First Lady Dolley
Madison remains in the White House long enough to rescue historic
valuables—running out moments before the soldiers charge in.
1862: Sarah Rosetta Wakeman, just 19 and dressed as a man, enlists in
the Union Army. In a letter home, she assures: "I don't fear the rebel
bullets nor I don't fear the cannon."
1867: Ida Lewis rescues three drowning men from wind-whipped swells
in Newport Harbor. Then she rows back to save their sheep. Ida later
becomes the country's first female lighthouse keeper.
1872: Victoria Claflin Woodhull becomes the first woman to run for
president. A colorful candidate, she advocates for free love.
1906: Madam C.J. Walker hawks shampoos and serums door-to-door. The
orphaned daughter of former slaves, she becomes one of America's
wealthiest businesswomen.
1912: Astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt discovers the
period-luminosity relationship (later used to calculate the distances
between Earth and the stars).
1914: Barnstorming adrenaline junkie Georgia "Tiny" Broadwick makes
the first-ever free fall from a plane.
1916: In a tenement neighborhood in Brooklyn, Margaret Sanger opens
the doors of the country's first birth control clinic. Outside at least
150 women are waiting.
1916: Movie star Mary Pickford insists on becoming her own
producer. America's Sweetheart is no sucker.
1937: Amelia Earhart disappears on the ultimate adventure—her
attempt to fly around the globe. In a note to her husband, she explains:
"I want to do it because I want to do it."
1938: Anna Mary Robertson Moses sells her first paintings, at age
78. Known as "Grandma" Moses, she continues to paint for 23 years,
becoming one of the century's most renowned folk artists.
1941: Protofeminist superhero Wonder Woman first appears in a comic
book, fighting off Fascists in star-spangled hot pants.
1946: Super-geekette Dorothy Hodgkin cracks penicillin's chemical
makeup with an X-ray crystallographer. (Eighteen years later she'll earn
the Nobel Prize.)
1953: Jackie Cochran flies an F-86 Sabre jet through the sound
barrier. She learned to fly so she could travel around selling cosmetics,
but it turns out trashing speed records is a lot more fun.
1959: On the edge of the Serengeti Plain, Mary Leakey digs up and
pieces together a 1.7-million-year-old hominid skull, one of the most
important finds in the history of archeology.
1960: At the Rome Olympics, Wilma Rudolph (left)—once partially
paralyzed by polio—earns three gold medals in track-and-field, the first
American woman to do so.
1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first female
to fly a spacecraft around the globe.
1967: Kathrine Switzer dares to run the all-male Boston Marathon,
while an irate race official chases her.
1981: Alexa Canady becomes the first black female neurosurgeon in the
United States.
1985: Just 175 miles from the Iditarod finish line, Libby Riddles
heads into a blizzard when other mushers opt to stay in camp; this gives her
a six-hour lead and, ultimately, the win.
1989: Performance artist Karen Finley smears her body with chocolate
to illustrate that women are treated like, you know, dirt. The National
Endowment for the Arts rescinds her funding, but she ultimately gets it
back.
2005: Roz Savage quits her corporate job, leaves her unraveling
marriage, and rows across the Atlantic by herself. Midlife crisis averted.
2008: Sandra Andersen, a barista at a Starbucks in Tacoma,
Washington, learns that one of her customers needs a kidney to live. So she
gives the woman hers.
2009: Navigator Ann Daniels leads the Catlin Arctic Survey, a 74-day
journey from the Arctic Ocean to the North Pole to measure the thickness of
sea ice.
******************* The Warmth of A Horse
When your day seems out balance...
and so many things go wrong ...
When people fight around you
and the clock drags on so long ...
When some folks act like children
and fill you with remorse ...
Go out into your pasture and wrap
your arms around your horse.
His gentle breath enfolds you as he
watches with those eyes ...
He may not have a PhD but he
is, oh so wise!
His head rests on your shoulder
you hug him good and tight ...
He puts your world in balance
and makes it seem all right.
Your tears will soon stop flowing,
the tension will be eased ...
The nonsense has been lifted.
You are quiet and at peace.
So when you need some balance
from the stresses in your day ...
The therapy you really need
Is out there eating hay!
|
