BEFORE WE BEGIN:  WE ARE ORDERING BITLESS LG BRIDLES THIS WEEK (FROM GERMANY).  IF YOU WANT ONE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW VIA THIS LINK.  YOU CAN READ TESTIMONIALS THERE FROM THE OTHERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED THIS AMAZING (IMHO) BRIDLE!

THREE HOPEFUL STORIES!

I know that many of us suffer emotionally during the Holidays.

Some of us just feel intense pressure or hopelessness in this economy.

For me, I suffer a bit but basically life is pretty good – certainly when compared to so many in need…

So I’d like to put forward three stories of hope that have come into my mailbox this week.

Feel Hopeful, my friends!

And, if you are very sad, please go do something for someone else.  It works.

There is nothing more comforting than giving real comfort to someone else.  Things don’t look so bad from the hero chair.

 

STORY #1:  BLM Wild Mustang is adopted and within a year, wins AMERICA’S FAVORITE TRAIL HORSE!

(from an email sent to me)
Having trouble reading this email? View it on your browser.

 

Lindsay’s Faith is America’s Favorite Trail Horse. Tuesday night on national TV, an American Mustang mare that was wild and untouched by human hands less than a year before filming of America’s Favorite Trail Horse, captured the title of America’s Favorite and earned a total of $30,000 cash.
Mary Miller Jordan adopted Lindsay’s Faith as a 6 year old wild Mustang in May of 2010. Mary and Lindsay ventured on the journey of a lifetime as they developed a bond that would change both their lives in ways that could never have been foreseen. Lindsay was born in the rough, cold terrain of White Mountain, Wyoming in her wild Mustang herd. Wild and untouched, she was headed towards long term holding until the Mustang Heritage Foundation created the inaugural Supreme Extreme Mustang Makeover. An event specifically for older, unwanted wild Mustangs. Mary jumped at the opportunity to compete in an Extreme Mustang Makeover, so in May of 2010 Lindsays Faith and Mary began their partnership.

Mary named Lindsay’s Faith after her father, Lindsay Miller III. Mary feels so blessed to have a father that has been a catalyst to the realization of her dreams. Mary stated “What more could one ask for than a father that has faith in his daughter, even if her dream is to train a wild horse in 3 months. The faith and love of a father is pure, unbiased and unconditional.”?After making the coveted Final Round of the mustang competition Mary competed in Lindsay’s first ACTHA ride only a few months later and then went on to enter America’s Favorite Trail Horse. “It was just perfect for Lindsay. She loved the trail, the outdoors and the natural obstacles”. Mary is so proud of her little wild mustang mare “I for one, feel very honored to have such a brilliant American Mustang as part of my American life and I am proud to be her student.”

 

A sorrel QH gelding named Curly Man McCue ridden by Ronald Sullivan was awarded Second Place in America’ Favorite Trail Horse, with earnings from the series of $20,000. This kind gelding, who has led his region in ACTHA points, performed flawlessly in Texas and received tremendous support from the viewers. Ronald “Slick” Sullivan is a 42 yr. old single father and farrier from Millry, Alabama. Empty Nest Syndrome lead him to equine activities that fed his soul and enlightened his spirit, such as competing in stock horse events and ACTHA competitive trail challenges.

The Bailef who is ridden by Wendy Stephens captured the Third Place title with earnings of $15,000 for his performance. This little 13.1 hand Section B Welsh Pony Stallion showed the competition why size doesn’t matter. Cowgirl Wendy Stephens hasn’t let size get in the way of this pony’s career. This stallion has competed against average size horses across a variety of equine disciplines and defeated them on multiple occasions!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OUR FINALISTS

STORY #2:  AN OLD HORSE REMEMBERS HER EVEN OLDER OWNER

(I found this on the HORSE AND MAN Facebook message box)

 

 

STORY #3:  A RESEARCH BEAGLE WHO NEVER SAW THE SUN, FINDS A FOREVER HOME!

If you’d like to read about the BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT, CLICK HERE.  These poor, sweet Beagles had never been outside of the concrete walls of their laboratory.  They lived 24/7 in cages.  They never ran, played or felt any love/compassion until they were rescued by two women…

Here is an excerpt from an email I received from Shannon, one of the rescuers and creators of THE BEAGLE FREEDOM PROJECT.

(an excerpt from an email I received)

Freedom, as he is now called, was out very first rescue in December of 2010.

He came from a laboratory in California, where he was used for toxicity testing.

Every time he saw a human, he would offer his paw….. why? Because that’s all he knew of human contact: to offer his paw for blood.

His vein had collapsed in his leg from having blood drawn 11 times a week.

He had lived in the laboratory for over two years and never stepped foot on grass or even seen the sun.

When we rescued Freedom and opened his cage for the first time, it took him 10 minutes to leave his cage and walk on the grass.

This was foreign to him. He did not know what this was – the ourdoors. When he finally did walk out of the cage, he stepped gingerly and
tentatively, carefully surveying his surroundings as if to say, “What is this Heaven? Is this REAL?”

Shortly after he left his cage, Bigsby left his cage, too. The touched noses and like a flash of lightening, both began to run as fast as they could
through the grass and didn’t stop!

When it was time to drive home, we put them in the car with us and noticed they kept falling. They had no muscle tone, from being in a cage their whole lives
so it was difficult for them to keep themselves steady.

Freedom was fostered by our good friend who eventually adopted him.

He would not eat out of bowls, he would not go near stairs, he was afraid of leashes, toys and treats and could not understand a bed.

Certain sounds would set him off and he would run in corners shaking and drooling…….

But now, almost a year later, Freedom is a changed dog! He has learned how to be a dog – the joy of walks, toys, treats and even beds!

Freedom is one of our ambassadors. You can see him in the photo below teaching students at UCLA that testing on animals is wrong.

Beagle Freedom Project just rescued 40 more beagles from a laboratory just like Freedom and continues to do so.

 

BUCKET FUND!!

The Beagle Freedom Project is one of our Bucket Fund Charities this month.  Sadly, not too many of you readers are donating, probably because this is a dog charity and not a horse charity…  Also I’m sure many of you feel that these dogs are safe and don’t need your urgent funds.

That is true.  These Beagles are safe.  But, it does take donations to provide their safety.  Somebody donated at some point to allow these dogs to be rescued.  And, donations are needed to keep the program running.

I don’t expect anyone to do anything that doesn’t move them.  But, I did want to send this message of good cheer and let you all know about the project.

If you’d like to help the Beagle Freedom Project, you can donate here.  I’d be happy to create a donation gift certificate as well!  Thank you!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

 

HORSE AND MAN is a blog in growth… if you like this, please pass it around!

 

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