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ABOVE: Some of our herd members decked out for reindeer and elf trials. Top row, C.J., Lego and Magic. Bottom row, Vic and Nicky. Not wishing to wear costumes and not shown, Sinclair, Tuesday, Bella and DeBask. HARMONY HORSEWORKS
www.harmonyhorseworks.com
Horse Rescue and Equine Sanctuary
13639 Elsie Road, Conifer CO 80433
(303) 816-0766
harmonyhorsewrks@aol.com
barbara@harmonyhorseworks.com
DECEMBER 2010 ISSUE
1. Why Santa doesn't use horses to pull his sleigh
2. A special message from the Harmony HorseWorks herd
3. Let's help the Bialy family find hope this Christmas
4. Here's a great TB retirement organization in KY
6. HPAF rescue in FL urgenlty needs help with 23 malnourished TBs.
5. Shadow needs a new retirement home
6. Coaching tips from Mother Teresa
7. Invitation to Christmas Eve Open House at Harmony HorseWorks
Why Santa doesn't use horses to pull his sleigh...
The question finally had to be asked? Why does Santa use reindeer instead of horses to pull his sleigh? Victoor (aka Vic), the Harmony HorseWorks spokeshorse, caught up with Santa while both enjoyed ice skating at the lake in Evergreen, Colorado, and here's what Santa had to say:
Vic: Santa, so many of our newsletter readers have asked , "Why doesn't Santa use horses to pull his sleigh at Christmas?"
Santa: Ahem. Well, we really don't have anything against horses, you know.
Vic: The ESCT newsletter readers think horses would make an excellent team.
Santa: Early on, we did try them, yes. In fact, we tried dogs, too. Seemed logical to use sled dogs, being at the North Pole and all, but the tail-wagging thing created too much air turbulence.
Vic: So, tell us what happened with the horses?
Santa: We ran into a few problems with them that got us way behind schedule, so we had to look for alternatives.
Vic: What problems exactly, Santa?
Santa: Well, first off, most of the applicants were Arabians and they turned out to have a fear of heights. In fact, they had a fear of air in general. Their snorts and feet-planting would bring the sleigh to a complete stop, pitch off the packages and throw the elves overboard. They don't follow anything but the lead mare (I think she is called the diva in correct parlance) and her head-tossing raised heck with the rein signals.
Then the Standardbreds showed up and that fast trot, winging thing doesn't work well in the air because it tends to propeller and pitch us around in the sleigh. They were great at pulling sleds, though. Faultless. Those horses moooove!
The elves are all for decoration so they wanted to audition a matched set of Lallapaloosas.
Vic: Santa, I think that's Appaloosas, not Lallapaloosas, although some appys are lollapaloozas like Magic, the one in our herd.
Santa: Whatever. The ones with the crazy spots and no mane and tail to create turbulence. We had a heck of a time finding a matched set, believe me. Anyway, the only 2 gaits they know are "no" and "mosey." We'd have to start last year to get them anywhere this year!
We also ended up auditioning a team of heavy drafts and their ground drill was top notch and boy could they pull, but they didn't get any lift-off, as you can well imagine.
Saddlebreds didn't get any air either because they have those dead weights on their shoes and there's that winging thing again.
A friend of mine, a cowboy in Texas, sent me a team of reining and team penning horses to try, but every time they got near a cloud cluster, they'd run crazy circles around it and throw us off course. It must be the herding thing, mistaking clouds for sheep?
Sooo, we auditioned some Baroque horses - Lippizaners, Andalusians and Lusitanos - figuring they could do "airs above the ground" and get plenty of lift-off. Which they did. But that didn't end up well because they wanted me to wear one of those flouncy Spanish riding outfits with a three-cornered hat instead of my Santa suit and cap, so I couldn't very well show up looking like King Ferdinand of Spain on Christmas Eve. As good as they are in the air, so bad they are at landing. Belly flops every time. Sad. No injuries, though.
For the hunter/jumpers, we were finally wearing the right color - red, but the fox didn't like being the lead all the time. The Thoroughbreds were fast as lightning, but we missed all our test stops - yup, blazed right past every single one. Whoooosh...
Then we found out that mustangs are called "mesteno" in Spanish, which translates as "you can never get these horses to do anything in harness, much less in unison." They didn't speak English and my Spanish is lacking. I confuse la isquierda and a la derecha so signaling was a mess.
As a last resort, we called in the old, reliable Quarterhorses but only half of them showed up for the audition.
Vic: Hmmm. I can see the challenge, yes.
Santa: Interesting thing was that the horses all had one spook in common. They just couldn't overcome it. Really strange.
Vic: What spook was that?
Santa: Fear of elves.
Vic: Wow! That's amazing! Do you think Equine Stress Control Therapy might have helped them get over that?
Santa: Not sure what that is...
Vic: Well, let me tell you all about ESCT, Santa. You gotta minute? You see, I was the first horse in the world ever to be treated with ESCT, invented by Barbara Wright, the founder of Harmony Horseworks (yadayadayada) ...
A special message from the Harmony HorseWorks herd
"If we could sing (our volunteers call us boys the "castrati" when we nicker and neigh), we'd sing you our favorite Christmas carol, "Deck the Halls with Apples and Carrots." Instead, we are sending you those nickers and neighs in thanks and appreciation of your donations to us in 2010 that helped us make it through another year. We will be celebrating 9 years in 2011 and we couldn't have done it without you! May you always have peace in your heart and treats in your hands. Keep the good will and donations coming!"
Let's help the Bialy family find hope this Christmas
Lisa Bialy writes of her misfortune and we pray for her family and pass the info on to you: "I have been kidding myself, thinking I could keep the horses. We just got Micah’s radiation and chemo “roadmap” for the next year - extremely intense treatments. (Micah has cancer). We are going to be at the hospitals almost every day for the next year. Bottom line, I need to sell the horses. It’s just not feasible to even think we could spend an hour with them, not to mention trying to do treatments and take care of horses in the winter. A lot of times, we will probably be staying at the Ronald McDonald House. If possible, I would like to find a place to keep Vista, Micah’s horse, and board we could afford. But Bree and Arwen need new homes. We are looking for a more affordable home closer to town, too. If you know of anyone looking for a nice Tennessee Walker, please let me know. Ditto with affordable housing. I am asking $1,500 for Bree. She is 4 and is ready to put miles on. Her basic training is complete. Arwen is 8 months old, and she has been well imprinted and handled on a daily basis. She will be an incredible horse for trail or show. I am asking $500 for her. Amazing how fast things can change in life. One appointment in oncology did this for us. Our heads are still spinning with the treatment plan for the year, and how Micah is going to be able to handle it. Thank you." (303) 325-3996
Here's a Great Thoroughbred Retirement Organization in KY
Melissa S. DeCarlo works at the TRF/Maker's Mark Secretariat Center in KY and writes: "Visit us at www.thoroughbredadoption.com and see the horses we have available from our facility and others in the area. TRF cares for horses for the rest of their lives, from pasture sound to upper level competitors. The horses that are adopted out receive a yearly vet check form that the adopters fill out, assuring a safe home for the horse while it is in their hands. Should the horse not work out, come up lame, adopter loses a job, whatever the reason, the horse has a home for life with TRF. MMSC takes the sounder retirees and reschools them for new careers. As the premier facility in the KY Horse Park, we have gotten some great candidates, some of whom are competing at intermediate eventing and soon moving up.
Anybody interested in adopting a TB can contact me at mdecarlo@thoroughbredadoption.com or email Susanna Thomas, our director at susannat@trfinc.org. If they tell us what they are looking for, we can match them up to the right horse. Should they not see one they like at the time, we will continue to look until we find the right horse for that person.
We put at least 14 days of training into the horse before we let him go to a new home. Horses are always welcome back. If returned within 6 months, the adoption fee may be placed towards another horse (it is not refundable but tax-deductible). We do our best to calm "hot" horses, although, as you know, a "hot" horse will always have a hot side!
Shadow needs a new retirement home
See Shadow's photo at the bottom of this email. Linda Wismer of Peyton, CO writes us:
"I have a 30 year old mare (Shadow) that has special nutritional needs due to missing teeth. I feed her senior grain and rice brain to maintain her weight, but am having financial difficulties. She has arthritis and receives Max-Flex for that but I can no longer even afford it. She is in good health otherwise and has a good quality of life. I am trying to find a home for her so that she can live out the rest of her days. She can still be ridden and is well broke but I retired her from anyone riding her last summer. I felt that at 30, it was time she just enjoyed life." Anybody interested in providing a retirement home for Shadow, please contact Linda at:
Linda Wismer
bcs_group@msn.com
(719) 238-6351
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Harmony HorseWorks sanctuary herd - all of whom are not afraid of elves, having been treated with ESCT for many years now. Several are still afraid of pointy air, though. Our vet assures us that horses can injure themselves with that! If your horse wishes to audition for Santa next year, make sure you de-spook him with ESCT first and we will loan you Vic's reindeer hat, no charge.
Barbara Wright
Harmony HorseWorks
Harmony HorseWorks is a Colorado 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in good standing. We rescue, rehabilitate, retrain and adopt out those horses we can, the ones that stay with us are sanctuary horses and are used in Horse/Human Interactive Training/Therapy (HITT) programs here in Conifer and Evergreen, Colorado. We are partially funded by public donations from charitable people, corporations and organizations. The remainder of our funding comes from sales of equine art by Barbara Wright, sales of Wright-ESCT(tm) books and videotapes, and ESCT clinics held by Barbara Wright. Volunteers help us keep things clean! |
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SHADOW: This photo was taken last winter in her fur coat. She is a sweet and gentle mare and was recently retired from riding by her owner, Linda Wismer of Peyton, CO, who can no longer afford to keep her. |
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Horse Protection Association of Florida Needs Help with 23 Malnourished Rescued Thoroughbreds
Horse Protection Association of Florida has 23 new Thoroughbreds. We are
over capacity and must place the new horses immediately. They are boarded
out due to lack of space. All are malnourished and the youngsters have
very little handling so will need homes with knowledgeable horse people.
The mares are docile. Some youngsters are registered, some not, but their
parents are known. Can you give one of these youngsters the training that will make them
wanted throughout their lives? We need donations of money, feed, hay, fuel, veterinary services, farrier, dentistry, training, and many other items.
PLEASE CONTACT:
www.hpaf.org
msilver@wildblue.net
352-466-4366
NOTE FROM HARMONY HORSEWORKS: We have received photos of all of them and they are beautiful youngsters with so much potential. We can't reproduce all the photos here but show representative photos above and below.
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Coaching Tips from Mother Teresa
"Do it Anyway" People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. Mother Teresa |
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CHRISTMAS EVE OPEN HOUSE
AT HARMONY HORSEWORKS
13639 ELSIE ROAD, CONIFER CO 804433
(303) 816-0766
2 TO 6 PM
DECEMBER 24, 2010
MEET AND GREET THE HORSES
FOOD AND DRINKS WILL BE SERVED
TO HUMANS AND HORSES
CELEBRATE THE SEASON AND THE LOVE OF HORSES!
EVERYONE WELCOME!
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