Guess who is helping horses now?
Dec 08 2009
I had no idea he was even into horses. What a super cool story!
Kid Rock helps needy horseowners
I think it’s particularly cool how the one lady admits she’s been forced to rethink her prejudices after finding help from such an unexpected quarter.  Good for her for having that kind of ability to self-analyze – many people lack it. So, that’s kind of an interesting topic – have you ever been pleasantly surprised to find out that someone in the horse world was a lot better person than you expected, based upon what you’d heard about them? We do talk a lot about the negatives here, so let’s look at the flip side. Who have you met that maybe you’d heard some trash talk about, and in reality they’re just wonderful and you love them? You don’t have to name names if you don’t want to – the story alone – what you heard versus the reality – is a good one to share.
I’ve personally found that anybody in the animal rescue world who has been labeled a “bitch” is probably someone I am going to be very good friends with. 
 They usually get that label because they are passionate advocates for animals and don’t shut up about it – which makes them one man’s trash but definitely my treasure!
How about you?  Oh, and if you have a “celebrity who loves horses” story to share, those are always cool. We are fortunate to have so many that give of their time and money to help our horses. Willie Nelson, Bo Derek, Nicolette Sheridan, Tony Curtis (who has his own large rescue), and many more that I could name. It’s so good to see someone who has the money to help doing so – particularly for those of us who just wish we had the money to help more!
64 comments to “Guess who is helping horses now?”
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Well my name on here used to be Kay, but it looks like it changed since they have been telling me all my info was incorrect.
Anyway on to the subject, I have heard that Paul Sorvino and one of his daughters is very active in horse rescue.
I ADORE my arabs, but not just because they’re beautiful, athletic and SMART. I got into showing arabs in Saskatchewan and found that the “snobby” arab show person was really a down to earth, lots of fun, and ready to share knowlege kind of person! I’ve had more fun with the people showing arabs than any dressage, h/j or open show crowd and man do they know how to throw a party! Ever been to regionals or nationals?!?! Snow cone machines and kerioke?? This is my kind of show world.
I loved this story also – and I have to admit that I have since turned the powers of self analysis on after reading it. I used to feel completely allergic to Kid Rock and now – well maybe I’m still not turning up his songs on the radio, but I certainly won’t be trash talking the guy!
Fugs – I am friends with so many bitches I can’t count! It’s kinda a prerequisite of mine I think!
~DD
I read the book “Riding Lessons” by Bo Derek. My sister gave it to me and I was hesitant to even read it, but it turned out to be an enjoyable book.
Another surprise (not horse related) was seeing Suzanne Sommers perform at the local fair. She had a very good singing voice and was a good entertainer in general. I enjoyed her show!
Yes, the bitchy ones are usually the ones who are most devoted to the welfare of the horse- wether it’s their own horses or a rescue operation. I’ll kick some serious ass if a defenseless animal is being mistreated!!!
I have to make an effort to control myself- since I own an equine business selling treeless saddles and associated tack items- I often have to be nice to people I’d really like to smack. That’s tough for me- my usual policy is that I don’t babysit, and I don’t lie to make people feel better. I usually call it like I see it and some people don’t appreciate complete honesty!
Sometimes I just say, to hell with the business, and I tell someone what I REALLY think anyway!
What is nice is, I have found that the majority of riders who inquire about my treeless saddles tend to be ones who are more educated about the finer points of equine welfare such as saddle fit. I often find myself helping people who I like personally after getting to know them, it’s nice to be exposed to good horsepeople who care about their horse’s comfort. Just feeding them and providing adequate care is only half the story…
Melissa
http://www.freedomtreeless.com
Viggo Mort… Mortin… Aragorn/Frank Hopkins. He even bought the main horse who played Hidalgo because he got so attached. Thought that was really cute.
Viggo Mortensen. He bought his horse in LOTR too. AND he bought Arwen’s white stallion for the woman who was his trainer, as she’d fallen in love with him but couldn’t afford the price tag. That man is my hero.
I didn’t know he’d bought that horse for her, but what a wonderful thing to do. Viggo is awesome!
Viggo also bought the horse he rode in LOTR
Not just that, in LotR he often slept in the stall next to the horse he rode and spent as much time he could hand grazing and otherwise bonding with him. He’s an excellent horseman.
when my crazy black horse was in training at a nice facility, a very well-known A-circuit h/j show barn began moving into the facility as a “satellite” location, since their home barn was full. I was really upset about it and felt immediately out-of-place when they started moving in their spendy custom tack trunks, matching blankets, and fancy warmbloods. Right when they were moving in, my horse was about finished with his 120-days of training, so I put in my 30-day notice. I could not wait to get out of there- too rich for my blood! My mustang-mutt rescue pony and I did NOT fit in there.
But during those last 30 days I learned that the girls with the h/j barn were actually really sweet and fun and down-to-earth. I enjoyed hanging out and chatting with them and was actually somewhat sad to leave.
Had no idea about Kid Rock – that’s great information. I am glad that he (and others) are doing things like this. I just hope that he’s able to weed out those who are just trying to get free care b/c they’re lazy and give it to true people in need.
As for the whole bitch thing – yeah…most of my horsey friends are headstrong and set in their ways, but their horses are all happy, healthy and love life. Animals are way better judges of people than people are. I figure if the horses love them, I can too! I wouldn’t trade my girlfriends for the world…their the best friends I could have!
Remember the book People we Know, Horses they love…I still want this book. Beautiful stories and images…there should be more of these (people and books about them and their horses).
Like Cozzene, I thought of Viggo Mortenson. I believe he also bought the dressage horse that played Brego in the Lord of the Rings, as well as the one from Hidalgo. I could be wrong, but I think he has a good-sized horse collection. While that may not be “rescue” as we think of it, it’s nice to know that those hard-working horses probably have a really great home.
Viggo Mortensen has bought every horse he partnered with in his movies, I think for a total of four. I love him.
OT – I got to the “Cathy” story in Beyond the Homestretch a few minutes ago (I’m reading the book at work). Very cute! Started reading last night, am about 2/3 done with it. Very funny yet poignant stories.
I like the Kid Rock song about drinking whiskey from the bottle. Not that I DO that sort of thing, but the song is a definite toe-tapper. He sings it along with someone else, Leonard Skynyrd (sp?) I believe. “Singin’ Sweet Home Alabama all day long,” and all that.
It’s generally pretty easy to tell the genuine people from the “mine don’t stink” types. People raised with solid values (people who are grounded, in other words) are usually very nice to be around. I remember seeing pictures of Princess Anne shoveling out a stall, back when she was on the UK Olympic Three-Day Team. Everyone thought she got her spot because she was “royalty.” I’m not sure that the team did well, but it was not due to her being on the team. Her horse had some sort of injury, I believe. It was the luck of the draw or the injury after the fall.
People who are insecure are generally the “mine don’t stink” types. They are more interested in having all the outward trappings and covering for their insecurities by being rude and haughty. I try to avoid people like that because if they are insecure, they are probably a danger to themselves and others. It’s the “others” part that I don’t want anything to do with.
I watched a very old interview of Johnny Depp, he adopted the appy/spotted horse that he rode in Sleepy Hollow. The horse was blind in one eye and the handler said they were going to get rid of the horse after the movie.
Thank you to everyone that takes in a needy animal, even if you aren’t famous.
Princess Anne got an individual medal, the team did not do so well.
But then, she learned form her mother, who has been known to help around the stables as well, in her younger days.
One poor stable girl, looking up from doing the water, and in a rush (as always) ordered the pair of legs she saw to stop messing around and fill the bloody buckets.
Got back to the stall to find HM putting the bucket in the manger…bet that took a few years off her life!!!
Not everyone can say they bossed the Queen of England around and lived, not even her husband.
Once, at Windsor Show, a team ran away, turned the wagon and bolted.
HM jumped out and grabbed them and hung on, whilst being soundly berated by her husband for being a bloody lunatic!! (which she was).
Security men jumped forward to help and got yelled at by HM to cut the traces!
Next day at work someone said to me “well, of course, she wasn’t in any real danger, was she?”
Oh, NO!!
Horses knew she was the Queen, so they (two bloody great grey cob things, BTW) said, “OK, we mustn’t run her over”
Honestly, some people!
It was at my third horse show ever. I had serious trouble with loading my mare to get her home. Just couldn`t get her on that d*mn trailer and every trick I tried failed. My friends, who where with me, tried to load her – they failed, too.
After turning down some nice ment offers from the spectators (“I`ll get you a whip” – such things…*eyeroll*) a very nice lady came to me and asked if she could give loading my mare a try – she said: “My mare was also bad at loading – I know how hard it is to stay calm and focused.”
I gladly handed her over the lead rope. After quietly and consistently working with my mare for about 30 Minutes – she got her on the trailer. I was so totally, completely flabbergasted, and overwhelmed by her generosity, that I started to cry. I mean – she didn`t know me, she didn`t know my mare, yet she offered her help and helped me out of a very uncomfortable situation…
Sadly, I`ve never met her again (Bianca [don`nt know her last name] from Lower Saxony, Germany – if you by any chance read this: THANK YOU for your generous help at the 2009-Barbers-Home-Show !) – but was able to help some stranger a few months later in very much the same situation (horse refused to load after a show), only that this time I was the one offering and giving help. Kharma ?
)))
I had a very great experience with Jeff and Rich Sloan from Aria Arabians (mentioned on this blog regarding a scandal with a clone of LD Pistal I believe). Anyway, in 2006 Jeff and Rich leased a Polish stallion named Piaff from the Janow Podlaski Stud and brought him to US for two years. I bred my mare to Piaff and in 2007 she foaled a beautiful filly, pretty much perfect. Bred for me, not to sell-my dream horse. Unfortunately, 40 days later the filly was killed by a mountain lion. I was devastated! My mother offered to cover the cost to re-breed my mare and when I contacted the Sloans to see if it would be possible, I was told “We are so sorry for your loss. The breeding is yours, contact the Galluns (the folks managing the stallion) and set it up.” A day later, Nancy Gallun called me and told me that they would waive the normal fees, charge me only the vet charge to collect the stallion and the FedEx shipping and that she’d make sure my mare got pregnant again. Seven days after the foal was killed my mare was successfully bred back to Piaff and last year foaled another beautiful filly I named Naysa (which is supposed to be Hebrew for “Miracle of God”).
I am not a big-time breeder or big name trainer. Quite frankly I’m pretty much plankton in the world of Arabian breeding/showing, but the Sloans and Galluns went well beyond the letter of the breeding contract to help me replace my loss and I am forever grateful to them.
That is an awesome story!
Not horses, but the foundation Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy) and her mother have just donated $25,000 to transport a whole bunch of little dogs from California shelters where there was no market for them to shelters on the east coast, where they’re in high demand.
Just want to say – Good on Him! I like the fact that he picked people he thought were deserving (not that others weren’t) in hopes of helping them keep their horses, and keep the horses safe. It would be really nice if it was catching!
Secondhand story, not a direct experience, but reportedly years ago, a local vet was called to the Ky Horse Park during an Arab show (?Egyptian Event) to evaluate a horse for possible colic at wee dark thirty. And found Patrick Swayze walking the horse. He and his wife were apparently the real deal with their animals.
They were indeed – I heard the same sort of thing from many people, that Patrick and Lisa were wonderful, hands-on horse owners.
I don’t know what kind of horse owner he is, but William Shatner was a snotty twit to a friend of mine once at LAEC…she got him good though, snarked back something and made sure to call him Captain Kirk. LOL!
Actually, I’ve met Shatner a couple times at shows, and if you talk to him about his *horses*, he’s very nice and friendly. He’s at the shows to be around his horses and to show, not talk about Star Trek. Only times I’ve seen him get ignorant is WHEN people insist on calling him Captain Kirk or bugging him for autographs.
I have a freind who used to be heavy into saddlebred showing and she tells me that at the time Shatner was, too. She says he’s a super nice guy and loves his horses.
I can’t blame anyone who’s famous for being unhappy with people bothering them when they’re just trying to go about their normal lives. Being an actor or a musician or whatever, it’s a job. If everyplace you went, people constantly pestered you about your job, you’d get sick of it too. Yes it comes with the territory but I still think it’s selfish and insensitive to approach someone in a public place when they’re trying to live their private life, and bug them.
If you want an autograph from someone famous, approach them when they’re working- after a concert, at an event where they’re making a public appearance for publicity. Don’t bug them when they’re trying to spend time with their family or grocery shopping or whatever. YOU are the one being the jerk if you do that.
Melissa
Just wondering what issue of horse illustrated you wrote for and what the article was called? I dont have a subscription to them anymore so I was going to see if I could read it online. thanks
I don’t think it is available online. It is in the January issue. You’ll have to pick one up at your tack store (or subscribe!) They are on sale right now, it’s 79% off the cover price if you subscribe so that’s a very good deal!
http://www.horsechannel.com/horse-magazines/horse-illustrated/default.aspx
Kid Rock…rocks! Loved this story! I knew there was a reason why I loved his song..Cowboy!!
Years ago I saw a little biography of Daryl Hannah on TV. She had taken in a few unrideable unwanted horses and keeps them on her beautiful ranch.
I found this quote from about her:
She has more than 20 animals – horses, alpacas, chickens, dogs, cows – all of which are rescues. Occasionally someone will abandon a horse at the local vet’s, and he’ll ring her up and say: “Got another one for you.”
She’s a little goofy and crunchy but it’s she sounds like my kind of person!
Rob Thomas(of Blink 182)and his wife take in NYC carriage horses, and give them a permanent, great retirement home!
Rob Thomas is from Matchbox 20, not Blink 182.
He and his wife are very much into animals and rescue, and are the real deal as well.
MBR, You are right, I’m sorry. They both sound the same to me, LOL.
I despise bitchy horse owners. And there seems to be a lot of them. NO excuse for bitchy, IMO. I’m “passionate” about native plants and watercolour….but I’m not bitchy about it. I’m an outsider here in the horse world…I pay for riding lessons. I’ve had bitchy horse owners condescend to me on many occasions. You know what….it’s a big turn off. Some horse owners/trainers/barn rats/ need to get over themselves and remember that once upon a time they were where I am right now.
It’s Rob Thomas from Matchbox Twenty. He and his wife actually assist the program that does this, I do not believe they do it themselves. The name of THEIR program is called Sidewalk Angels. They DO go to the facilities that the horses are taken to and they do a lot of hands on care as well as a ton of financial support. The horses are cared for through Pets Alive.
He and his wife also vowed to only adopt dogs through shelters and they do MAJOR donations to Sidewalk Angels to help out with the dogs and cats there too.
Chad Kroeger (from Nickleback) and his fiance (wife now? haven’t seen him in a year) happen to be huge horse fans. I used to show horses and take lessons with Chad’s step mom. I also currently work with his Dad. Despite hearing numerous stories about Chad being a TOTAL asshole, I have to disagree. He’s helped many people in the horse community and happens to be a very nice guy when he doesn’t have a bunch of screaming girls in his face. Last I heard the two of them have a few friesians. Here’s pictures if you don’t beleive me.
Yes my hair is orange, shut up!! LOL! My regular hairdresser wasn’t in that morning so I was stupid enough to let the other girl dye it for me. As you can see, it isn’t my usual blonde. I couldn’t get it fixed until the next day. It was horrible.
Your hair is NOT horrible. You just had a touch of Lady GaGa goin on is all. Looks like you were rockin’ it!
Chad needs to realise that those “screaming girls in his face” cash his paycheck. Period.
He opted for this life, and he gets it all…good and bad.
Real musicians, like I’ve heard he is, don’t play for the paycheck alone. They play for the love of *music.* And some of those “screaming girls” can be PSYCHO. o_O Stalkers, anyone? Plus, many of them DON’T realize that their little crushes, and “I love you,” and “marry me” statements get very, VERY annoying after a while. Musicians aren’t going to write love sonnets for every crazed teenager they come across. Your favorite author really does NOT want to constantly be mobbed “to just read one liiiiittle manuscript.” And actors do NOT like being typecast and begged to re-enact every fan’s “favorite scenes!”
Fans are nice. But there’s a difference between being a fan and being obsessed.
And yes, I’ve heard horror stories from all three worlds. I won’t name names as to whom I know, however. My friends deserve their privacy.
I’m going to agree with your post. While I think it behooves a public figure to be friendly and outgoing at events where that is expected, I don’t think anyone should be expected to be nice 24/7 – I mean, are YOU nice 24/7? Who is? And things do get blown out of proportion. I know someone who nearly got killed by a motorist when she was on her bike, but the only part that got into the news was that she was screaming at the motorist. Well, yeah, for good reason – you would too.
I have also worked for actors and seen the extent of the crazy stalking they have to deal with. Heck, as most of you know, I’ve encountered some real whackjobs just doing this blog!
But in the original Shatner example, he simply displayed rude arena manners and when called on it, acted like he owned the place. Was he having a bad day? Probably. But hey, when you’re famous, everything you do – good or bad – is going to get told and retold. There is no such thing as discretion (hello, Tiger Woods! You idiot, with all of your text messages and pictures, thinking those wouldn’t be sold!) Conversely, I could cite a positive story about Celine Dion giving up her own hair/makeup person to placate another celebrity who was acting badly – I bet that story’s been retold a million times now, and while I think it WAS a genuine gesture and that Celine probably wanted the diva to shut up and chill out as much as everybody else, when I hear about Celine, I still think of her doing that nice thing to rescue the poor people who were working on that awards show and getting screamed at.
*nodnod* Oh, trust me, I agree about Shatner. He can be a really nice guy from what I’ve heard, but when he’s an ass, he’s an ass. As you said, everyone can have off days.
I was responding more to the “screaming fans write the paychecks.” I work retail. I see this attitude a LOT. Without customers or fans, yes, a person might not have their job. But that’s plural for a reason. Getting rid of the sucky or obsessed ones won’t impact that paycheck as much as some people like to think.
As we say on customerssuck, workers (and artists) get paid the same amount whether or not we have to deal with an idiot. Not dealing with them just makes our day easier!
Well, I wasn’t talking about stalker fans. I was talking about normal fans, and you know what, If you’re a famous guy or gal, and one of your fans asks you in a polite manner for an autograph…..I think it’s owed.
Not a fan of feral horses on public land. That land should belong to native wildlife, IMO, and feral horses don’t share.
For that matter….I don’t think cattle or sheep belong there, either.
I moved a lot growing up, so every time I moved I always had to search around to find a good instructor. When I was in high school we moved again and I started trying out lessons with some dressage instructors in the new city. I went through quite a few and just couldn’t find any that I really felt were knowledgable enough about dressage and good at teaching it and explaining it. Somehow, after being there for 3 years and was about to leave for college, I ended up hearing about some lady who’s name I didn’t know at all from searching around in the area. I called her and set up a dressage lesson, and you can imagine my surprise when she came strolling up in wranglers, cowboy boots, pearl snap shirt, and big giant cowboy hat. I was like, aw crap, she thinks she knows dressage…. But you know what? I got more out of that first lesson with her than I had out of all the other trainers I went through in that past 3 years combined. I only had about 2 months to ride with this lady once a week and I learned so much from her. I was so surprised, because every time she came out she was dressed head to toe like a western rider (and she did ride western, but had a long background in dressage also) but she really knew her stuff, knew how to explain to me what I was feeling for, knew how to talk me through it, knew what worked well with my horse, etc. It was really refreshing to work with someone so down to earth who was so knowledgable and helpful and not the stereotypical snotty dressage queen!
How true it is, and I take my label with a capital B!
I wasn’t much of a fan of Kid Rock for a lot of years and really didn’t care much at all for his music but yet I saw him really showing appreciation for his roots in Michigan and giving back when he could whether it was free concerts, sitting in with bar bands to give them a name, etc. Kid Rock showing up around town was a pretty common thing.
Then he started doing duets with other musicians and I began to see his versatility and talent. It’s only gotten better. Still don’t like his old stuff though… But hearing what he’s doing for the horses doesn’t surprise me much. Michigan has been hit so incredibly hard by this down economy that those of us that still have jobs almost feel guilty. I feel that way yet my husband hasn’t worked in a year and a half! We still have our house and are “okay” for now though. The ones with money that can help out are wise to do it – it will pay them back a million times over. Kid Rock is okay.
OT but CONGRATULATIONS CATHY on your column in Horse Illustrated!!!! It was funny, I was reading it & thought, this writing sounds a lot like the FHOTD blog— I looked at the writer, thought hmmmmm Cathy, skipped to the end, and sho’ ‘nuf!!! Congratulations!!! Great article, and great to see you “published”!!
Thanks!
I really enjoyed writing it – as you know, it’s one of my favorite topics.
Very timely too…. my trainer and I have both had our share of students taking their first fall ever (or first fall in years) lately and will need to work with this psychology….
OMG Check out these stallions: http://www.carterarabians.com/
******SCREEEEEEAAAAAMMMM*****
I take that as a scream of horror?
yes, horror, definitely!!! acchhhhh….
I see what you mean!
“Thunder Cloud. Introducing our 2002 homozygous 3/4 Saddlebred and 1/2 Arabian stallion with bloodlines going back to Key Largo, Muscat, Bask, Raffles and Azraff.”
Uhh my math, which could be fuzzy, says that 3/4 plus 1/2 equals 1 1/4. An extra quarter! Now THAT is fascinating. So is that an ideal QUARTER horse?
I use to think people that worked in the animal shelters were cruel and heartless. One summer i decide to help out at our local shelter 3 or 4 times a week cleaning cages walking and shampooing dogs. I soon realized that the woman euthanizing dogs and cats was really a warm and sensitive woman that unfortunatly had to put these unwanted and sick animals down . Dogs and cats got fresh water two times a day , and were fed twice a day . They all had beds, a blanket or towel , and for 99% of them it was a better life then what they had at home. Schlette the manager was tall and seemed a little harsh, one day I asked her if she could use some help behind the “closed “door . She did as we had a bunch of cats that were wild and needed to be euthanized, after it was done I looked up at her , and she teared up… she quickly removed her tears and said “I hate days like these”.
When I was 21, I worked w/ another associate who was prob 20-30 yrs my senior. I found her bossy, nosey & with a reputation for being a witch. A very “to the letter” kind of person, she wasn’t at work to have fun & play around (like I was at that age!) so we clashed. Additionally, from the little I knew she was prim & conservative in her personal life (and I’m certain I caught some pretty disapproving glances).
We worked in each others’ vicinity about a year just trying to stay out of each others’ way. One day I heard that she was involved w/ a local greyhound rescue and volunteered almost all of her free time helping animals. I immediately approached her and asked how I could help. We never did get to the point of “doing lunch” or anything, but if we walked by one anothers’ desks, it was always like “Ohhh, come look at my new pics of !” or “We’ll be at petsmart this weekend for adoptions”.
Maybe people with strong personalities are naturally inclined to help those without a voice of their own.
I got this info from Cynthia Royal, who saved Blanco when he was for sale after being “used up” by the trainers who used him for the LOTR films (he was abused).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FWefEkv85Q
Daryl Hannah, Michael Blake, Viggo Mortensen, Sheryl Crow (although she bought her spotted TWH from a sore horse barn, way to put moey back into the system, lady).
http://www.theamericanwildhorse.com
More corrupt gov’t problems. Same stuff we have with the soring industry. If they TRULY are going to send the horses to slaughterhouses, then I definitely have a problem with it.
NASCAR driver Tony Stewart gives a chunk of money to Friends of Ferdinand.
I guess it’s appropriate, a racecar driver helping racehorses!
Money, no money, famous or not, class always shows.
I used to show against this girl who seemed like the BIGGEST snob to me. Her dad was always awesome, always worked the gates at local shows, encouraging each and every scared kid. I never could figure out why his daughter was like that.
Then I grew up and figured out that she wasn’t a snob at all – she was just very very intense, and is now a bigshot QH trainer with top dollar clients. She wasn’t being antisocial, but rather focusing on her CAREER. Heh. Wish I’d been that forward thinking at 14….
Lyle Lovett is a big QH person in TX. He’s trying to get a bill passed for some improvements to the TX shows… not sure what but it’s pretty cool.
Years and years ago when I was young, around 8, I heard horror stories about a trainer on my circuit. Things that made me despise this person whom I had not yet met, things that made me want nothing more than to avoid her like the plague.
A year later, I was dragged out to her barn to meet her, because my parents wanted to take me there for training as we weren’t satisfied with the facility we were at. The first meeting was… interesting. She intimidated me, absolutely terrified me. She verbally told me she was the boss… needless to say, at 9 years old, she wasn’t my idea of the instructor I wanted to be riding under.
I ended up being the youngest rider she had ever taken on. She only took me because she knew the previous owners of my horse, and had seen me ride before. I spent 6 years training and competing under her. She made me the rider I am, and honestly, shaped the person I have become. She turned out to be the most amazing human being. There were days I left the barn crying, there were days when I left the barn bruised, there were days when she pushed me to my limits and beyond them. Every single day I spent with her in the saddle, every day I spent around her, I learned valuable lessons in riding and in life. She became like a second mom to me, and her daughter like a sister. I even recall a time when we stopped at the gas station on the way home, and she gave me some money and asked me to run in and get her a drink.
2 years after I left, she has still been involved in my life. When issues have arisen, she has been there, even though she could have easily written me off and forgotten about me. Despite the “client” relationship so many trainers try and maintain, there is no denying that between me and her, between me and her daughter, between my family and hers, there is a permanent family bond. Something that I never would have even thought was possible before I met her.
Kid Rock is still a talentless scumbag lowlife piece of rotting excrement. I don’t care how many animals he donates money towards…he’s still shit. and nothing ANY so-called “celebrity” does impresses me.
The person who impresses me is the person of limited means…who has very little or no spare money or time available, and yet they still are driven to help animals. Now that is true sacrifice and love. That means something to me. Whatever rich “celebrities” do, means nothing to me.
You people are nitwits and imbeciles…stupid sheep.
Wow, why the hate-on for anybody famous? Did you not make the cut for “American Idol?”
The fact is, a wealthy person with the same desire to help animals can do much more good than a poor person, for more animals. Vets aren’t free, farriers aren’t free, hay’s not free. So I am extremely grateful to those who have money and CHOOSE to use it to help animals and don’t just snort it up their nose or something. And if you love animals, you should be too.
You may, of course, hate his music. I’m a country music listener and am not terribly familiar with his music, but I did like the same song everybody else here referenced. Can’t think of the name, either – it’s the whiskey out of the bottle song!
Ummm…. I’m new to the whole bloggy/social networking thing, is that what you call “flaming”? Or is that “trolling”? …Or am I “trolling”? Oh heck, I don’t know
After college I had the good fortune of being hired as a nanny in Oakland, California (East Bay of San Francisco Bay Area). I befriended another nanny who was the best friend of then first wife of Lars Ulrich, drummer for Metallica. The lead guitarist of the band, Kirk Hammett, loves and had horses on his ranch in the East Bay. What an awakening for me, showing me this band was not just about heavy metal, great hair, and the proverbial drugs, sex, and rock-n-roll! Au contraire. Each member of that band showed a respect and compassion for animal life that I have seen lacking in others who one would expect to be lovers of all things animal. I will never forget the love and respect Kirk showed his horses.
Flaming = Attacking someone else, usually associated with bullying or heated debates.
Troll (old definition) = The Devil’s Advocate in a discussion, bringing up the hated other side to have an actual debate. Extremely creative if flaming did arise, but there to actually participate and add to the topic. Sadly extinct.
Troll (current definition) = Someone who wanders into a discussion to derail it completely, interjects controversial, usually unrelated topics in attempt to do the same, or pretends to be someone else to “defend” themselves if their behavior is that being discussed. Will often use uncreative vulgar language, threats of lawyers, and references to genitalia. The population of this subspecies is sadly exploding, and drastic sterilization measures are the only way to fix the issue. However, the current best defense is to ignore them completely.
-Cyg, who has been online for FAR too long, and misses the good kind of troll. They were FUNNY.
I know I am late to this one – but I know of two Celebs that are horse friendlies and even habitually donate money to local riding groups. I have had the chance to meet one in person (Tobby)
-Tobby Keith
-Morgan Freeman
Morgan rides whenever he gets the chance and helps local riding groups set aside land for riding….
Tobby said stopped by a show that was near one of his venues that I was at, he absolutely loved the horses so I did some asking around with his “crew” that were also touring the barns, they said he frequent donates to rescue organizations and rehab programs. He is also involved with a program that takes inner city “at risk” kids and teaches them how to Rodeo. Although we offered up the brokest kindest soul in the barn he was content to just walk around and watch us ride.