Colgate a well deserved Christmas Surprise that lasts a lifetime 
| A letter from a great volunteer and tireless fundraiser & supporter - Danielle & Family: Dear Sunshine Horses: So.....for all of you that didn't know -Colgate was a Christmas suprise for our daughter Lauren. When I first started at Sunshine last November - i told her that if she shoveled poop and did all the dirty work involved with horse ownership i would consider adopting a horse of our own- but that she needed to learn the work part before riding off in to the sunset. Yeah right -i thought that volunteering would give us our fix and i'd be off the hook. Never in a million years would i have thought saying that to a teenager i would have to follow through.
To my suprise and joy, Lauren joined me every weekend willingly through cold and snow and rain and heat to take care of the horses we love so much at Sunshine. So it was decided that Colgate, who she fell in love with and who melts like butter when he is with her, would be the "one".
We planned the big reveal for Christmas morning and headed to the barn like usual "to help on Christmas day since they didn't have enough people". By the time we got there everyone had all the stalls clean and were eagerly awaiting our arrival. My family had arrived before hand and hidden all together in another stall so as to not give away the surprise. And per the usual, Lauren headed straight to Colgate - completely naive as to what was about to unfold. And then....
She read the sign on the back of Colgate's stall that said "Merry Christmas
Lauren please take good care of me because i'm yours" and she stopped for a minute to reread it and then she turned and buried her head in my shoulder and cried. Everyone else came out from behind the stalls and doors and wished her a Merry Christmas and celebrated with us.
It was a such a magical moment - as she found out her Christmas
surprise. Afterall, this is where it all began and so it was only fitting that
this is where her dream would come true. And even sweeter to share it with our second family we have grown so close to - our Sunshine family we spend weekends with talking about how work and life is going and who's stall is the dirtiest for the day. You can't help but appreciate those that work along side of you - knowing that they are giving up their time and busy lives to care for the horses we all love so much. It's a special bond and they were right there to share in our special moment. |
Artie aka Art Lover - livin' the life! 
| Artie has moved with his beloved Kira to western New York. They have developed a beautiful relationship. His ability to shine + her ability to show created a fantastic connection. We are so happy and miss them both!! |
Twinkle Such a Lucky Horse! | Our own patron-saint of Horses has opened her heart yet again to take in Twinkle. She joins Dawn at her new forever home! What a wonderful lady and home for these beautiful girls as they relax and enjoy their retirement! |
Shaheen Blind and Beautiful 
| Happy, proud, and blind - this 30 year old arabian beauty has found forever wtih Ed and Mary!! Thanks for life Ed and Mary!! |
YoYo Doing Great and Lake View Pastures too! 
| Yoyo is doing great! He continues to be a sweet, loving horse! I have been spending a bunch of time getting the barn in better shape for my new buddy. We put up new walls in the other stall (right next to Rose's and closer to my tack room) but I decided it still wasn't good enough - so I painted the walls a taupe color. But I still thought it was lacking something - so I put up a "Horse hunt scene" border in both YoYo and Rose's stall! Figured they needed something to look at as they eat! YoYo is a character - he loves being out in the pasture with Rose, and one evening he was entertaining himself (and us!) by running around and around with a small feed tub in his mouth! I wish I had a video of him! It was hysterical - he would rear and toss it up and run off, and then drop it and come back and get it and do it all over again. Sometimes he is just like a puppy - I was checking my fence one evening, and Yoyo just kept following me around. I even think he and Rose are best buddies already. Plus, today I was finally able to ride him for the first time since he has been here - and he was just as good as he was when I rode him at your barn. He walked by things that I thought he might shy at - but he ignored them. So I am on Cloud Nine this evening from my little ride! |
| Legend Learning and Enjoying it! 
| Update: 11/2011 Legend’s training is going nicely. So far, we are working daily on basics of cross-tying, standing, brushing, picking up his feet, etc. He is doing wonderful. I have also started bridling and lounging, and he is doing amazing. His all around barn manners have improved a lot, although he does love to nip and chew on everything. He is so much fun. ---------------------------------------- Legend has settled in like a dream. All of the horses are getting along great. He is one of the herd now. His new owner has been doing a lot of little things with him. Had his teeth floated and he was great. The farrier said he has nice feet, He has been working on leading around the ring on a regular basis. We walk, stop, back-up, etc. and sometimes he gets frustrated as he couldn’t get why it was annoying him, Now, he is doing so much better now. He loves the attention so much that he is starting to look forward to the exercises. He doesn’t seem to get upset about change or being without the other horses. He still loves to eat and he is “crazy” about candy canes. His new family wanted us to know how happy they are to have him. It is so nice to have young horse to work with and he has the best disposition. |
Lucy Doing Wonderful 
Trailer? No Thanks I'll Trail Ride Instead :))) 
| Update: Nov 2011: Sometimes horses pick their poisons! Lucy has always been difficult to trailer. She does OK with big, slant load step ups. But smaller two horse ramp trailers make her certain of monsters inside! Despite having a horsey friend pre-loaded and happily munching from a hay net inside, we gave up after an hour of trying to load her to move to a new barn. It just wasn’t going to happen. It was going to be dark in a few hours, so… we improvised. Yep! Tack her up and we’ll ride on over! Lucy has always been a bit of a Nervous Nellie when it comes to trails. But like most Standardbreds, Lucy is trusting and honest and athletic so that makes her willing enough to try new things. (Except for small trailers evidently!) We happened to have her tack in my car and we also had a couple of neon hats that we stretched over our helmets because it also just happened to be two days after Thanksgiving and we could hear gunshots from every direction. Two friends led the way (one of them dressed head to toe in orange) and off we went on down the road about two miles, then cut through fields and woods, crossed two creeks, slopped through deep mud until we arrived at our destination. Lucy was a champ! Another adventure on the ever versatile Standardbred! Included a couple of photos of Lucy from this summer – free lunging in the round pen. ---------------------- Lucy came to Sunshine in January, 2009 as a 4 year old standardbred mare – trained but never raced. A daughter of The Firepan, her trainer/owner had hopes of track success, but Lucy had other plans. Her registered name was Sweet Candy Apple and she was as sweet as her name. One of our volunteers fell in love with Lucy’s sweet disposition and willing nature and saw potential in her as a dressage prospect. Classical dressage training, grass pasture, and TLC has allowed Lucy to blossom. |
| Buddy What a Great Boy he is 
| Happy holidays to all humans and horses from Buddy, Ruth and Tom! Since adopting Buddy in late June, he and I have been hard at work. He is walking and trotting under saddle over multiple poles, raised cavaletti, and low cross rails, including some gymnastic combinations. Sometimes the poles are set at irregular distances, to simulate what we encounter on the trail. His balance around turns is improving, and he does circles and figure-eights in our small indoor arena. (The outdoor ring is much bigger, and less of a challenge.) He canters on the longe, but I have not attempted it under saddle yet. He’s also good about regulating speed, so we can go at a slow jog or a nice working trot. He’d often like to go faster, but he’s compliant with letting me decide! Read more at Success Story of Buddy
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Chelsea Who Would have thunk it 
| Coming to "So Much Fun Stables" in June 2010 with 2 yorkies, a maltese and a cat , we thought life couldn't be better. By the end of the summer more miracles came our way, our family expanded..enter Chelsea and Dunny! We adopted both and they now have their forever home with us their loving parents. Thank you all at Sunshine Horses and "So Much fun Stables" for helping to make our family complete! Sincerely, Gary and Pat at "So Much Fun Stables" with Ronda, Ron and our other extended family of horses. ps... and to top it off, we also adopted a precious kitten named "Tootsie"!!
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Mr. Finn Settled In | Finn has settled in at the farm. He is turned out daily with two three year old geldings who he bosses around all day. At night he has a stall adjacent to a mare that he likes to talk too. She totally ignores him. He is sweet and gentle but has a bit of rascal in him at times. He and I have started a great relationship and work together 3-4 times a week. He seems to enjoy our time together and has quite a sense of humor. I can’t wait until spring when he can enjoy limitless pasture to eat grass and roll and run as a care free guy.  
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Sunny Right Horse, Right Lady, Right Time - Stars aligned :))) 
| Dear Sunshine Horses, When I joined sunshine last May, little did I know that the horse I sponsored my first day would become my new Love in my life. What a miracle! Of course I'm talking about my boy "Sunny". Sunny developed suspensory issues from his racing days. Our vet, Kristin, asked if I wanted to have her co worker vet at Belmont, look at Sunny for she also does holistic healing with horses and suggested she try acupuncture. I said absolutely. She has saw him 3 times and I have him on an herbal protocol. By the time our horses went to their summary sanctuary during NYS Fair weeks he was showing continued improvement and thrived at the farm. He got stronger and such a beautiful performer. Well, when the time came for the horses to return to the fairground, the sanctuary owner said they were adding a 4 stall barn and if I wanted to adopt him, he could stay. What a happy day! So... he's at his forever home! I am with him everyday and we have a wonderful loving relationship together. Sunny is so handsome strutting around the pasture taking care of his girls, Chelsea and Mindy -- and so much fun to watch. I'm so grateful to Kate and all of our Sunshine volunteers in helping me fulfill my new passion - life in horsemanship. Thank you one and all. I'm so happy to be a part of our wonderful organization and will continue all I can to help in years to come. This is the beginning of our Love story. More chapters to come!
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Sid Hunter Pace is all him! | Our Mr. Sid is doing terrific with his new family! His beautiful black velvet coat is only matched by his beautiful moves!
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Skyler Home Sweet Home :)) | Ah yes - our "SkySky" has moved to a great home with lots of room to run! Her strong gallop is beautiful to witness!    
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Jack Doing Great!! | Mr. Jack is doing so well - enjoying lots of attention :)   
  
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Miss Chalice So Happy in New Home 
| Miss Chalice is doing great in her new home and lots to do!!  
  
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May Home At Last | lts a girl!! She is enjoying the care of a new family!   
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| Dusk 2 Incredible Stories 
| From the proud “parent’s” of Dusk……
Our story start’s seven years ago when our youngest son went off to college. He said, “Mom, you and Dad need to find a hobby that you both will enjoy”. Well, that was the best advice we ever have received. That week, I started volunteering at a local horse rescue. It was there that we met our beloved “three boys”. Ben, Tuskers’ and Sunny. Ben , a standardbred, Tuskers a draft/mix , and Sunny a shetland pony. Each had a sad beginning but happy ending... Read more - 2 incredible stories of 1 beautiful horse Success Story - Rescue of Dusk and Dawn.doc Success Story - Dusk's New Life.doc
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Rummy Sometimes Animals do Soothe the Soul  | Our beloved Rummy has found a fantastic home with a great mom with a success story of her own. On June 25, 2005, TSgt Dana and her military working dog (MWD), Rex, were on patrol in Southwest Asia when her vehicle made contact with an improvised explosive device (IED). She sustained serious injuries and was the most severely injured of the other passengers in the vehicle. TSgt Dana asked the Air Force to approve her request for adoption of Rex who also was slightly injured while on patrol with her in Iraq. Read more at http://www.afspaeagle.org/Proud_Warrior/PW_jamie_dana.htm
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Casey With Determination and the Right People - Some Hooves Can be Saved ... 
| In December 2007, Casey (Center City), an eight year old Standardbred gelding, who had been retired from racing in July, was placed with Sunshine Horses. Soon after arriving, volunteers observed he appeared lame and, while picking his hoofs, noticed significant separation of his hoof walls in both front hoofs as well as his right rear hoof. Dr. LaPoint, a veterinarian in the Syracuse area, was contacted by Sunshine's board to evaluate Casey and identify a treatment plan. After Casey's examination, Dr. LaPoint confirmed that Casey had Laminitis with separation of the hoof wall on three hoofs. It was then determined that the best course of action would be to transport Casey to Cornell University's Farrier program for treatment... Read the whole story at Success Story - Casey New Life.doc
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| Morendo Hanover Received 3 Nominations for the Rio Vista Award for Outstanding Animal Rescues | I have been asked to write the story about Morendo Hanover, a six year old brown Standardbred gelding. He is well bred. His sire is Jate Lobell and he is out of an Albatross mare. A lot of hope went into that breeding cross. Morendo did race, but only 14 times. Those 14 races won him over 30,000. So when he raced, he raced with all his heart. Read the whole story at Success Story - Morendo Hanover.doc
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EVERY adoption is a success story! | Visit Recent Adoptions - every adoption is a success story of its own!!! |