Thank you Jojo!

Jojo broke his leg in a pasture accident this weekend. The out pouring of love on facebook for Jojo speaks to the impact a horse can have on the lives of people. Thank you Jojo for what you meant to so many people. 

Jojo (left) with girlfriend Midge

 Lindsey Crowther

I am so heartbroken today, but I am beyond grateful to have been a part of Jojo's life, he was and always will be a huge part of mine. He was my one in a million. I can't say thank you enough to all of those that loved and watched over him after I left, so many of you sent me updates and pictures all the time-each one always lifted my heart. It is so nice to hear all of your happy memories of him too. Thank you.

Cami Glaff
It is with the heaviest heart that I learn of Jojo's passing. You were, by far, one of the kindest, hardest working horses i have ever had the privilege of riding and being around. You were 100% heart and gave everything to every person who worked with you. May the pastures be forever green up there sweet boy; you deserve everything and more.

Photo by Kim Graves

 Kim Graves
 I was lucky enough to have JoJo as my fill in horse my freshman year when my horse got hurt and could not come to school with me. He was the absolute best! So many good memories with him winning blue ribbons and helping a lot of us to qualify for regionals, zones and Nationals! He was the best partner to have for any flat class with his smooth sitting trot. He was also the number one go to for ANRC with Janelle Harcus Jennifer Callahan and Caroline Taylor Jackson . I'll never forget that cute little face.

I'm sure he is up there now with many of the other special horses that we have lost frolicking in rich green pastures.

Jennifer Callahan
Rest in peace sweet JoJo. I feel incredibly blessed to have been a part of your life. Most of my St. Andrews memories and biggest riding accomplishments include you. You were IHSA extroadinair, I qualified for IHSA Zones and Nationals on you. Wore my first shadbelly on you at ANRC and confirmed my love of hunters. I basically compare every horse I sit on to you, and those are big shoes to fill! Hope you're eating peppermints by the handful up there and if anyone tells you to walk faster remind them that "you can't rush perfection"!


Caitlyn Woychik
It was hard to hear that you're no longer here with us. Jojo you were a great horse. I will miss you and I know everyone at St. Andrews Equestrian will too.

Smudge!

Equine Business Management Student, Katie Ballard, chose to write about Smudge for her blog post.

In every barn, no matter what the intention of the owners or the purpose of the horses that dwell within its stalls, there is always that one horse.  The horse that is used to baby-sit the younger ones or the newer ones or the ones that just need a hint of calm. The baby-sitter. In the St. Andrews Hunt Seat barn, that horse is Smudge. This elderly Thoroughbred has been a staple in the SAU barn for some years, first as a lesson horse and then as a companion. Though, it wasn’t always Smudge’s job. Barn managers at SAU did try and find him a home where he could be happy to live out his days. However, like in all good things, this did not come right away. After multiple failed placements, the staff decided that the best place for Smudge to be was in the SAU barns and there he has remained, happy as he could be.

In addition to his current duty as the lesson barn babysitter is to be the perfect stable management horse, which he does very well, Smudge is always there with a kind eye and a willing ear. When new horses arrive, Smudge goes to the isolation area with them, spending making their first two weeks of separation from the herd much easier. Keeping them company and showing them how to do things the right way and providing a calming influence.  

In my personal experience, every barn needs a horse like Smudge is for us at SAU.  Some horses need that extra bit of calm that an old timer like Smudge provides.  I know that when I need to hug a neck or pet a warm velvety nose, Smudge is always there for me to go to. Smudge is a sweet heart and, despite the fact that his lesson and competition days are behind him, he is a very important part of the St. Andrews family and one of my favorite horses.

All pictures were taken by Jordan Belanger and used with permission.

 



Smudge enjoying the sunshine



Smudge with Jordan his Stable Management Lab student Fall 2014



Smudge on Final Horse Presentation Day

Straight From the Horse's Mouths

Here is the St. Andrews University Equestrian Center 2014 Newsletter sent out to all students recently.

Spring Break is Over!

Spring break is over and we are ready to take on the remainder of the semester. This Friday we have IHSA Hunter Seat Regionals at home. Thursday Carla and the IHSA Western team leave for Semi-Finals in Kentucky this weekend and Scot Evans will be doing a clinic Saturday and Sunday.


Over break I connected with Kate McAlinn from Sun Chaser Farm in Raleigh and she now has Marcus and Nikitta at her barn for her lesson program. These horses have worked hard for us and will now be great teachers for the kids that ride with Kate. We are still looking to place some of our horses who have served us so well, but are now ready for an easier life. If you are interested in any of these drop me an email.

Please contact Jackie Dwelle dwellejm@sapc.edu 910-277-5217 for more information and pictures.

Smudge - 1987 FB Grey TB Gelding 16.2h. Used in the St. Andrews and the CCCC lesson programs.

Robbie - Dk Bay gelding 15.3 h. Used in St. Andrews dressage program and therapeutic riding program and summer camp in Brevard, NC. Great at camp, loves small children and TH, not sure how old this one is.

Ben - 1989 Bay WB/xx Gelding 16.3h. Can be mean in stall but fine on crossties. Must be ridden in a hackamore or halter because he has TMJ. Would make a good trail/weekend horse.

Happy - 1988 Bay Swedish WB Mare 16.2h. Worked in the St. Andrews hunter seat program and been to camp several summers. This special lady deserves an excellent retirement home.

***Several others that cannot be ridden are also available as companions or pasture ornaments!***

Horses Looking for Forever Homes

We are looking for homes for some of our horses. Some are retired, others are still working but are ready for a less hectic schedule and some are just not a good fit for our program but could be very useful in another setting. We are very selective about where our horses go when they leave SAPC and carefully screen anyone that is interested in giving a horse a forever home. If you are interested in learning more please send details of the type of horse you are looking for and the level of care you can provide to Jackie at dwellejm@sapc.edu.

Follow this link to see a listing of the horses.  Horses Looking for Forever Homes

Time for Camp!

May is always a challenge with virtually all the students gone (Amber – thank you for staying!) and all the horses still in residence. This week we started shipping horses out to the various summer camps. Monday Peggy, Dale and I hauled 8 up to Roaring Gap Country Club near to Mt. Airy. Heather and Betsy are spending the summer with the horses running the riding program and staying cool in the Mountains.

Yesterday Carla and Ashley made the first of two trips to Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe, NC. They hauled 12 horses and tomorrow Lindsay and I will take another 12. Katie Lavery is heading up that program. Sarah Rhymer also works for Camp Seafarer so they will be in good hands. Jessica from Camp Keystone in Brevard NC picked up five horses on Monday and another 20 or so will shipping commercially to Camp Rockbrook in Brevard over the weekend. Cara Thompson is running the Rockbrook program as she has done for the past several summers. That should bring the numbers down to a manageable amount for the barn managers during June and July. Next project…pressure washing the barns!

The Horses go to Camp!

The horses are headed to their various camps. Last Saturday 8 made the trip to Roaring Gap country club in the NC mountains close to Mt. Airy. Heather Jackson and Gabby Gubric are up there running the riding program. Heather’s horse and Bilbo were already happily enjoying the beautiful setting when Dale and I dropped off the other horses.

Jessica Rhymer bought Onyx back and picked up three horses for Camp Keystone.

This week we made 2 trips to Camp Seafarer in Arapahoe NC and delivered 24 horses to Sarah Rhymer who is in charge of the equestrian program at that camp. Sarah will be a little busy for a few days until her staff arrives on Monday.

The last group of horses are shipping out commercially to Rockbrook to spend the summer in Brevard with Cara Thompson and Bridget Hutchins and their staff at that camp. That leaves somewhere between 30 and 40 horses at the equestrian center for the summer.

Focus Fund

From a recently circulated email

Focus, a 6 year old Thoroughbred, who was rescued in Indiana three years ago from a failed racing career, was severely injured during a storm May 11th while at a foster farm in Laurinburg, NC. The storm produced straight line winds gusting in excess of 125 miles an hour that ripped the roof off the barn, damaged the house and fencing of the foster, flipped the horse trailer and ripped out trees.

The foster family, thankfully, survived without physical harm, but the same can not be said for Focus, who sustained a large open wound that stretched from his sternum almost to his back leg. It took the veterinarian almost 9 hours to clean and stitch the wound back together. While it is unknown what caused the injury, the possibilities are endless as Focus was found two paddocks over from where he was at the start of the storm.

Focus now has a very long road to recovery ahead of him and he needs your help! His medical bills will continue to mount and any donation towards his care is greatly appreciated. Please help this former racehorse to win the race of his life – that to survive!

Donations for Focus's recovery can be mailed to:

USERL

9660 Falls of Neuse RoadSuite 138 Box 300

Raleigh, NC 27615

Checks should be made to USERL, and noted to be allocated to the "Focus Fund".

A donation link for online donations on our store page will be up soon and posted here when available.

USERL wishes to extend sympathy to the foster family, and others in the area, that were struck by this storm. Many prayers are with the family.

USERL also wishes to thank Dr. Kellam of St. Andrews Presbyterian College for her quick response and wonderful care of Focus!