HorseSisters Is An All Volunteer 501 (c)(3)
Non-profit Agency Serving Florida Since 1998
Dearest Creator in Heaven
Give me strength to guide my horse.
Make my hands soft and my head clear.
Let my horse understand me and I him.
My heart you have blessed with a special love of these animals.
Let me never lose sight of it.
My soul you have gifted with a deep need for them.
Let that need never lessen.
Always let my breath catch as the sun gleams on an elegant head.
Always may my throat tighten at the sound of a gentle nicker.
Let the scent of fresh hay and new grain be sweet to me.
Let the touch of a warm nose on my hand always bring a smile.
I adore the joy of a warm day on the ranch,
The grace and splendor of a running horse,
The thunder of it's hooves makes my eyes burn and my heart soar.
Let it always be so.
Dearest Creator, grant me patience,
For horses are harnessed wind, and wind can be flighty.
Let me not frighten or harm them.
Instead, show me ways to understand them.
Above all, dear Creator, fill my life with them.
When I pass from this world,
Send my soul to no heaven without them,
For this love you have given me graces my existence,
And I shall cherish it and praise You for it for all time.
Amen
HorseSisters & Associate's Motto
HorseSisters believe the horse is an exceptional partner in assisting everyone in need of enhancing their minds and bodies by giving a sense of independence, movement and mobility and enjoyment.
Please call to visit as our hours are by appointment
only due to special events
What We Do
HorseSisters is many things...
1) An equine sanctuary for abused and neglected horses, with draft horses and "service horses" our specialty - which with natural horsemanship retraining, we give trust and love again to these damaged horses and adopt them to carefully screened homes.
2) Some of these horses show us they can provide therapeutic riding and driving for our disabled children and adult clients, and lessons for able-bodied riders and drivers. Some even delight in helping us provide horse-drawn carriages and wagons for any special event and new for us, in a partnership with Dignity Memorial, horse-drawn caisson funerals.
3) Then there's H.E.A.T. - HorseSisters Equine Assisted Therapy, where we can bring our therapy horses right to your location. We have instructors certified in Western & English with CHA - the Certified Horsemanship Association, and specifically two certified with CHA as IRD's, or Instructors for Riders with Disabilities. We have three Equine Special Olympic coaches, ready to help riders excel in all areas of Therapeutic riding, driving and showing.
Our History
HorseSisters began
as a dream in 1998. With the faith and funds from Parrish
Medical Foundation and the Brevard County School Board, dreams
came true. Clairese, working with horses since 1968, now teaches
families life skills using each of our 16 therapy horses and has
a permanent future with horses and people. Times change, as can
OUR locations, but WE PROMISE TO ALWAYS care for the horses
donated to us, no matter what, and our message stays the same.
We honor everyone...
About Our Staff
As with any horse business, HorseSisters couldn't do A THING
without the hard work of our wonderful group of ALL volunteer
STAFF and students who always pitch in happily to lend a hand.
Come join us!
What Makes Us Unique
HorseSisters
utilizes draft horses and draft crosses, such as our first
rescue,
Nick, our 18.2
hand Clydesdale, Percherons
Thunder and Raven
and 1999 PMU foals donated to HorseSisters by the ARNI
Foundation, Raven &
Raydar and Starbuck, a Haflinger/Paso Fino.
Without our partners, our dear horses, there would be NO PROGRAMS to share with the public.
With love and care, our rescued animals grow to feel safe and provide constant smiles to all who meet them.
Testimonials
"Can't remember your name, but I know your spirit and definitely remember Thunder. Here's something quick you might enjoy, long ago wrote on about horses being like storm clouds thundering. Of course I lost it. Every time I see him, I feel like God is saying GOOD GIRL. It's rough to be crazy."
Anne Wilhelm - Who gave us permission to say she is happy in recovery and a frequent visitor of Thunder's when he pulls his carriage. Anne always brings him peppermint candies and when she misses the carriage, leaves the candy on the hood of our truck.
THUNDER
Thunder rises on the swirling wind
Tell me where and when did this love begin
Lightening and wind and swirling clouds
And a soft voice that is ever so loud
Run herds across the sky
Rolling Thunder; the kids ask why
Wind and rain that slice like ice
Water for earth by God's device
No wait - he is for real
And in my heart he did seal
Jet black draft Percheron
God's symbol of recovery begun.
by Anne Wilhelm (2006)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HorseSisters Is An All Volunteer 501 (c)(3) Non-profit Agency Serving Florida Since 1998
HorseSisters has been rescuing horses in need since 1998 and we specialize in the Draft breeds like Clydesdales, Percherons, Belgians, and Premarin mares and foals, or PMU horses, like Nick, Raydar, Raven and June.
We have also adopted many horses into wonderful homes, some to families with disabled riders. HOWEVER, currently we cannot accept any more horses at this time. In the future, we will ONLY be accepting service horses.
If a donated horse can no longer work in our therapeutic programs, we attempt to adopt them out, for a fair and reasonable donation, into carefully screened homes. We also like helping owners place horses they must sadly give up.
This is the page that has photos of horses currently up for adoption.
In some cases, you are asked to contact the owner directly. If this page is empty of photos, this is a good thing!
WE HAVE A FEW HORSES UP FOR ADOPTION...
MEET SARGON "THE KING"
A GORGEOUS, 1988 MODEL 16.1 HAND THOROUGHBRED WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN TEACHING RIDERS TO POST & SIT THEIR TROT, JUMP AND DO DRESSAGE.
SARGON HAS A GREAT PERSONALITY, LOVES TO WORK AND CAN JUMP AN EASY 3'3. HE LOVES TO GO ON TRAIL RIDES AND LIKES WESTERN CLOTHES TOO!
CALL 321.385.0216 AND ASK CLAIRESE ABOUT SARGON
LOOKING FOR A GAITED HORSE?
WE HAVE A DELIGHTFUL REGISTERED PASO FINO NAMED "DULCE", OR "SWEET" IN SPANISH AND SHE IS CERTAINLY SWEET TO EVERYONE THAT GREETS HER.
DULCE IS 20 YEARS OLD AND SPENT MANY YEARS AS A BROOD MARE SHE RIDES WITHOUT A BIT AND FLOATS IN THE NATURAL PASO GAITS, SHE JUST NEEDS SOMEONE WHO'S HAD A FEW LESSONS ON PASO'S TO PUT SOME MILES ON HER...SHE LOVES TO GO.
AGAIN, PLEASE CALL CLAIRESE AT 321.385.0216 ABOUT DULCE'
AND WHO ELSE CAN YOU SEE AROUND THE COMMON SENSE RANCH?
MEET WHISKERS OUR VERY AGED GOAT!!
Lying in front of a sleepy foal MoJo...
Whiskers, the most gentle goat in the world, came to HorseSisters in 1998 when he was already a five year old "whether" which is a neutered goat. He came with an old rescued Racking Horse mare named Ginger. When Ginger went on to a home near Brooksville in 2000, Whiskers stayed with us. He really thinks he is a horse, and today you will find him lying near the Percheron pasture, in the barn mooching food or scampering on either one or both of his knees due to his advanced age and arthritis, then stop to nosh on some grass. Whiskers used to go even on trail rides with us and he has stowed away in the horse trailer with Thunder on our way to a carriage job more that a few times...and when you see him, give him a little scratch between the horns, he loves that! Don't forget my carrots and apples too...
A FEW OF THE HORSES WE HAVE PLACED
HorseSisters always makes every attempt to retrain our donated, rescued or unwanted horses to go on to become partners in our many therapy programs. Sometimes, no matter what we try, we are unable to put riders astride or train them to cart.
Also, for obvious liability reasons, if we find the horse has a diagnosed, incompatible condition, illness or lameness of any kind, we cannot put that horse in the hands of our clients or volunteers. Often sadly, sometimes their attitude may not pass our stringent equine therapeutic suitability exam, which we rigorously designed to exceed the standards that NARHA,
the North American Riders for the Handicapped Association's, suggests.
We are so fortunate to have the care and treatment of great veterinarians and farriers that embrace all forms of practice and we follow the treatment advice of our wonderful caregivers that use alternative therapies such as massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nosodes and homeopathic pearls, flower essences and gem elixirs. We will try anything the University of Florida's Equine hospital embraces to relieve any pain or stress the horse may have as a result of their lameness or illness.
We then attempt to find retirement homes with families or sanctuaries for these horses where they can become
sweet companions and live out the rest of their lives in the dignity and peace they deserve.
ANSON, KELLY & GRANDPA, 3/20/04
ANSON'S FIRST SPECIAL OLYMPIC EVENT
&
RED THE QUARTER HORSE
NAMESAKE OF "RED'S RANCH" IN TEXAS
RED, sired in 1990, this fine Quarter Horse, a gorgeous sorrel with 4 white socks, a star and snip was lame with navicular disease and donated to us by the Shlusher Family of Mims
- HAS BEEN ADOPTED!!
We thank Stephen & Kelly Schermerhorn and their three sons, Austin, Anson and Robby, for giving Red the fine home he so richly deserves. Anson, learning to overcome Autism, allowed Red to show Anson immediate changes in his behaviors. Anson speaks of his Red all the time now. Not to be leave sons Austin and Robbie out of the joys of their own horses, Kelly and Stephen purchased Charmer, which is Cacica & Raydar's filly and Gracie III, the filly of registered Morgan Gracie. Transferred from Florida to Texas, they went to look for a ranch.
ON NOVEMBER 8, OF 2005, HORSESISTERS DELIVERED RED,
CHARMER AND
GRACIE III TO LIVE OUT THEIR LIVES AT "RED'S RANCH" IN TEXAS.
SADLY, ON MEMORIAL DAY OF 2006, AFTER RECEIVING HER SPRING RABIES VACCINE,
GRACIE III CONTACTED RABIES, MOST LIKELY FROM A SKUNK BITE AND HAD TO BE EUTHANIZED.
REGISTERED MORGAN FILLY GRACIE III, FILLY OF OUR MARE GRACIE, SISTER OF OUR MARE PENNY AND SISTER OF GEORGE
BABY CHARMER, BORN MAY 23, 2004
SIRE: RAYDAR DAM: CACICA
GEORGE, SON OF GRACIE
BEING
TAUGHT TO DRIVE BY RONNIE FORD
"GEORGE", OR " A CHANGE OF HEART" BROTHER OF GRACIE III & PENNY,
AND SON OF OUR GRACIE WAS ADOPTED MARCH 21,2005
BY RONNIE FORD AND TRAINED FOR SHOW
MEET FERN
HERE'S
FERN, A 17.2 HAND REGISTERED GREY PERCHERON,
DONATED BY JOE AND JAE FORD ON HALLOWEEN 2004.
LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT FERN WAS PREGNANT WHEN WE
GOT HER THAT HALLOWEEN. DR. SANDRA MURTON SAID SHE
COULD NOT BE SURE WHEN AND IN 5 WEEKS, HERE CAME
COLT MOJO, SIRED BY A 16 HAND ARABIAN. FERN NOW LIVES
IN MELBOURNE WHERE SHE HAS AN EASY LIFE AS A TRAIL HORSE.
MOJO - A GORGEOUS COLT, MY FAVORITE CROSS
AND HERE IS NOW, ADOPTED BY JULIE
AND OUR SECOND, GORGEOUS ARABIAN PERCHERON CROSS
NISSA, BORN 12/3/2003
SIRE: RAYDAR DAM: GOLD MOON
NISSA WAS ADOPTED BY THE WHOLE HERD WHO TOOK THE TIME ON CHRISTMAS DAY
AND TAUGHT HER TO DRINK FROM A BUCKET AND
THEN SHE WAS ADOPTED BY THE HUKLE GIRLS SOON AFTER SHE WAS ORPHANED 12/25/03.
I JUST SAW NISSA NOT TOO LONG AGO AND SHE WAS WORKING ON HER TROT, MY HOW TIME FLIES...
MYSTIC BORN MAY 14, 2004
MYSTIC WAS BORN ON MAY 14, 2004, THE BIRTHDAY OF R.A.Y. AUSTIN, RON & CLAIRESE'S FIRST SON AND THE ARTIST WHO DESIGNED THE
HORSESISTER'S LOGO
. MYSTIC WAS ADOPTED BY VOLUNTEER JODI BROWN. SIRE: RAYDAR DAM: DENALI
AND THIS IS APOLLO
SECOND FOAL FOR DENALI AND RAYDAR BORN
INTO
INTO THE ARMS OF "AUNTIE SONDRA" MIDNIGHT
SEPTEMBER 9, 2007
Meet Titian, last foal of Raydar and third foal for Denali
with his stripped hooves, white sclera showing in his eyes
an Apperchie? Perchaloosa?
HE HAS A HUNDRED WHITE SPOTS ON HIS BUTT!
AND HE WAS SOLD BEFORE HE WAS BORN TO VOLUNTEER KATIE KOHLER
HERE'S THE GORGEOUS BELGIAN ISABELLE
SHE CAME TO US FROM CHRISTMAS FLORIDA
AND EVERYONE JUST LOVED TO RIDE HER BUT SHE HATED THE HARNESS
AND JOE AND HIS DAUGHTER SUE, EDGEWATER SNOWBIRDS FROM NEW YORK, LOVED HER MOST OF ALL, SO THEY ADOPTED HER AND JULY 27, 2007, HORSESISTERS BROUGHT ISABELLE TO HER NEW HOME IN ITHACA AND TO A NEW HERD OF ONE, 2 YEAR OLD BELGIAN ESTHER
HERE THEY ARE, BELLE IS ON THE RIGHT, ON THEIR FIRST DAY TOGETHER,
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH SUE AND JOE!
AND YES, WE WOULD LOVE TO FRANCHISE HORSESISTERS
2008 IS THE HAPPIEST OF NEW YEARS FOR THIS HORSE AND OWNER
MEET BERT THE CLYDESDALE
BERT CAME TO US IN 2006 AFTER HIS OWNER HAD A SERIOUS LIFE CHANGE. AS USUAL, WE CAN FOSTER
HORSES IN THESE SITUATIONS IF WE HAVE ROOM AND WE TOOK IN BERT & HIS PAL GOLIATH, THE SHIRE.
BERT'S OWNER NEVER STOPPED CARING FOR HIM AND SENDING DONATIONS FOR HIS CARE. BERT CAME TO
US WITH SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA OF HIS RIGHT EYELID. WE HAVE TREATED HIM WITH AMAZON
HERB COMPANY'S GRAVIZON, A GIFT FROM DEALER CLAIRE MOYER -
FOR INFORMATION AND ORDERS, CALL HER AT 352-874-4960
WELL, THINGS HAVE CHANGED FOR BERT'S OWNER AND SHE TOOK HER BOY BACK TO LIVE WITH HER
AND WE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER FOR BOTH OF THEM, BUT WE WILL MISS HIM SO.