Letters from Members

We receive many letters from members, supporters and folks around the nation, and we've created a new webpage to share some of the letters with you. 

 Hi All,
As some of you know,  I own a  black Morgan horse named "Black" named after the" Black Stallion" from the movie of the same name.  I adopted him from The Hooved Animal Rescue & Protection Society (HARPSONLINE.ORG) four years ago after the owner, (a friend of mine) died in a car accident.  HARPS  had temporary custody of him until he was adopted.  I was the adoptee.  Black and I have had our challenges, nothing that he did wrong just circumstances.  I moved him to board him at   Bravehearts Therapeutic Riding Center in Harvard Illinois in March 2008.  Black was accepted into the Bravehearts Therapeutic Riding Program for Special Needs Children and Disabled Veterans in June.  Bravehearts is a Not For Profit  501C3  Charity that was founded to serve people who have physical, emotional and mental disabilities to help rebuild their confidence and self esteem (www.braveheartsriding.org).  Karen Meyers, a news reporter from Channel 7, who happens to be deaf, is a champion of persons with disabilities.  She heard about Bravehearts program for Therapeutic Riding and was interested in the story.  The Bravehearts facility is the only one of its kind in Illinois .  Karen reports on the struggles and triumphs of the disabled.  The Channel 7 news crew was filming at Bravehearts on August 18th and I was able to witness the production in action. My horse, Black, is one of the featured Therapeutic Riding Horses that was being filmed on that day.  A  young disabled veteran (who had served in Baghdad ) and now has severe spinal injuries had his first  horseback riding experience riding my horse!   I was thrilled yet deeply moved as five volunteers assisted and rearranged  this young mans partially paralyzed body into a customized therapy saddle . Black stood solidly still as the young man was safely adjusted  in the saddle. The Channel 7 film crew followed the four  veterans astride the  four different  horses throughout the indoor arena and the outside riding trails.  Each rider was accompanied by one or more Bravehearts volunteers, but the horses did most of the work acclimating and accommodating to the veterans imbalance at times. My heart stopped when the activities director, Sara, directed the group thru the stream!  The segment will be aired  Sunday September 28th at 08:23 AM CST on Channel 7/ABC.  Please set your TEVO, VCR, DVD or  get up early to watch this program.  Karen Meyers weekly show on Sunday mornings features "People with Disabilities" and the program does have closed captioned.
 Both Bravehearts and HARPS are both 501C3 charities always looking for volunteers and tax deductible donations. Please go to their websites if interested. Thank you and I would enjoy your reactions and input to "Blacks" TV debut and the incredible work that he is doing. Thanks Peggy G