He is grateful for what most demand and expect.

Henry is an example to us all that no matter how bad we have it or how hard things get don't give up and there is always hope.    He will be greatly missed here by us but will be moving on to make a very special couple happy each and everyday.  It is Henry's turn now.  Finally.

You will never know hunger or abuse ever again, Henry. 

Thanks to "Lordy" for making it all happen.

 

 

Matilda

 

Coming 3 year old Percheron mare

 

Adopted on Feb. 13 2005 by Stephanie, Todd and their 2 children, Sami and Quin of Uxbridge Ontario.

 

 

Matti - Day of arrival at S.A.D. Nov 15 2004

 

 

 

  Matti - Jan. 30 2005 aprox. 2 weeks before adoption

 

 

 

 

 

At the age of  2.5, Matti arrived at S.A.D. scared, spooky, untrusting of people and untrained.  She was not broke to lead and herdbound.   Not being trainers, we knew we had our work cut out for us and even had doubts that we could turn this big girl around.

 

But with time, patience and kindness, she started to slowly progress.   We taught her lead commands and found that the softer we spoke to Matti, the more she would listen and learn.  Being such a quick learner, she started to understand that people no longer would hurt her and they were fun to be around.  To her, these new people in her life were different…. they didn’t hit and yell at her.   They gave her treats, scratches and lots of praise.  This was all new to her, but really nice and she started to relax more and more every day.   In the end, Matti left S.A.D. a confident, happy, brave and very expressive mare.  She will never completely forget her past, but is well on her way to living her life without fear of humans.

 

Matti has such a big heart and it comes out when she is around children the most.   Her new family picked up on this the moment they laid eyes on her and fell in love with her instantly.    Matti knew she found her permanent family as her reaction to them was the very same.  When it came time for them to take her home, she loaded on a 2 horse trailer (the thing she feared the most) like a dream.    They are sure to take care of this big-hearted girl and in years to come, with more time and training hope to have her helping visually and physically challenged children.  This will be Matti’s turn to use that big heart of hers to help others, and we are so happy that she got a second chance, as she is going to make people that need her very happy.

 

Special thanks to Caroline Niclasen and family for saving her from the auction and getting into contact with us to help Matti on her journey.

 

 Congratulations Matti!!  We are so happy for you and your wonderful new family!!

 

* UPDATE!  Pictures of Matti (now Bonnie) with her new, loving family!*

 

 

 

 

Teddy Bear

 

6-7 Month old Belgian weanling colt

 

Adopted on Feb. 14 2005 By Sally and Pat of Erin, Ontario

 

 

 Day of arrival at S.A.D. Feb. 01 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teddy Bear Feb. 11 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Teddy Bear arrived at S.A.D. from the auction caked in dried, hardened manure, depressed, very underweight and very scared of people. 

 

We could not even get near him for the first little while.  But with kindness, time and love, his wonderful personality started to shine through, and as we cleaned him up he started to gain confidence and started to play and jump around just as a little colt should. 

 

Teddy Bear was only here at S.A.D. for a few weeks before he got scooped up by his new, loving family, but that didn’t stop us from getting very attached to him.    He just had a way to hold onto your heart and not let you go.

 

He has found a home where he will get love and attention each and everyday and never know what it feels like to be neglected ever again!

 

 We saw the beauty and potential in this boy the moment we laid eyes on him, while others looked at him like he was not worth the time.   We will not forget the looks we got from the folks at the auction when we were the winning bidders…………..

 

 If they could only see him now!   Way to go, Teddy Bear! 

 

 

 

Keira

 

18 Year Old Clydesdale Mare

Adopted on April 28 2005 by Lynn of Mississauga and Iryna of Glen Williams, Ontario.

 Day of arrival at S.A.D - Feb 03 2005

 

Keira just before adoption...

Keira was sent to auction near death (emaciated, full of lice and severely anaemic).   I got to speak to the person who brought her in and found out that she was a brood mare for him and had been for her whole life.  Also he told us that she was not trained to do anything.  Hmmm….

 

When she went through the ring, the auctioneer pushed her through so fast; we didn’t have a chance to bid.  A dealer (meat or otherwise) won the bidding and we thought for sure she was doomed.  After the bidding, I went to try to talk him into selling her to me.  First he said no, then he said yes, but for 500% more than what he paid….and then he tracked me down after I said my good-byes to her and allowed us to buy her from him for twice as much as she went through for.  We jumped at the opportunity.  We were then laughed at by all the other meat men/dealers that overheard the conversation.  They said “Hope you know you just bought a horse that you will have to call the dead stock for in a week”.   We took her home knowing full well that was a definite possibility, but to us, she was worth the chance.

 

Keira did have a hard go about 5 days after her arrival here, and the meat guys were almost right…..almost.   She fought back and pulled through.  Amazing for a horse her age and condition at the time.  There was something special about this horse.  If we didn’t know it before, we sure knew it then.

 

After this initial set back, Keira steadily improved in so many ways.   We were able to de-louse her, de-wormer her (numerous times), get her teeth floated, blood work done, put her on iron shots and slowly start her on a diet that would help her gain weight.    She started to become friendly and less head shy, her coat started to shine, her digestion greatly improved, and she became a very happy, energetic horse. 

 

When the day came that she met her new family, Keira was so happy!!  We just knew it was right, and Keira made it very clear to us.  They jumped on her back and Keira accepted it like an old school horse!!!  We think she was doing everything in her power to impress them, and she did a great job!! 

 

Keira is going to a home where she will be loved each and every day, spoiled rotten, and all her needs fulfilled without question.   We could not ask for more for her.

 

Thanks Keira, for coming home with us that day and for teaching us that anything is possible if you believe.  You took a piece of us with you, and we will never forget how special you are.  Congratulations on your new life with your wonderful new family!!!!

 

Update

At the age of 18, Keira had become a saddle horse and was living her dreams.  Sadly, Keira passed on, just about a year after she was placed in her new home.  RIP, sweet mare.

 

Millie

 

8-9 month old Clyde cross Filly

Adopted on April 28 2005 by Brigitte of Milton, Ontario.

Day of arrival at S.A.D - March 08 2005

 

Millie just a few weeks before adoption.

 

Millie was sent to auction for reasons we will never know or understand and bought by a dealer (meat or otherwise).  Thankfully, we were notified about her and brought her to S.A.D.  She arrived here very wormy, underweight and full of lice.  On arrival, she was de-loused, de-wormed and given good quality feed for probably the first time in her life.

 

Amazingly, she was friendly and trusting from the start, but in no time at all, this girl’s wonderful personality just kept shining through.  She instantly won the hearts of those that met her!

 

Millie’s loving home came the same day that Keira’s did and just like Keira, she made sure to impress her new family by showing how wonderful and lively she was!  We hadn’t seen her run, jump and play the way she did that day in a while!  Sure enough, Millie’s plan worked, and now she is off to live with Keira in a wonderful place where she will be loved and looked after each and everyday.  Millie’s new mom will see that she reaches her greatest potential, and we are so excited to see her in the years to come.

 

 We will miss you, Millie, but you have to go make other people smile now.  It was a pleasure having you in our lives even if it wasn’t for long.

 

Kylie

(Formerly "Beauty") 13 year old Clydesdale Mare

Adopted on May 18 2005 By Lynn of Mississauga and Iryna of Glen Williams, Ontario.

 

We heard of  Kylie just before she was about to be shipped to the auction.   Her only “crime” was that she was not able to get pregnant; therefore she was of no use to her owner.  Thankfully we heard of her, and purchased her one day before she was to be shipped.  Special thanks goes out to Dara Lambert for her sponsorship, which greatly helped in Kylie’s rescue.

 

Kylie’s stay here was short, as she was adopted right after her assessment period was up, but that did not stop us from really getting attached to her.  She was such a pleasure to have around, always such a good girl, always willing to please. 

 

We miss her a lot, but know that she has gone to a wonderful home where she will be with Keira, given first class care and endless amounts of love and attention.  We wish the 2 of them have a great, long life together and we know they will never be treated badly ever again.

 

Good luck Kylie!!!!  Have fun with Keira and your new family!

 

Sir Lancelot

 4 Year old Clydesdale Gelding

Adopted on June 4 05 by Julie and Mike of Cavan Ont.

 

 

For reasons we will never understand Lance ended up at auction.  

 

He came to us not knowing what praise was and would jump when he was patted, thinking he was being hit.   When humans would touch him, it must have always been a negative experience.  That was all about to change.

 

After just a day of being spoiled and loved here at SAD, his wonderful personality surfaced, and he was convinced that the touch from humans does not have to hurt.  Lance is just another example of a really great draft horse thinking they are “bad” and undeserving of praise.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

 

When Lance met his new family, he was very impressed.    They already had our approval, but the rest was up to him.  His new mom rode him and he was so confident with her on his back.  After the ride, when all the tack was removed, Lance stayed by her side.  Lance let us know.

 

We wish Lance and his new loving family a very happy life together.  He is one amazing horse who deserved the world, and now he has it.  Way to go, Lance!  It was such a pleasure to have you here with us.  Glad we could be a part of your life, even if it was just for a short time.