KIMBERLEE STRAUSS

  Horsemanship from the Heart

    It is a very sad and unfortunate fact that there are a multitude of horses in need of loving homes.  Although I may not be able to change the world, I can have an impact on my corner of it.  To that end, it is a privilege for me to work with a local organization, Birdsall Horse Rescue & Sanctuary, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charity.  Ruby Birdsall, president, is an amazing woman with a passion to save horses, especially from the kill pens at auctions.  Below are two horses I am currently working with that are available for adoption.  If you are interested in either one or in donating to the rescue, please contact Ruby directly at (585) 905-9417.

SHERLOCK

   Sherlock is a 5 year old Morgan cross gelding just shy of 14h.  Very sweet and endearing, he can be spunky at times.  Started under saddle, walk & trot, just beginning canter.  Works leg yields, turns on the forehand, backs, sidepasses, trots ground poles and has started work at shoulder-in.  Has also been taken on trail rides alone and in the company of other horses.  He works excellent in a bitless bridle and does not need shoes.  Ruby outbid a meat buyer at an auction for him and altered the course of this little guy's life.

LIZ

    Liz is a 15 year old 14.1h gaited mare, most likely a Mountain Spotted Horse.  She is a delightfully sweet and gentle girl.  Her former owner did a lot of trail riding with her along with a parade or two and moved on into the show ring with a different horse.  She has been with Ruby for approximately two years.  We started working with her about 6 weeks ago and have successfully trained her to the bitless bridle.  Her gait is very smooth and her canter is like riding a cloud, although we are bringing her back into condition slowly to avoid any injuries. 

While walking along a beach, an elderly gentleman saw someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and throwing it into the ocean.  As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young man, picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into the water.  He came closer still and called out, "Good morning! May I ask what it is that you are doing?"  The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing starfish into the ocean."  The old man smiled, and said, "I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"  To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."  Upon hearing this, the elderly observer commented, "But, young man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"  The young man listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another starfish, threw it back into the ocean past the breaking waves and said, "It made a difference for that one."