Success is not to be measured by the postion that you have reached in life,
but the obstacles that you have overcome while trying to succeed
~ ~ ~ VERWOOD
MEADOW ~ ~ ~
~ American Quarter Horses, Paint Horses & Appaloosas ~
nestled in the picturesque Crane Valley of Verwood, on the Dorset/Hampshire border,
south coast of England. Started from just one horse!
MY DREAM from 1986 following a spinal injury,
involves all my family and many friends
whether financially or physically, I'm SO
grateful they are still behind my folly?!
south coast of England. Started from just one horse!
involves all my family and many friends
whether financially or physically, I'm SO
grateful they are still behind my folly?!
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That Dream? To produce horses for paraplegics (or similarly injured people) - who are facing a new life-style in a wheelchair (or other restricted mobility) and who used to enjoy exploring the great outdoors before their accident....
Seated upon a highly trained American Quarter Horse type and using the Western style of riding, less able people have the chance to experience freedom that life in a wheelchair denies them. At the moment we are producing foals with nice minds and superb bodies with the bonus of colour, whether spotted, splashed or dun or palomino, suitable to be ridden in any sphere, by riders of all abilities. If funds allowed, the calmest from each foal crop would be kept for use in our planned project, but for now until we have paid off our horsey loans and saved up enough to secure a larger site, all foals will be sold. We would prefer that any new facility is close enough to a spinal unit for residents of the unit to visit and see for themselves what sort of outdoor activities are within their grasp. Eventually to provide accommodation where they can come for a couple of weeks once out of hospital would be ideal. With the future in mind, I would like to make Verwood Meadow solvent enough so that either of our children can continue with what started as a daydream while in a hospital bed listening to the clip-clop of horses passing by on the bridleway under my window..... |
The Full Story behind the Dream
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I do get asked why I dont go for Lottery (or similar) funding - sadly we cannot apply for any kind of charity hand-out as we cannot get a 21-year lease on the land we are on, but we some how keep managing to support our core of breeding stock, with the sale of foals, sometimes on what feels like a financial shoestring - its a juggling act but horses as a recreational tool have a terrific capacity to soothe away stress, so currently it all balances out and my family haven't reserved me a bed at the local loony bin - - - yet!
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