It's 1968. It's the Olympics, individual show jumping class. U.S. rider Bill Steinkraus and Snowbound take the gold. British equestrienne Marion Coakes and Stroller take silver, jumping one of only two clear rounds over a course that was described as the biggest course in show jumping history.
Marion Coakes is about 21 years of age. Stroller is about 18 years old. And, at 14.1 hands, he is a pony.
Stroller was born in 1950, a bay Conemara pony / thoroughbred cross. He was owned and ridden by Marion Coakes, who successfully convinced her father not to sell Stroller when she turned 16 and was ready to "graduate" to horses. Coakes and Stroller were formidable competitors, winning 61 international competitions.
At 20, Stroller won the 1970 Hamburg Derby. Coakes said, "When we sailed over the last fence, having completed the only clear round of the day, the crowd of 25,000 went crazy. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life. We had completed the 50th clear round ever achieved on the course — and it was the first by a woman rider.” And by a pony.
Stroller is living proof that it is not the size of your body, but the size of your heart and spirit that make you a champion.
Today, I am looking on the Adena Springs Facebook page (yes, I know Facebook is the devil, but it's so useful... and fun!), staring at a photo of the spectacular Alphabet Soup...
(gratuitous shot of Alphabet Soup, courtesy of Adena Springs)
... when a thought occurs. "I wonder what other horses are in this album?" And I begin to snoop. There are some lovely horses in the Adena Springs Retirement Program ready for adoption, some other photos, and a photo with the following caption: "Met with Saratoga War Horse. Awesome people. Awesome Program!" My interest is piqued.
It's true, I am a Facebook voyeur ~ especially when it comes to horses. Contrary to all the laws of the universe, this voyeurism has led to many untold and beautiful discoveries. And so of course, I "google" Saratoga War Horse.
It proves to be one of the great discoveries.
"Only 1 percent of American men and women have answered their country’s
call to serve and protect in the military, and yet out of the entire
general population in the United States, those who have served account
for 20 percent of all suicides." (Bob Nevin, co-founder, Saratoga War Horse).
The Saratoga War Horse Program teaches veterans
how to work through stress and trauma by connecting with former
racehorses through the process of “Join-Up,” based on the work of horse whisperer Monty Roberts. Best of all, Saratoga War Horse
also gives retired racehorses meaningful second careers, a major issue
confronting the thoroughbred industry. Still in the early stages of development, the Saratoga War Horse could eventually involve literally hundreds of former racehorses.
“We
have world-class horses assisting world-class soldiers,” Nevins said.
“We have the soldiers saving the horses because without them these
horses could fall through the cracks and wind up at the slaughterhouse.
The same thing with the soldiers. If they’re not coming out, getting
the help that they need, they’re falling through the cracks.”
Kudos to the wonderful people at Saratoga War Horse for being the cement that helps seal those cracks!
