In Memory of

Abir al Saif 

On 5/31/97, a cloud of black hovered over my barn even while the sun shone brightly.  A true friend left my life.  His name, for Arab Registry purposes was “Abir al Saif” translated it meant “Summer Breeze”.  He was the most beautiful half-Arabian gelding I have ever seen; inside and out.  He was of royalty and he expected the treatment that goes along with this station! Actually, “Abe” never considered himself a horse.  He knew he was a part of the family and as intelligent as we were; capable of making good decisions in emergency situations like the time my 12 year-old daughter “decided” to take a short cut to her riding lesson via a three foot wide trail with a section of cliff on one side that went straight up and 50 foot drop on the other side.  A dirt bike was also en route coming from the opposite direction at a high rate of speed.  Abe saw it coming straight toward them with no way out and turned himself and his inexperienced rider around on a dime and made a safe getaway without any human intervention.  That’s the way he was, quick thinking, with you in mind.  He has walked up the deck and right into the kitchen looking for carrots and goodies.  He has helped me take down clothes from the clothesline (not without hoof prints to prove he helped) 

He had an aloofness about him in the pasture as he was the “boss hoss” and he kept a watchful eye over his herdmates.  These were all part of his personality.  Abe took good care of us in every situation.  He taught me how to punch a hole in my fears and how to make myself reach for the brass rings in life.  Thanks to Abe, I now own my own home on six acres of land with trails running from the riding ring to the mountain in the back.  I had to find a place where I could wake and see him out of my kitchen window first thing everyday.  So, I saved every penny after bills and orthopedic shoes for the kids and braces and, now, I am here!  He taught me how to fulfill goals.  Abe knew all about me and loved me anyway.  Whenever I made a fool of myself he never thought that I did a permanent job of it.  He heard every troubled thought I had and shed light in those dark rooms of my heart and helped me heal.  He knew all my secrets and kept them safe.  Abe knew how to smile, pray, do a karate chop and shake hooves with new barn visitors.  He did the "A" show circuit and competed against the million dollar entries and walked away with the coveted “Blue”.  He was the best trail horse for the novice rider to build confidence in themselves, he was unshaken by those scary monster cows, unpredictable moving leaves, garbage bags, fire hydrants and garbage trucks.   He led the way on trails and was highly insulted if he had to be second or third in line.  He knew how to tell you if you were getting heavy handed on the bit.  He loved jumping and new adventures.  He was the star in the movie “Open Country” albeit a home movie made by teenagers but, he played the role to the nines.  Abe would let me sit next to him as he lay down snoozing and would occasionally, open one eye to be sure all was well with the world.

Abe is lying down now, in his summer sheet, with flowers from my mother’s and grandmother’s garden growing all around.  He’s still my best friend and I sit under the apple tree often, where he is resting, to share my day-to-day joys and troubles with him.  He has taken on a new role today…that of spiritual advisor, as I know he’s in with the “ good guys” wherever he’s playing.  He is the horse that will live with me and mine always and be my confidante urging me and guiding me to go forward onto new adventures. 

A very good friend shared these words with me the day Abe died……

THE LOSSES THAT CAUSE OUR GREATEST SORROW HAVE ALSO BROUGHT US OUR GREATEST JOY.

Our logo was created from an original photograph of "Abe" and his young owner who is also co-founder of this rescue