4 SIDELINES DECEMBER 2012
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
issue is flled with
wonderful stories.
From horse show
superstars
to
inspiring riders to
the story of equine
veterinarian Dr.
Terry Swanson,
a
Colorado
veterinarian who
draws comparisons
to the famed vet
James Herriot, who
penned the “All
Creatures Great
and Small” series.
If you haven’t
read the James
Herriot books, or
you haven’t read
them in a long time, add them to your holiday wish list. Dr.
Swanson has written a book on lameness, which also might
make a great gift. If you’re still searching for the perfect
present, staff writer Lauren Giannini’s story called “Great
Stocking Stuffers” just might do the trick.
If you don’t have a horse to share the holidays with, then
I encourage you to get involved with an equine rescue
organization or volunteer your time with an equine therapy
program. Nine out of ten doctors say that
being involved with equines helps the heart
– and the one doctor who said it doesn’t
probably wasn’t allowed to take riding
lessons as a child! While I’m kidding about
the doctors, I do believe that horses help the
heart – it’s great to love, and to be loved, by
these wonderful four-legged creatures who
so easily steal our hearts.
I hope your holidays are blessed - and that
the blessing of kissing a soft muzzle and
looking into warm gentle eyes is part of your
celebration. There are plenty of horses and
ponies out there just waiting for someone
to kiss them, so let’s all get busy spreading
some holiday cheer.
Jan Westmark-Allan
Editor
Email me at editor@sidelinesnews.com
Letter From The Editor
This is our holiday issue and I love its festive feel -
from our cover photo to fun holiday cartoons to jolly pictures
of horses, ponies, dogs and children decked out for the
holidays. I think this time of year is a little brighter when
you share it with an equine friend and I am thrilled to once
again have a horse during the holidays! (Read “The Bottom
Line” at the end of this issue to learn more about my new
horse Spirit.)
I will be the frst to admit that I love a horse in reindeer
antlers or a Santa hat and I have spent my fair share of time
since Spirit arrived taking photos of him in holiday attire.
One horse that defnitely looks good in holiday attire is the
gorgeous gray gelding on our cover. His name is Ollie and
his photo, sent in by his owner Wendy Wooley, won the
Sidelines Holiday & Horses contest.
Ollie’s registered name is Hola C Bright and he’s a
Thoroughbred who raced for seven years before retiring.
He was living in Maryland and was free to a good home
when Wendy heard about him. Wendy, who lives in
Traverse City, Michigan, was excited to learn that he was a
Michigan bred horse. “I believed it was a sign that he was
for this Michigan girl,” she said. “I also wrote his breeder in
Michigan and found out he was named after a gentleman,
Mr. Sebright, that grew up in the very house I was living in!”
What a great story! It’s not the only one – this holiday
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