16 SIDELINES JANUARY 2014
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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From Near Death to a Foxhunting Success
By Dani Moritz
Shannon Sharpe, of Louisville, Kentucky,
is no stranger to rescuing horses. With
several rescues in the barn and several
rehomed, she just can’t help herself when it
comes to taking in horses in need. Looking
at Encore, a now happy, healthy eight-year-
old, it’s hard to believe he was ever in need
of rescuing. But fortunately for Encore,
Shannon came along and turned his dim
future into a great success.
Encore was a PMU (Premarin) foal bred
by Canadian breeders and, needless to say,
the breeders had little interest in Encore’s
life. Luckily for him, Shannon rescued him
and gave him a second chance at life. This
is Encore’s story:
What condition was he in when you
adopted him?
He was four years old by the time I got
him and he had not been handled since he
came to the States as a weanling. He had
an abscessed tooth that was draining out
the back of his jaw and blistering his skin
terribly. He was very thin and overall looked
like a sick horse. We had the vet out and
discovered that his bad tooth was basically
poisoning his body. Within days, he was at
the clinic to undergo surgery to rectify the
situation. Within a month after surgery, he began to gain weight
and shine like a new penny. It was amazing how much he trusted
me considering he had never been handled and even the vet told
me what a good patient he was. I guess he knew he had finally
fallen into the right hands!
How has his personality changed since you rescued him?
The neatest thing about this horse is that his personality is the
same today as it was the day I met him. He is as bossy as he
ever was and as loving as well. The only thing that has changed
is his feeding behavior.
He does not panic
over food anymore.
He has also increased
his confidence in the
pasture with others and
has become quite bossy
in the field. Everyone
just loves this horse,
both
humans
and
horses alike.
What is he up to now?
Currently he is my whip horse for Long Run Hounds in
Simpsonville, Kentucky. At the time I was breaking him I had no
choice but to ride Encore in the hunt field right away to sort of
learn the ropes. I had to fast track him into a whip horse because
my main horse got injured shortly after Encore was green broke.
Needless to say, he has loved every minute of it. He basically
learned to jump in the hunt field and has such natural ability it was
easy for him. He has never made a cross look toward a hound
and is actually super protective of the hounds. Hunting was what
this horse was born to do! It takes a very special horse to be a
whip horse. We are together out on our own being the eyes for
the huntsman where he cannot see, as well as protectors to the
hounds. The horse has to move fast, jump well, be extremely
brave and take good care of themselves as well as you. Not
every horse is cut out for the job. I truly believe this horse and
I formed a bond the day I saved his life ... neither one of us will
ever be the same. I care for and love him and he cares for and
adores me. It’s so awesome. The funny part of the story is that I
rescued three horses that day and Encore was not one of them,
but I just couldn’t get him out of my mind and immediately went
back to get him and one other. I rescued five, kept three and
sold two.
What makes him special to you?
This horse came to me in such poor condition, but his spirit was
not harmed. He was a gem to break and train and literally has
taken to hunting like a fish to water. He has always been a joy and
a pleasure to work with. He is a doll! Not to mention how beautiful
he is! We are both so lucky to have found each other!
Encore showing off is
quirky personality at
Crooked Tree Farm in
Simpsonville, Kentucky.
Photo by Shanon Sharpe
Shannon and Encore at the Woodford Blessing. The gray horse is Caesar, another
horse Shannon rescued when she rescued Encore.
Photo by Haley Barbato
