SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
    • Media Partners
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Wednesday, August 17 2016 / Published in Weekly Feature

A Match Made in Pasture

 

The heart-shaped mark on Sassy’s face is a perfect symbol of her true spirit. Photo by Vicki Christensen, The Victory Studio

The heart-shaped mark on Sassy’s face is a perfect symbol of her true spirit.
Photo by Vicki Christensen, The Victory Studio

By Vicki Christensen

Melissa Hedtke wasn’t looking to own another horse. Having grown up with horses and with years of competitive eventing under her belt, she was just settling into her new life with the different kind of freedom that comes with not owning horses. But as fate would have it, that’s when Melissa met Island’s Angel, a Thoroughbred mare who was saved from death’s doorstep.

Penny follows Sassy out to miles of pasture. Photo by Vicki Christensen, The Victory Studio

Penny follows Sassy out to miles of pasture.
Photo by Vicki Christensen, The Victory Studio

A Fateful Symbol
About a year prior to Melissa and Island meeting, fate had intervened for the mare, who was sent to an auction frequented by kill buyers. When Jacqui Avis, co-founder of Drifter’s Hearts of Hope (DHOH), a Colorado horse rescue with members who are passionate about saving horses from slaughter, first saw Island’s Angel she knew she wanted to save the former racehorse. After all, it was strangely fitting that a rescue named “Drifter’s Hearts of Hope” would save a mare who wears a perfectly shaped heart, not on her sleeve, but right in the middle of her forehead like a beacon of optimistic light emanating from her classic black beauty and Thoroughbred lineage.

Jacqui and her team of special-needs kids, whom DHOH empowers to save horses, saved Island and set about bringing her back to health. The mare was in need of serious rehabilitation due to neglect. A year later, Island was healthy and in need of a rider who could handle her sweet but high-strung disposition. So Jacqui recruited Melissa, who volunteers at DHOH, to work with Island to rebuild her trust for human beings. Fate stepped in again, because the moment Melissa saw the mare in the pasture, she knew right then she was destined to adopt her.

Melissa and Island (now appropriately renamed Sassy — short for Sassafras) took some time to get to know one another and ended up being a perfect fit. Melissa enjoys a horse that has some fire and spirit and challenges her to do her best. Sassy’s natural athleticism and sweet eagerness to try new things thrives under the care, love, and training of the experienced horsewoman. And there’s frosting on Sassy’s cake — Melissa’s mother, Helen, is an equine Reiki practitioner who’s doing wonders for Sassy’s energy and helping to heal past injuries.

Hearts of Hope
The story of Melissa and Sassy is just one of dozens of successful rescues and adoptions facilitated by the DHOH group. And the story of the founding of Drifter’s Hearts of Hope is powerful, too.

Drifter, a retired, hard-worked roping horse, was adopted in autumn 2010 from another horse rescue, The Horse Protection League, by Jacqui Avis on behalf of a family who’s devoted to caring for horses requiring extra care and expense. Just by accident one day, via a friend of a friend, special-needs girl Bella met Drifter and they bonded immediately. Soon Bella and her friends, also with special needs, were helping take care of Drifter. The kids started making heart-shaped horse cookies, “Drifter’s Hearts of Hope” they called them, to sell to earn money to donate to horse rescue. As cookie sales grew and Jacqui became more passionate about saving horses, the idea of Drifter’s Hearts of Hope as a true 501(c)(3) charitable organization was born. The DHOH mission statement is truly unique: “Empowering children with special needs to rescue horses one cookie at a time.”

Sassy and Melissa enjoying a ride on a perfect Colorado afternoon. Photo by Vicki Christensen, The Victory Studio

Sassy and Melissa enjoying a ride on a perfect Colorado afternoon.
Photo by Vicki Christensen, The Victory Studio

Though DHOH is a young organization (founded in July 2015), their number of horse and other equine rescues is impressive: more than 116 so far.

The parents of the DHOH kids point out that the kids are accustomed to everybody taking care of them and that being able to care for the horses empowers the kids to give back.

Now Drifter’s Hearts of Hope is proud to be giving back in another way. Along with corporate sponsor Strachan Exploration, Inc., they’re facilitating the Art For Horses 2016 Show & Sale. This extraordinary equine-themed art show will run from September 10 to October 30 at the PACE Center in Parker, Colorado, a beautiful arts and cultural center right in the heart of Colorado horse country.

The goal is to be a valuable opportunity for nationally renowned and emerging artists who are participating, and to earn money for two Colorado horse rescues: Drifter’s Hearts of Hope in Parker and The Horse Protection League in Arvada.

Art For Horses 2016 Show & Sale
Don’t miss this amazing exhibit of equine art. The ticketed Opening Reception of Art For Horses takes place on Thursday, September 15th with dinner and a silent auction. Help welcome and thank the generous artists and have the first opportunity to acquire amazing equine art and benefit horse rescues in the process. This year, Rose Fredrick, longtime curator of the Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale, has curated Art For Horses and has chosen extraordinary art in a wide range of styles, prices and media.

Opening reception tickets may be purchased at www.parkerarts.org. And, visit www.driftersheartsofhope.org and www.thehorsesprotectionleague.org to learn more about them and the horses they’ve helped. More art show information can be seen at www.artforhorses.org.

 

Double D Trailers Info

Share this page:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
Tagged under: dhoh, drifter's hearts of hope, horse rescue, melissa hedtke

What you can read next

Catherine Kwasnik: Luck, Opportunity and a Special Horse
Brittany Stephens — Infinity Farms Animal Sanctuary & Rescue  
Dianne Johnson: From Monkey Business to the Horse Show Business

Download Sidelines Digital now from your favorite app store!

Sidelines Magazine - Apple store   Sidelines Magazine - Google Play store   Sidelines Magazine - Amazon store
Update iOS app. Re-download Google Play and Amazon app.

Follow on Instagram!

sidelines_magazine

Sidelines Magazine
A funny thing happened to Victor Amaya while at a A funny thing happened to Victor Amaya while at a horse show in Europe in 2006. He happened upon coverage of the World Equestrian Games, and lo and behold--his younger brother Max was riding on TV! Victor was impressed and astonished. The brothers grew up riding together in Argentina, but then pursued riding on different continents. They were both busy with their own horses, and this was before text messaging and social media made communication so simple. Flash forward to the present, and the brothers are together again based out of Stonehenge Stables located in New Jersey and Florida. Not only are the Amayas part of their own family business, but as Max said regarding their clients, "We want to treat everyone like they're part of the family." Catch up with the Amaya Family of @stonehengestables at the link in our bio! #family #brothers #worldequestriangames #weg #showjumping #showjumper #horseshow #warmblood #grandprix #florida #familybusiness #sidelinesmagazine
More shots from Sunday's Grand Prix by @isabelkure More shots from Sunday's Grand Prix by @isabelkurek 🤩 Which photo is your favorite? ❤️ Let us know in the comments 🐴 #showjumping #grandprix #equestrian #horselife #warmblood #jump #showjumper #wellington #florida #palmbeach #sidelinesmagazine
Can you imagine running an equestrian program out Can you imagine running an equestrian program out of this amazing facility? 😍 Now available, well-maintained 22-stall twin barns with courtyard on 40 acres on the outskirts of Orlando, just 2.5 hours to Wellington and 90 minutes or less to Ocala. Covered ring with GGT footing, outdoor regulation dressage arena and several large areas perfect for a jumping arena, driving arena or hunt course! 🌴 Then there's the two-bed, two-bath cottage with real fireplace and seven apartments attached to the barns, with room to grow. Contact David Gribbons, 407-267-6276 ☎️ #realestate #ocala #horsefarm #farmforsale #farmlife #equestrian #equestrianfacility #dressage #dressagetraining #horseshow #florida #sidelinesmagazine
Marie Gray’s paintings draw you in and bring you Marie Gray’s paintings draw you in and bring you into a world all her own. A horse enthusiast all her life, Marie combines the use of bright colors with simple backgrounds to capture a moment in time, accentuating her subject’s mood and personality. Pursuing the mastery of mediums such as watercolor, oils and acrylics, Marie continues to advance by incorporating pastels, charcoal and graphite into her skillset, becoming well known for both equestrian and portrait paintings. Read more about @marie_grays_fine_art and view her artwork at the link in our bio! #equineart #arabianhorse #arabian #horselover #portrait #artist #artwork #painting #watercolor #equestrianart #horse #equestrianstyle #equestrainchic #sidelinesmagazine
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • SAS Equine Photography
    CAPTURING THE EQUESTRIAN LIFESTYLE SAS Equine Photography 2512 Q Street Northwest, Washington, DC, 20007 Phone: 202-384-7446 Email: info@sasequinephotography.com

    [Read more]

  • GALE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
    561-248-9939 Derrick@galeconstruction.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Day in the Life of a Working Student: Meet MacKenna Moss
  • Saying Yes to the Vest – How My Quest for Safety Launched A Company
  • Rutledge Farm Sessions: Phillip Dutton 2019

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • From Ponies to Palm Trees, Grand Prix Horses and Grass Fields, We’ve Got it All – #ThePlaceToJump!
  • Traverse City Horse Shows Welcomes Major League Show Jumping Tour
  • Hunter World Get Ready – Split Rock Jumping Tour to Add Hunters in 2021

Category

Recent Posts

  • The Amayas: Forging a Family at Stonehenge Stables 

    By Emily Randolph  In 2006, Victor Amaya was at...
  • Marie Gray’s Bright & Bold Equine Masterpieces 

    By Shya Beth  Marie Gray’s paintings draw you i...
  • Getting a Start in the Hunter-Jumper World

    By Andrew Welles  Coming from an area where the...
  • Successful Teen Juggles Three Rings With Time Management Skills

    Hannah Famulak Palm Beach, Florida Eighth-grade...
  • Tom Foley: Capturing the Luck of the Irish

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Kristie Nichols ...

Copyright © 1987 - 2021 Sidelines Magazine
Privacy Policy · Returns & Refunds Policy · Hosting by Lucian Web Service
· Login

TOP
Get the Sidelines Scoop — your weekly look behind the scenes.Sign me up!