SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!

Sidelines MagazineSidelines Magazine

  • LOGIN
  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Subscriptions
    • Flipbook
    • Subscribe Options
    • Order Sidelines Caps
    • Order Individual & Back Issues
  • Podcast
  • Marketplace
    • Business Ads
    • Directories
      • Barns, Farms, Trainers & Clubs
      • Equestrian Services
      • Real Estate
      • Stallions
      • Tack & Feed Stores
    • Classifieds
    • Horse Trailers for Sale
  • Advertise
  • Blogs
    • Show World
    • What’s Happenin’
  • Partners
  • Contacts
    • Contacts
    • Employment
0
Friday, February 24 2012 / Published in Weekly Feature

A Needy Nag Gets a Second Chance as a Therapy Horse

When Oliver, a 13 hand, nine year old paint pony, arrived at WHHOA Horse Rescue (We Help Horses of America) near Aiken, South Carolina, founders Shannon and Jerry Stratton hoped they could help him find a better life. While that’s the mission of a horse rescue, the Stratton’s believed that Oliver was a special pony who didn’t just need a second chance in life; he needed a fairy tale ending to his story.

Shannon contacted Sidelines Magazine and asked if the pony could appear in our Needy Nags column, a monthly photo column for horses and ponies available for adoption.  Shannon knew that although Oliver had seen better days, under his scruffy coat and overgrown hooves was a diamond in the rough just waiting to be a wonderful pony for the right person.

The before picture of Oliver.

As luck would have it, that’s exactly what happened.  Dr. Kathleen Broughan, the founder and executive director of LEAP (Low Country Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy) based out of Charleston, South Carolina, was reading Sidelines when she spotted Oliver’s photo.  “He just caught my eye,” Kathleen said.  “Something about him was very appealing.  Shannon was great and let us take him for a trial. He passed with flying colors.  We changed his name to Bugby, because he’s now living on Bugby Plantation.”

Shannon is thrilled that the Needy Nags column not only worked; but that her sweet little rescue pony has a new lease on life.  “We cleaned him up and dusted him off and gave him a new useful life with a great organization.  LEAP is making a difference for the horses and the people they help.  It’s a win-win!” she said.

LEAP is an Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy program that provides options for children, youth, adults and families whose needs aren’t being met in traditional therapeutic settings.  “Horses are highly sensitive social creatures and they give immediate feedback to patients about their behavior and feelings. Through our program, our clients are getting a second chance, just like Bugby has, and because of that, rescuing Bugby has been extra meaningful to us,” Kathleen said.  “Bugby’s learning his job and settling in and he’s going to have a happy life.”

Kathleen said that thanks to Bugby’s wonderful disposition, he is a natural fit as a therapy horse.  “Almost all of our work is done on the ground and of course we need horses that aren’t aggressive.  Our horses are used in creative activities so people can recognize their own behavior,” she said, adding that she had been looking for a pony to add to their program, and Bugby fit the bill.

Bugby’s story has warmed the hearts of many, and his adoption sheds light on the great job done by so many horse rescue organizations.  “It’s a tough time in our economy and having a rescue organization right now is financially difficult,” Shannon said. While times are tough, Shannon said that experiences like Bugby’s, which includes the sweet pony getting his fairy tale ending, is what keeps her going.  “I founded our organization over 10 years ago and although I’ve been placing horses in forever homes over the past decade, Bugby’s story still makes me smile.  We took a ‘throw away’ pony that the previous owner’s didn’t want, and gave him a second chance at life.”

For more information on WHHOA, or to see other horses available for adoption, visit their website at www.whhoahorses.com or like them on Facebook. To learn more about LEAP, the programs they offer and the work that Bugby is doing, visit their website at www.LEAPinSC.org. Both organizations accept charitable donations, which are tax deductible.

Oliver, now called Bugby, has a new name and a new lease on life thanks to being adopted by LEAP. Photos courtesy of WHHOA

-by Jan Westmark-Allen

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)

What you can read next

Derek Braun: If You Build It, They Will Come
The Propp Sisters: Jumping Forward and Giving Back
Andrew McConnon: Risk and Reward 

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
Jessica West always rode any horse that was availa Jessica West always rode any horse that was available to her throughout her Junior career, so she knew she had an advantage when she decided she wanted to ride on an NCAA team in college. Now a senior at @@auburnu and majoring in psychology, Jessica has enjoyed everything about the equestrian team and is ready to move on to her next adventure. 

Read more about Jessica at the link in our bio!

#ncea #ncaa #equestrian #collegiateequestrian #huntseatequitation #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #collegelife #showjumper #hunterhorse #horseshow #sidelinesmagazine
In the unique and challenging sport of combined dr In the unique and challenging sport of combined driving, Jacob Arnold has proven himself to be a bona fide star. It’s been said that success develops from a recipe based on hard work, perseverance, learning and sacrifice, paired with a love of what one is doing. Since the time he was a boy, Jacob has had the right combination of all of those ingredients, which have culminated in a meteoric rise to stardom.

Beginning his career as a Junior, Jacob earned the coveted @usequestrian Junior Equestrian of the Year award in 2011. Since then, he has taken the combined driving world by storm, competing successfully in four @fei_global World Championships. He also won the USEF Advanced Pair Horse National Championship in 2020 and 2021, among other victories—all before the age of 28, in a sport that has historically been dominated by older drivers. Last September, he placed 12th—the highest of any American driver—at the 2021 FEI Driving World Championship for Pairs in a field of over 100 top-level drivers.

Read more about @jacobarnoldcombineddriving at the link in our bio!

@alex.banks.photography #combineddriving #drivendressage #dressage #driving #carriage #horsedriving #equestrianstyle #equestrianlife #horselover #drivinghorse #carriagehorse #showhorse #sidelinesmagazine
@rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the f @rolex Testimonee Daniel Deusser has claimed the first equestrian Major of 2022, winning the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters. In doing so he also claimed an additional bonus for non-consecutive Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping wins, following his victory at CHIO Aachen last year. The German champion’s outstanding performance riding his trusted partner Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z once again makes him the live contender for the coveted Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

Catch up on all the action and watch the free highlights video on the Sidelines Show World blog (link in bio!)

#showjumping #rolex #grandslam #rolexgrandslam #showjumper #dutch #netherlands #dutchwarmbloods #equestrianlife #hunterhorse #hunterjumper #equestrianstyle #showhorses #showjumpersofinstagram #jumpinghorse #grandprixjumer #grandprixhorse #sidelinesmagazine
Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 ac Dog and Horse friendly 3 bedroom 2 bath on 1.25 acres in Jupiter Farms, Florida.

Jupiter Farms is an equestrian community with a trail system and a sand riding arena at the park. Charming home features vaulted ceilings, custom trim, custom lighting in master bedroom that changes color with a remote. Granite countertops in kitchen and laundry room. New 2022 stackable washer/dryer. Privacy fenced backyard with beautiful tall pines for shade, many palm trees also on property.

Secure fenced  25’ x 25’ pen with wood fencing , for a horse, dogs or a garden.  Wonderful property in desirable Jupiter Farms. 45 minutes to Wellington, 25 minutes to Jupiter Dog Beach. Perfect oasis for dog and horse lovers, close to everything in South Florida. MLS# 10778333, Agents welcome.

$655,000
Contact 561-246-9317
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From Our Classifieds Ads

  • Redfield Show Tack
    “Everything Equestrian” All of the top brands for horse and rider. 732-798-2277 info@redfieldshowtack.com redfieldshowtack.com Redfield Tack Store
    Redfield Show Tack

    [Read more]

  • MIAMI INTERNATIONAL RIDING CLUB
    Celia & Dani Bunge Hunter/Jumper/Equitation Boarding/Lessons/Showing 305-775-9155/305-753-2481 celia.bunge@mirc-horses.com www.mirc-horses.com

    [Read more]

Sidelines Articles by Email

Subscribe to Sidelines Magazine Articles by Email

RSS Sidelines Blogs: What’s Happenin’

  • A Paris Horse Adventure: Saut Hermes 2022
  • Better Business with Malvern Bank: Michael Meller’s Secrets to Success
  • Third Annual Painted Ponies Art Walk takes over Southern Pines, NC!

RSS Sidelines Blogs: Show World

  • Jung Ends as He Began — On Top — at the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™
  • ROLEX TESTIMONEE DANIEL DEUSSER WINS ROLEX GRAND PRIX AT 2022 DUTCH MASTERS
  • STABLE VIEW IN AIKEN POSTPONING ‘A’ RATED $400,000 H/J CHALLENGE SERIES DUE TO RESTRICTIVE MILEAGE RULE

Category

Recent Posts

  • Mindset: Making or Breaking a Comeback

    By Margie Sugarman Someone recently approached ...
  • Blessed Are the Grooms

    By George Williams “Behind every successful man...
  • Caitlin Boyle: From Horse Family to Horse Professional

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller  ...
  • July 2022 – Table of Contents

    Subscribe for just $9.95 or Order Individual Is...
  • Bill Rube: Giving Many a Reason To Smile

    By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Melissa Fuller &...

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!