10 Reasons Why Horses and Hope is Not Your Everyday Calendar

The holidays are upon us. Before you know it, January 1, 2014 will be here, and you'll be staring at a new wall calendar for the next 365 days.  

You might think, "A new calendar, just like my old one, right? Kittens last year, Vincent van Gogh the year before, Dilbert the year before, and they are all calendars." 

The Horses and Hope calendar is not your everyday, run-of-the-mill calendar. Here's why:

1) 100% of the calendar proceeds are donated to help horses in need. Gina Keesling and I put this calendar together as volunteers, and we give back every cent of the profit to help our equine community. In 2013 and 2013, this calendar raised over $80,000 in donations and helped over 800 horses through the good work of One Horse at a Time, a 501(c)(3) organization. This calendar fed hungry horses, this calendar gelded hundreds of colts, and this calendar helped horses get emergency medical care.  

2) It's BIG and the paper is THICK. These calendars are 12" square, opening up to a 12" x 24" display. If you think the photos look nice on your computer screen, you'll love how they look in living color. The paper is great for all those notes you make about meetings, birthdays, and farrier appointments. 

3) You get your money's worth. Most calendars give you 12 months and 12 photos. Through the excellent calendar designs of Gina Keesling, you'll see photos of over 100 horses in every Horses and Hope calendar.

4) The photos are special. I'm not saying this because I took them, but because they are photos of some exceptional horses. These horses have stories to tell, and once you know their stories, you'll never forget their faces. People all over the world have bought this calendar, to enjoy the photos and to be a part of our fundraising project.

5) Speaking of stories, we tell the stories of these horses in the calendar. Our calendar models are not the nameless pretty faces in typical store-bought horse calendars. Gina and I interviewed the owners and put together memorabilia and before/after photos to give you an idea of the work and care that goes into a rescue/rehab project.

6) Since you're a horse lover, you'll be happy to know that the calendar contains birthdays of famous horses, interesting trivia about special days in history, unique horse-related holidays, moon phases for your moonlit rides, and Daylight Savings notes so you know what day you will be able to do trail rides after work again.

7) Each month, you'll get your share of equine eye candy. Our calendar celebrates dozens of breeds of horses, and showcases every equine color imaginable, with a rainbow of Appaloosas, pintos, palominos, and so much more.

8) You'll get to know some of the fan favorites, like Jefferson Airplane the donkey, Rosebud the mule, and Tristan the Belgian, and we'll share updates and let you know how they're doing.

9) The calendar is a valuable teaching tool. Teachers use it in their classrooms, and calendar readers can learn about the versatility of the Standardbred, the work that the Retired Racehorse Training Project does, and how a little patience can turn a horse like Chance into a really fun riding horse.

10) The Horses and Hope calendar tells inspirational and positive stories of hope. Some of these horses in the calendars faced uncertain futures and were in bad situations, but they found good homes and excellent care through the efforts of some very dedicated people. Isn't that a great thing to see when you look at your calendar for the next 365 days? 

Horses and Hope 2014 Calendar

With the help of Gina Keesling of HoofPrints, the 2012 and 2013 Horses and Hope calendars featured stories and photos of hundreds of horses. Thanks to the support of horse lovers everywhere, it raised thousands of dollars for One Horse At A Time, helping hundreds of horses in need directly, and untold others indirectly through increased public awareness. Now that we have two calendars' worth of experience to draw upon, the 2014 version promises to be even more exciting, even more creative, and as always, inspirational and positive. 

Have you read the GREAT PRESS we've received recently?

Fran Jurga's writeup for Equisearch/EQUUS (click here)  

Nancy Jaffer's article in the Sunday Star-Ledger (click here) 

 

Please click here to order your calendar- they are printed and ready to go!

- Sarah Andrew

Horses and Hope: Esme's Story

Horses and Hope 2014 calendar preview: August

Every horse has a story, and this is the story of Esme.

Esme is a 10-year-old registered Morgan. This beautiful, well-bred mare was raised on a farm that obviously knew how to produce quality horses; however, things got a little out of hand there and while the horses were well fed, they were not handled. At all. Some situations changed, and part of the herd ended up at a rescue in western Maryland. Finding good homes for trained horses is challenging and for untouched horses, it's nearly impossible. Fortunately, there was someone out there for Esme - Hilltop Farm’s office manager and photographer Erin McCardell also rides and trains, and was more than up to the challenge presented by this fiery mare.

Erin tells of the day she met Esme: “I got her from a rescue as a completely unhandled 6-year-old. When I went out to look at her the first time, they chased her into the ring through a series of gates so I could watch her move. When she took it upon herself to not only show off marvelously, but also to jump the jumps that were in the ring, I decided I definitely wanted her.”

The first couple years with Erin were spent catching up and learning all the things that horses need to know that we often take for granted, like leading, longeing, riding in a trailer, and having manners for the farrier and vet. Once that was mastered, these two never looked back. They’ve gone camping, competed successfully in dressage and Conditioning Distance Rides, and they’re gearing up for longer endurance rides. Erin hopes to have done a 50-miler by the time you're looking at this calendar page in August 2014.

Whenever I meet up with Erin and Esme for a ride or a photo session, I'm so impressed with their progress. With Erin's patient training and guidance, Esme has blossomed into a confident and bold athlete. A mare with this much energy and intelligence could be a real handful for the wrong rider, but she and Erin are a perfect match. And the camera loves her- she's one of the most beautiful horses I've ever met.

 Horses and Hope 2014 Calendar

Esme's story is one of the many featured in the 2014 Horses and Hope calendar. With the help of Gina Keesling of HoofPrints, the 2012 and 2013 Horses and Hope calendars featured stories and photos of hundreds of horses. Thanks to the support of horse lovers everywhere, it raised thousands of dollars for One Horse At A Time, helping hundreds of horses in need directly, and untold others indirectly through increased public awareness. Now that we have two calendars' worth of experience to draw upon, the 2014 version promises to be even more exciting, even more creative, and as always, inspirational and positive.  

 

Please click here to reserve your copy now for November delivery 

And from now until November 18, 2013, "like" the Horses and Hope Calendar page on Facebook, and you're automatically entered in a random drawing to win a FREE 2014 calendar!

- Sarah Andrew

Horses and Hope: The Story of Slim Chance

Horses and Hope 2014 calendar preview: MAY! 

 

Chance is a seven-year-old gelding who ended up at the auction. His breed is unknown, but by the way he flies around the pasture, it’s thought that he’s a Thoroughbred. Melissa Butensky saw his picture online and decided he was the one for her.  After a rocky start, Melissa made a plan: she took Chance back to the beginning of his training, and taught him all the things his previous handlers left out. He’s now a confident and fun mount for Melissa, and the two of them fly together.

 

"Slim Chance. That’s what I thought the odds were that I’d ever have my own horse. As a girl, I tried to convince my parents to keep a horse in our one-car garage and harvest hay from the lawn. That didn’t work, so I rode whenever I could and enjoyed even challenging horses. 

 One morning in May, I was sipping coffee and looking at the Camelot horses on Facebook, hoping to offer a comment or anything that might help. Then I saw him - hip #348, a thin, nameless gray who had trust issues and didn’t like the bit. 

Chance at auction (mis-numbered 344- he was actually Hip 348)

With well-trained horses running through every week, what were his chances of getting out of there safely? Slim at best.

It was at that moment that I lost my mind. No magic fairy was ever going to show up with a gift horse, and looking at pictures was not going to save a life. Life is too short; I just had to make it work. With the support of my wonderful husband and enthusiastic boys, #348 became mine.

 

Ours was not an easy journey. Chance wouldn’t stand still for anything. He would seem quiet when he was actually nervous, and would act nervous when he was just being bossy.

After a year of struggling, I was afraid I’d never be able to ride him, but the sale loomed large and I could not give up on him.

 Expert trainer Jeane DeVries taught me to recognize the difference between scared and obstinate, and gave me the tools and skills I needed to work with him. 

 Today, Chance is a different horse – curious, willing, energetic, funny, & a bit of a nosey rascal. Every milestone we reach together is a thrill to me." - owner Melissa Butensky

Whether Chance races around the pasture at liberty of floats across the arena under saddle with Melissa, it is clear that he is relaxed, settled, and comfortable. With hours of patient work, Melissa unlocked his potential and has helped him to become a lovely riding horse. She had no timeline, no deadline, and no expectations, and Chance rewarded her patience. It is a joy to see the two of them out on the trails or just spending time together at the barn. Every horse should be so lucky to have a human who not only takes a "chance" but also works hard to understand him. - Sarah Andrew

     

 Horses and Hope 2014 Calendar

Chance is one of the many horses featured in my 2014 Horses and Hope calendar. With the help of Gina Keesling of HoofPrints, the 2012 and 2013 Horses and Hope calendars featured stories and photos of hundreds of horses. Thanks to the support of horse lovers everywhere, it raised thousands of dollars for One Horse At A Time, helping hundreds of horses in need directly, and untold others indirectly through increased public awareness. Now that we have two calendars' worth of experience to draw upon, the 2014 version promises to be even more exciting, even more creative, and as always, inspirational and positive.  

Please click here to reserve your copy now for November delivery