Crosswinds Equine Rescue

Thanks for visiting! Please be sure to visit our adoptable horses and other pages (menus are above)

"Erastus Luke's Laddie" aka LUKE
ARRIVED	returned 12/2010 (originally adopted in 2003)
ADOPTABILITY	ADOPTION IN PROCESS 10/2011!!
SPONSORED BY	feed sponsored through 04/2011, thank you Luanne medical -- needs a sponsor
BREED/AGE	2000-year model registered Clydesdale gelding, 17hh (68.5"), approx 2100 lbs
Luke's sire's photo! Bella Luke.

photos from 2003 -->

photo from 2010: (click to enlarge and see more photos...on FACEBOOK

HISTORY: Erastus Luke's Laddie, "LUKE", arrived in 2003 as a 3-year old registered Clydesdale (photo above is his former-Budweiser-daddy), along with Diego and Hagrid. Luke needed a basic refresher in manners and some fitness work, then rapidly took to riding training. Luke was very easy and trustworthy, without being lazy or boring to ride. Luke was our first CWER ambassador -- giving leadline rides at events, riding in parades, doing training demonstrations and more. Then he was adopted by a very capable, experienced horsewoman, who owned him for 7 years.

In December 2010, Luke's owner contacted us and asked to donate Luke to CWER, as she could no longer keep him for personal reasons. We gladly accepted, and returned Luke to CWER. Luke hasn't ridden in some time, and we will give him a while to get settled into our herd and our routines before we do a riding assessment for this handsome devil.

We anticipate it will be roughly March 2011 before we've made a clear decision whether it will be Luke or Trinity who becomes available to adopt.


	2003 NOTES: Luke has never been mistreated or manhandled in his life. His owners, a kindly older couple, had purchased him at the annual Clydesdale horse auction as a weanling, and 2 years later, when they chose to sell him (a 3 year old Clyde can be intimidating, no matter how gentle!), they took him to another sale, but this time to a low end auction which has numerous draft horses going to slaughter each month. The owners were aware of what was going on around them, and refused to sell Luke to a horse trader known for working with meat buyers, and no saled his auction in the ring. Mike spoke to them afterwards, and they agreed to sell this gentle giant to Crosswinds, for us to complete his saddle training and find him a good home as a riding horse. We put 6 months training work with Luke, and took him on long trail rides, competed in CMO events, rode in a parade and more. Then we adopted him to a terrific home as a trail and arena riding horse with an experienced horsewoman. Luke excelled at his new home.
Fall 2010	Sadly, Luke's adopter has health problems and had to return him to CWER. We gladly accepted ownership of him again, and are honored that she trusted us to care for him.
Fall 2011	It has been a pure joy to have Luke here again. He is an AMAZING ride (see below). He is now in refresher training to do leadline work for the 2011 pet fair where he will again be a 'headliner' for us.

Skills/Training "Report Card"
Overall Health: A+	Luke was a very well cared for youngster -- he was foaled at a major Clyde breeding farm, well raised to weanling; sold at a high end clyde auction to an older couple who took great care of this young man. When life demanded, they sold him to CWER for us to put his life onto a new path. He has never had any health issues whatsoever, has always been current on vaccines/farrier care/dental care, etc.
Ground Manners: A	Luke is a perfect gentleman on the ground. He is polite and easy to manage, and our most beginner of volunteers handle him for meals and other basic care. He may rarely be VERY mildly antcy to go to pasture or join his companions.
Basic Riding Skills: A+	LUKE IS EXCEPTIONAL UNDER SADDLE. Luke has extensive experience doing therapy style leadline work, such as "pony rides" for us at Pet Fair, which he did again 10/8-9/11! Luke has done a significant amount of arena riding work, including basic hunt seat and dressage. He is forward at the walk/trot/canter; he has excellent brakes, stopping on voice command in most situations; he responds to shift in riders weight and seat; he is readily responsive to leg, including easy leg yields and other basic lateral movements; he has done some light jumping but this is not a natural for him and would require additional training; he backs with ease, including pivots while backing; he pivots easily, forehand and haunches, for a rider who properly asks; easily stands to mount/dismount, with or without step. Luke has done HOURS UPON HOURS of trail work with an experienced rider. On the trails, Luke is high energy and forward and ready to GO GO GO. He is NOT a therapy pony in this scenario, and requires a skilled rider to keep his pace at your request. He has ridden steep hills, mud, heavily wooded trails, water crossings including swimming, etc.
Ideal Career	Luke could do SOOO many things.... Luke excels as a therapy-type leadline mount, and has a perfect personality for this job. He could also do special olympics type work where he needs to do w/t/c too. Luke LOVES to trail ride and is high energy on the trails, would love to do competitive trail and even low level endurance or distance riding. Luke is a very capable lower level dressage prospect. Luke is a thinker, and would enjoy thinking jobs like competitive trail, basic gaming, fun shows, mounted shooted, mounted orienteering...the list is almost endless. Luke is NOT repeat NOT a beginner's horse for trail riding and non-arenan work.
Stall manners C-	Luke dislikes being stalled. He wants to be out to pasture when his meal is done, and he is impatient to go. If he believes he is being ignored, he will paw or bang at his door, or otherwise work to get your attention. He does NOT make faces or otherwise fuss at other horses in neighboring stalls; he simply wants to get outside. He DOES groom and tack well in a stall. He would need significant time to adjust to a small stall boarding environment.
Trailering A+	Luke LOVES to go for rides, and loads himself. Travels with ease, unloads himself.
Companion/Pasture Manners A	Luke is a GOOD pasture mate, with mares and geldings alike. He does exceptionally well in an all gelding environment, as that was his life with his former mom. But he also handles a mixed pasture well, usually playing with the other geldings in good manners.
Routine Medical Care A	Farrier Care: Luke is good but not exceptional for the farrier, getting impatient over time with holding his hooves. Deworming: Luke is easy with dewormer, and will even eat it mixed into his feed. Needles: Luke does fine with needles with little to no reaction.
Adoption Terms	Luke is an amazing gelding, and it is a tough decision to again allow him to find a forever home. He holds a lot of training that can teach our volunteers and overall he is a joy to have and to ride. ADOPTION IN PROCESS! 10/20/11: Luke met Paula and the 2 were great together. Luke will be going home to Kansas City MO on 11/1/11!! Please visit our adoption QnA page to understand our adoption process, why ownership transfers to you at approximately 180 days after he goes home, etc.