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Thanks for visiting! Please be sure to
visit our adoptable
horses and other pages (menus are above)
| ARRIVED |
October 2002;
returned April 2009 |
| ADOPTABILITY |
Available; see
below for details |
| SPONSORED BY |
sponsored, thanks
Becky!
|
| BREED/AGE |
17-year old
Belgian mare (1993 model) |
 
Memphis
 
fun video -- bareback and bridleless with her favorite
human....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIsPZlrK4bQ
__._,_.___
(click to enlarge small
pictures)
Summary: Memphis Belle arrived in 2002 when AnnMarie watched 3 Amish
men drag Memphis into the sale arena, and she immediately drug the 3 of
them right back out the other gate. She was badly lame, with what
looked like tendon damage in her left hind and a hoof that was inches
longer than the others. Trust of humans? OUT of the question! AnnMarie
outbid the killer buyer and brought the small Belgian mare home. Over
the next year, Mike gentled her and trained her to ride. Eventually,
Memphis would teach Tory to ride as well, including her very first
horse show! In fall 03, Memphis was adopted out to a great family in
Texas, where memphis went on to compete in lower levels of dressage,
competitive trail riding, and endurance and did GREAT! Memphis gave
birth to a magnificent little colt, Tory, who is doing
wonderfully.
Mike and Tory both continued
to miss their first success story, and were pleased when Memphis
returned to CWER for approximately 2 years. However, Memphis had come
to love her life as a dressage/endurance mount, and wasn't interested
in returning to her work as an ambassador and giving pony rides and
other light duty work. She wanted a job! So she returned to her family
in Texas. Sadly, in April 2009, Memphis' family was not able to keep
her after all and she has returned to CWER.
Memphis is an energetic,
eager mount who likes to be moving forward at all times. She requires a
confident intermediate rider who will enjoy and build on the incredible
power she shows. Memphis would be ideal returning to endurance or
similar, hard core trail riding of any type, or returning to dressage
or hunter under saddle work.
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Skills/Training
"Report Card"
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Overall
Health:
A
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- Memphis is at an ideal age,
with more than half her life likely ahead of her as a happily working
partner.
- Memphis is well balanced,
powerful, with a strong "motor" aka hind end, and well defined natural
muscling even when she has been out of work for some time.
- Memphis is broad chested and
strong, with iron rails for legs!
- She has no known health
problems and is an exceptionally easy keeper.
- Her hooves are in very good
shape, and she has been barefoot most if not all of her life.
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Ground
Manners:
A
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- Leads easily, never rushes.
Is very careful and deliberate with people, especially those who are
timid.
- Stands, relaxed, when asked.
Not at ALL spooky.
- Laid back, very easy to
manage. Has a soft, easy way of going on the ground that is a neat
contrast to the power she shows under saddle. When competing in
endurance, she would stop at the vet checks and immediately relax,
almost dozing, thus bringing her heart rate down far faster than most
of the 'hot' horses and ready to move on again at a moment's notice.
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Basic
Riding Skills:
A-
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- Memphis is a pure joy to
ride. Because she is currently out of shape, she is heavier on her
forehand than when she was regularly competing in lower level dressage.
- She is the ultimate trail
horse -- ready to go anywhere, any time, and both willing and able to
go all day long. She has hundreds of hours of trail experience, and was
a force to be reckoned with at endurance. She would love to be in that
arena again.
- She is strong, powerful,
high energy and forward. She is not a beginner's horse nor a lesson
horse.
- She has very good balance,
particularly when she is fit.
- She needs to get back to
regular work with an intermediate and above rider who can encourage her
to again use that massive, powerful hind end and lean less on her front
end as she goes.
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Ideal
Career
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Memphis was amazing at both endurance and lower level
dressage. She did not enjoy competitive trail -- the speeds were too
slow for her -- at her full walk she was moving faster than the desired
total pace. However, she would do well in ACTHA types of trail
competitions but definitely would love to get back to endurance. Ideal
for a larger rider who wishes to enjoy this type of competition, or
simply an exceptional trail mount with power to spare. Your other
horses will work hard to keep up, as Memphis' strong walk is fairly
closely paced to the average quarter horse's trot.
Memphis would also enjoy getting back to lower level dressage. When
time permits, we do basic dressage work with her here, and she clearly
knows and understands her basics and is eager to please. |
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Stall
Manners
A+
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- Stalls easily, remains
relaxed, will stay stalled for hours (days?) with no concern whatsoever.
- Waits to be led out when the
door is opened. Patient and deliberate in all she does with humans
while on the ground. Exceptional manners.
- Eats quickly, neatly, polite
and patient when being fed and handled in stall and out.
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Trailering
Skills:
A+
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- Loads herself.
- Has trailered across the country on several
occasions. Is a great calming force to a nervous trailer partner.
- Unloads herself, waiting to be asked, then
backing down and laying her halter in her handler's hand with courtesy.
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Companionship
/ Pasture Manners
A-
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- Excellent with most types of
other horses. Has no patience for geldings who fight with one another
and will typically work to keep them apart and 'put them in their
place'.
- Not aggressive, but
definitely alpha.
- A good calming force for
nervous horses.
- In no hurry to come out at
meal times, waits for others to go. Sometimes need to walk out ot get
her to come in for feeding or other reasons.
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Managability
for Routine and Medical Care
B
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- Farrier: B. Lifts well,
doesn't pull back, sometimes leans.
- Shots: A. No fuss! Stands
relaxed for vaccinations.
- Dental: A. Easily sedated,
remains calm.
- Worming: A. No fuss, doesn't
pull away, doesn't spit it out or drop or wipe it on handlers.
- Grooming: A. Enjoys
grooming, being fussed over.
- Ears -- A+, no
reaction to any handling (never tried to clip)
- Clipping -- NA,
unaware she has ever been exposed.
- Bathing -- B,
patient and mannerly but doesn't particularly enjoy bathing.
- Tying: A. We
believe she has been picket lined overnight. Has tied well for extended
periods of time while in our care.
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| Adoption
Fees |
Generally, we try to set our adoption fees at
half what we feel a similar horse would sell for, but still making sure
we are above $750 to ensure the horse does not end up at a low end
auction or worse, sold to slaughter.
Memphis is an unusual case. AnnMarie bought
Memphis back personally, and spent a total of $4,000 to return her from
Texas. She had planned to keep Memphis permanently as a personal horse
and as a CWER ambassador. When it became clear that Memphis no longer
enjoyed the job as an ambassador, she and Mike made the decision to
find he a working home where she will be happy. As such, while Memphis
will leave on a CWER adoption contract,
she is being sold by the Cross family personally and her price is
$3500, and the Cross family will donate a portion of
that fee back to CWER.
The fee listed is as of 2/1/10, and is subject to change as variables
effect. Please call or email for confirmation of Memphis' price and any other
questions you may have about this or any
of our adoptable horses.
Please visit our adoption qna page for
details on how our contract works, adoption application, and an
explanation of when and how we transfer ownership.
|
Memphis at her first dressage show in
her new home! First,
of course!
History:
Memphis
Belle arrived in October 2002, having drug 3 handlers through the arena
at the
Arthur Sale, where AnnMarie outbid the slaughter buyer to bring the big
red mare
home. Memphis was the most nervous, headshy horse yet to come to
Crosswinds. She
had an old pulling injury in her left hind and was said to be bred to a
purebred
belgian stallion, but no papers for her or the baby were provided.
Over
the next several months, Memphis learned first to trust Mike, and then
the rest
of the family, and reached a very real connection with Tory. At the
time, Tory
had not yet learned to ride, despite a disappointing series of lessons
at a
local barn. But she and Memphis connected wonderfully, and once Mike
and Memphis
were riding together comfortably, Mike and Tory started to ride Memphis
double...EVERYWHERE. To town, to school, on trails, in the ring, the 3
road
together nearly every day. Then, in early spring, one day Tory asked to
ride her
alone. The rest, as they say, is history. The 2nd photo from the right
above
shows Tory and Memphis in their first horse show together.
In
October 2003 we were thrilled to place Memphis in a wonderful home in
Texas as a
trail riding horse "who will go anywhere". Memphis LOVES to trail
ride, was fantastic through numerous 4+ hours orienteering rides, and
will be a
wonderful companion for Lisa in her new home. Congrats Lisa, and
CONGRATS
MEMPHIS!
11/1/03
UPDATE from Memphis's new
mom:
Memphis
is doing wonderful. Saturday we went to our first open show together
and all my
friends and associates just fell in love with her I mentioned where I
got her
from over a dozen times. She did great she won lots of 3rd and 4ths in
classes
of 8-10 horses in all the classes. She seemed to enjoy the show also. I
haven't
gotten to do much trail ridding with her yet but that's next now that
our shows
are done for this year I hope to go for high point next year. :)
I will
hope to get pictures developed some time next week or so. Thanks so
much!
04/04 UPDATE:
an email from Memphis' new mom...
Memphis is doing
awesome we just got home from
two open shows, winning 2nds and 3rds out of 18-20 horses and 1st
against 5
horses, she is coming around as a show horse VERY well, she does
halter,
showmanship @ halter, hunter (flat), hunter hack (jumps 18"-2', nothing
big
:)), and is doing awesome in trail beating world and national
champions. We are
so proud of her people ask me about her all the time. They can't
believe how
awesome she does at showing and such.
08/04 UPDATE:
an email from Memphis' new mom...
Well, we are very excited to tell
you Memphis went to
a show at night Saturday night and truly could not lose. :) Memphis
went in two
halter classes and got two first then went in one walk-trot class to
warm up for
her canter classes and then went into two more classes of Walk-trot
& canter
and won both. She was undefeated last night it was awesome. The
day before
I went trail riding its wonderful having such a versatile horse. MANY
people ask
where she came from and if there are others I am going to start
printing flyers
with your name on it just so I can hand it to them and not have to
explain her
ever time HEHE... If fact a man will probably be contacting you to
watch for a
particular horse for his son. Memphis is one incredible horse. I
am getting
a professional photo of her done soon and will get you copies as soon
as I have
them. Thanks so much, Lisa
| Memphis
is doing great! On July 3rd we went to the Waxachie, TX parade,
She did wonderful. People from all over the Texas area were asking
about her and just the idea of riding a draft horse for pleasure once
again I let them know how awesome she is and about her smooth gaits.
Pictures of the parade are attached the greay Arabian next to her is my
fiance' Brian's horse Onyx Ovation an Arabian from another rescue here
is Texas he was very abused when we got him so many years later he is
now showing and riding also. We can't say enough about Memphis and all
her kindness she is just an amazing horse anything I ask from her she
tries and tried to do. We will start back with showing the 14th of Aug
so we are back at work. Thanks so much! |
 |
P.S. Memphis is
pregnant and due next year, The father is Mi Victor a pure-bred Arabian
we look forward to a Half-arabian foal, should be one heck of a sport
horse foal. To see pictures on him check out:
http://www.geocities.com/lanne2003/mivictor.html.
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October 05
update: Memphis' baby, Victory "tory" is
an amazing young man who is winning every show class he steps into!
This great looking Sporthorse is available for purchase...please go to Gateway Arabians site for
more details! |
| Baby Tory
pics
April 2006
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From the
CWER email list:
Hi everyone, I don't write to the
list very often but I have to share with you.
Do you have a special horse in your
memory? Maybe the first one you trained? Rode? Maybe the first horse
you jumped with? The first horse that you trusted and it trusted you?
Taught your daughter to ride? Maybe it was the first horse you rode at
an event? First horse you won a ribbon with? Do you have a horse in
your memory like that? Life got in the way and you no longer own that
horse? Ever dream of having that horse back?
When people ask me if there is a
horse that holds a special place in my heart the answer is always the
same. Memphis Bell! The list above is all Memphis for me. AnnMarie
somehow pulled it together to not only bring Memphis home but to do it
without me knowing. 1:00 AM this morning Tony and Tracy pulled in our
driveway with our truck and trailer they had borrowed. AnnMarie had got
both Tory and myself up to “come see something cool”. They
had me open the back of the trailer and Tory was in the front. I was
not 100% sure that it was Memphis when I saw her. “Tory, is this
Memphis?” I asked. She was not sure either. AnnMarie said the
name and I was sure. My favorite of all time horses is home. I can not
say thanks strongly enough. But to my loving wife. Thank you with all
my heart. To everyone else, thanks for reading. Mike
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| August 2006
-- SPONSORSHIP |
Katie S and her
family have chosen to become partial sponsors for Memphis Belle. They
are providing $35 per month, which covers most of Memphis' feed
expenses each month. We would still greatly appreciate having an
additional helping sponsor who could assist with memphis' medical bills
or any other needs. For example, Memphis is currently on pain
medication and undergoing chiropractic care, as her left hip is again
bothering her (a remnant of the horrible injury she had when she
arrived.) |
| Fall 2008 |
Memphis' former
adopter contacted us about Memphis returning to Texas. Memphis found
her calling there as a forward trail/endurance/dressage mount, and
didn't settle back into life as a CWER mascot as we'd hoped, so she was
not getting a lot of work and was bored. Meanwhile, Lisa was missing
her big strong Belgian terribly. So we agreed to return her to Lisa and
Texas, and she is settled back home with her son Tory and doing great!
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| April 2009 |
Sadly, life has gotten in the way yet again for
Memphis. Her Texas family can no longer keep her, and so she has
returned to CWER. |
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