Crosswinds Equine Rescue

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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, even years later, and in spring '06, when AnnMarie asked Lisa to be sure to let her know if she would ever consider selling memphis, Lisa amazed her by saying not only that CWER was the only place that she would ever let Memphis go again, but that if we were willing to keep her as a permanent, she would sell her back to us, now! AnnMarie personally purchased Memphis (CWER did NOT pay for her), and had friends help to arrange to bring Memphis back to CWER's facility, where she will get to live out the rest of her life as an amazingly loved and adored ambassador to the horse world as a whole of just how amazing a rescued horse can be.

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!

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!

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.

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.
	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
	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
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.)