In Honor of My American Warmblood Horse, Glenord’s Rocket Dancer a.k.a. Rocki

My American Warmblood horse - Glenord's Rocket Dancer aka Rocki as a 3-year-old Glenord's Rocket Dancer aka Rocki

This site is dedicated to my registered American Warmblood horse, Glenord’s Rocket Dancer, aka Rocki, who passed away in September 2020. She was my Clydesdale and racing Thoroughbred Appaloosa mare. She was my baby for 26 of her 28 years. Rocki was a Lifetime USDF/USEF member horse. I registered Rocki as an American Warmblood. She …

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Evacuation Plans for Horses During Fire Emergencies

Evacuation Plans For Horses: Steps To Ensure Safety During Fire Emergencies

Horses are incredible animals, but when it comes to fire emergencies, they’re also surprisingly vulnerable. Their size, sensitivity to sudden changes, and dependence on people put them at serious risk. The worst part is that their instincts often backfire—panic takes over, making them hard to control and turning an already dangerous situation into a life-threatening …

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Caramelo the Rooftop Horse: A Story of Survival, Rescue, and Hope in Brazil’s Floods

Caramelo the Rooftop Horse: A Story of Survival, Rescue, and Hope in Brazil’s Floods

In May 2024, massive floods hit Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, leaving entire communities—and countless animals—trapped. Amid the devastation, one story stood out: a caramel-colored horse, later named Caramelo, stranded balancing on a narrow, partially submerged rooftop in Canoas, fighting to survive. How Did a Stranded Horse on a Rooftop Capture a Nation’s Heart? Caramelo, …

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The Horse that Jumped in a Swimming Pool During the 2018 Camp Fire, California

pool fire

Do you know those stories that just grab your heartstrings? This one from the 2018 Camp fire in Paradise, California, shows how amazing horses are in a crisis. Picture this: Jeff Hill was checking on his neighbor’s house after evacuating the wildfire. You won’t believe what he found! In someone’s swimming pool, a horse is …

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Plus-80% Personal Best Hands World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle to Adrienne Lyle and Helix in AGDF 5

Adrienne Lyle & Helix. Photo ©susanjstickle.com In a beautiful display of riding, Adrienne Lyle (USA) pulled off a huge new personal best of 80.325% on Friday, February 7, in the FEI World Cup™ Grand Prix Freestyle, sponsored by The Dutta Corp, on her Paris 2024 Olympic partner, Helix. With it, she booked a starting place …

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All Eyes on Hawke: An Equine Colorado Wildfire Survivor (2024)

A Story of Survival In late July 2024, a wildfire near Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch called the Alexander Mountain Fire in Colorado (July 2024), forced the evacuation of about 90 horses. Among them was Hawke, a seven-year-old horse who suffered severe leg injuries after falling through a trailer floor during the evacuation. He was promptly …

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Courageous Horse Stories of Survival in the California Wildfires

The Courageous Horses of California: Stories of Survival Amidst Wildfires

Wildfires in California are relentless. This is a series of stories about these courageous horses affected by wildfires and how they survived. The state’s breathtaking landscapes are often marred by these natural disasters, which affect people, wildlife, and domestic animals. Among those animals, horses stand out for their courage and resilience when faced with the …

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Horses in Disasters Series – Real-Life Survival Stories

HORSES IN A DISASTER SCENARIO

When the Dust Settles: Real-Life Survival Stories of Horses in Disasters Every horse owner, especially those who keep their horses at home, knows that when disaster strikes—whether it’s a wildfire, flood, economic collapse, or full-blown apocalypse—horses become more than companions. My horse saved me (and I saved him!) after a hurricane while riding through deep …

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Kate Shoemaker Caps Bittersweet Week with Plus-80% Freestyle Victory at AGDF

Week three of the 2025 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington, Florida was a time of extreme highs and lows for para-athlete Kate Shoemaker. She put in three outstanding performances inside the white boards on her nine-year-old Vitalis mare, Vianne — culminating in a plus-80% freestyle victory in the CPEDI3* FEI Para Grand Prix …

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Felicitas Hendricks Tops World Cup Grand Prix to Kick Off AGDF 3

Horses who traveled to Florida for the winter season did not have to acclimate to the weather on Thursday, January 23, as the opening day of week three at the 2025 Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) in Wellington brought unusually low temperatures in the mid-50s and a chilly wind. None of that fazed 23-year-old German …

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LA Fires: Can Saving Wild Horses Help Reduce Loss of Life and Economic Losses?

By: William E. Simpson II The devastating grass and brush fueled wildfires in Los Angeles we are all witnessing may be just a glimpse of the upcoming summer in the western United States, unless we start doing something new and cost-effective. Funding and doing more of what hasn’t worked is a guarantee for failure. And …

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