In a way Peppy was the beginning of the rescue retirement home long before Harmony and Hope came to be. We purchased Peppy in 1997. His knees were what is referred to as blown. His owner would inject his knees so Peppy could not feel the pain, then ride him to climb the hills where he hunted. When I learned his owner had not paid his feed and stall bill and the stable owner was about to send Peppy through the auction, we purchased this very regal Quarter Horse and brought him home.

  

Peppy was born in California May 01, 1986.  We were told Peppy won championships as a CA competition rope horse.  He then came to Arizona to work on a cattle ranch where he too taught the rancher's daughter how to ride; we understand she was so young in the beginning that she'd "climb up" Peppy's leg to reach the saddle. The young girl later competed on other horses winning championships. When Peppy's knees became too bad for ranch work or competition Peppy was sold.

   

Several years have gone by since the last time I rode Peppy but in the  past we covered a lot of casual walking miles together at the old Phoenix ranch. The past five or so years we spent our hours hand walking, I think he enjoyed that just as much as I did. And, how Peppy loved his snacks, I think perhaps his favorite was cantaloupe and of course carrots, apples, oatmeal cookies and actually just about anything I was eating he would try. Peppy could talk and do the best sounds tilting his head to the left, then to the right, opening his mouth wide to make little sounds come out and he knew just how funny he was when he did that.  To say Peppy loved children is a very short description - Peppy deeply loved children, he just enjoyed them - just as much as they loved being with him, our homepage picture shows a young lady gaining her first experience on his back.

 

Peppy had ranch jobs that he did for us as well. Peppy was not gelded until six years of age. While we were breeding, Peppy was the tease horse. A job he took very seriously with great levels of respect and affection to the mares, never taking his "job" beyond his tease status. We never doubted Peppy's judgment on the mare - he was as good, if not at times, better than an ultra-sound reading. And, Peppy's influence on the colt weanlings is legacy - Peppy said no biting and they clearly understood it meant no biting; that schooling carried over to us humans as well. For Peppy there seem to be so many words to describe him, the more I think about it, the word Gentleman seems to be the greatest compliment to give Peppy.
  
A few weeks back we moved Peppy to a newly built large pasture; there he had lots of room and also a new type of shoe on his front hoofs that really helped him. During the night Peppy came out of the pen. When I fed I found I was following his hoof prints on the ground.  Peppy had walked around to each horse's pen, perhaps he knew he was going to leave, that it was his time. Maybe he went around to each horse to say his good byes. When his walk was over he came up by the house and died not too far from the front door. 
 
Peppy had been with me for 12 years.  May first, Peppy would have celebrated his 23rd birthday. A very kind man, Edward Elbrock, who owns a local water systems company in Animas came over to dig Peppy's grave. With respect and compassion Mr. Elbrock wrapped Peppy in all his sleeping blankets and then closed his grave.

 

Thank you Peppy for all the years and wonderful memories.

 

May 01, 1986 - April 07, 2009

IMA Pepsi Lite
Great grandson of Peppy San - Three Bars Sired by Pepsi Lite Chex out of Dam The Ole Spirit

Dancer, along with some 40 dogs was removed by the authorities from a residential backyard in the spring of 2005.  Dancer was adopted from a California dog pound by Heidi for $49.50. By late February 2006, Dancer had gained several hundred pounds and was then able to travel, Heidi contacted Ruth wishing to transfer the young mare to Harmony and Hope. It seemed the young mare never realized she had been poorly cared for, she loved people regardless of what she had been through. Time of neglect caught up with Dancer and in May 2008 Dancer passed away.

 

Run freely black filly, your legs no longer crooked, your heart strong. May your eyes always sparkle as you dance through God's pastures. 

It was an honor and a privilege to have Hermes, a beautiful black stallion with just a few white hairs on his forehead, an unknown champion, spend his last few months at Harmony and Hope.

 

Hermes, born in Kentucky in 1982, a son of Mr. Leader and Ivory Tower, was purchased at the 1983 Keeneland Sale. John Lucian then brought the colt to California where Hermes began his racing career on April 20, 1985, his first out winning a 6 furlongs race by 16 lengths. Hermes raced in California from 1985 to 1989 with 16 starts, of which he won 5. One of those wins came in April 1988, a $100,000 claimer, after being off from January of the prior year. Mr. Lucian passed away in 2005 and after probate closed in 2006 Hermes and his stable mate, Paradis, came to Harmony and Hope. Hermes, a regal beautiful horse, a playful gentle stallion, loved moments he spent with people and those who visited with Hermes walked away in love with him. Mid summer of 2006 Hermes passed away from cancer.

 

Your time came too soon, though only here a few months, you are missed with the pain one feels in the loss of an old friend.