BELOVED PARTNER'S LEGACY LIVES ON TO HELP OTHER EQUINES

by Linda S. Pavey

Once in a while, someone special comes along and changes your life.  He or she brings a new level of understanding to what you know, teaches you about life with a whole new perspective, and helps you through the most difficult of times.  That friendship and partnership becomes a bonding experience. For one local woman, one special being was a horse.

Brennan, (registered name, J.B.'s Hero), a Thoroughbred gelding, came into the life of Linda Pavey in 1990.  While taking riding lessons at Camargo Stables in Indian Hill (A suburb of Cincinnati), Brennan, already a resident, came up for sale. Linda had already been looking for her own horse to buy, concentrating on gray horses. Brennan did not fit that bill, being dark bay color; nearly black with no white or gray at all!  However, after riding Brennan and testing him out, the purchase was made.  He had won her over!  Over the years, the two went on long trail rides together, jumping fences and creeks, galloping through fields, and enjoying the nature of Indian Hill.  Rarely riding with other horses, Brennan and Linda came to trust and protect one another in every kind of situation; during sudden thunderstorms, rough terrain, riding in traffic, and through Cincinnati Country Day School's softball area, with kids in full practice or games, shouting and cracking the ball.  Through all, the bond deepened and the trust of coming through all types of situations unscathed became element. As with any relationship, trials and tribulations help form a bond that is everlasting, and one that only those in that relationship can truly understand.  This knows not only one specific species, but crosses over to include our special animal friends as well.

The rides together and caring for Brennan helped Linda understand not only life's difficult moments, but also joyous ones, all with a new perspective. This was brought about by escaping the ordinary day-to-day routine of life and taking in the nature of the area. Time and life just seemed to disappear during time spent at the barn and during long rides. Arriving back to the barn feeling rebalanced and refreshed after these long rides, perceptions were changed through new eyes. Patience was taught to Linda by this most masterful teacher and partner, and a new level of understanding was brought to many situations, both around the barn and in life.

In April 2000, Linda established The Brennan Equine Welfare Fund at The Greater Cincinnati Foundation to honor Brennan. Then in 2003, at age 23 and after 12 years of loyal partnership, Brennan tragically passed away. His legacy lives on, however, in this fund to help other equines. Donor advised grants from The Brennan Equine Welfare Fund are used to serve equine rescue shelters across the country which provide dignity to final years of aged, injured, abused, starved and slaughter-bound horses, as well as those used in medical experimentation. This fund supports registered, 501(c)(3) organizations that specialize in retirement and rehabilitation services and offer a peaceful and permanent sanctuary for these beautiful animals. Shelters which offer carefully scrutinized adoption or re-placement services are also supported. Organizations that have been supported by The Brennan Equine Welfare Fund include Ryerss' Farm for Aged Equines, Old Friends, and the newly formed Kentucky Equine Humane Center.

If you would like to honor a special person or equine that has touched your life, or are interested in year-end giving ideas, a charitable donation to The Brennan Equine Welfare Fund would be honored. You can be assured that any gift you make will help provide services for special equines in need for years to come.

LINDA S. PAVEY, FOUNDER

Linda founded Brennan Equine Welfare Fund (BEWF) in 2000 in honor of, and later in memory of her beloved equine companion, Brennan (registered name J.B.'s Hero), an off-the-track Thoroughbred. Linda also serves as Donor Advisor to BEWF.  She fund-raises, maintains the website, is in charge of advertising, and reviews all grant requests. She is a life-long horse woman who currently has 7 horses of her own, mostly rescues and retirees.  Her riding experience includes riding and jumping Hunters, trail and pleasure riding, and non-competitive Dressage.

COLLEEN REED

Colleen is married with two children and resides in Batavia, Ohio. Her love for horses and all animals started at a very early age by taking care of the family pets and rescuing strays.  She grew up in New Jersey and worked at local stables, riding and caring for the horses. Colleen attended Centenary College in NJ, where she studied Equine Management. She later went on to groom competition horses on the A Circuit and manage large show barns.  Today, she and her husband own and operate Dandy Products, manufacturers of protective wall padding and safety flooring for equine facilities.

ERNIE GRAY

A horseman for over 50 years, Ernie Gray has enthusiastically worked for over 43 of those years as a professional farrier, dedicated and devoted to the business of caring about the welfare of all horses. As a farrier caring for high end performance horses, his experience provides a unique and pragmatic view of the many and varied aspects of the equine industry.  The depth of this experience and knowledge are apparent in the lectures and seminars he gives as well as the many articles he has published, including a collaboration with David Gill, renowned British farrier on his book, Farriery: the whole horse concept.  Ernie says, “I have devoted my life to continually studying the horse in order to gain a better understanding of how to care for the whole horse, not just their feet. Part of my job as a farrier is to share my knowledge and experience with others. Ultimately, the horse benefits because the caretaker then has a better understanding of how to relate to and provide proper care for the horse.” Ernie and his wife Stephanie currently reside in Owensville, Ohio where they care for Comet and Doc, two Thoroughbreds that were rescued after retiring from racing.

DAVID S. KRON, DVM

Dr. Kron is an equine veterinarian and a graduate of Ohio State University (1991). Dr. Kron specializes in sport horses and practices in southwest Ohio and Florida.

ANNE THORNBURY

Anne received a degree from Purdue University as a Veterinary Technician in 1976 and has been training and showing  hunters and jumpers at the local through national level for 30 years. She completed her equine rehabilitation therapy course at the University of Tennessee Veterinary School and is a Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner. She and her husband own and operate Equisports & Midwest Equine Rehabilitation and Conditioning (MERC) Center in Goshen, Ohio.

JOHN KROPP, ESQ

John  started out with horses in the hunter/jumper world early on, then to the race track primarily as an exercise boy at the local tracks.  When he came back from law school (72) he again started showing horses until his wife, Terry, got her trainer’s license and he helped her primarily galloping horses. Today, John and his wife compete in three-day events, one of the most demanding forms of the equestrian art, culminating in timed cross country trials involving an array of jumps with names like “elephant trap,” “coffin” and “shark’s teeth”.  John says, “When you do these sorts of things with horses, you’re pushing them beyond their comfort zone. So you have a responsibility to do whatever you can to help them succeed.  You have to connect with them and really care about them.  What they give back to you is amazing.  You could never do enough for them to repay what they will do for you.”

John is an Attorney & Partner at Graydon Head in Cincinnati. He is experienced in securities law, mergers and acquisitions and private equity. John's experience has included contract negotiation, and employment law issues. John is also experienced in Equine law and a Fellow of the American College of Equine Attorneys. Based on the grading and comments of his peers, John is recognized with an AV Rating, the highest rating given to lawyers by Martindale-Hubbell. John is also included in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

MARKETING DIRECTOR: KAREN JANOFF, RN, MBA

Karen is an adult amateur rider and member of the USDF and USEF organizations. Her first love is Eventing but after one too many “unplanned dismounts” she is now focused on dressage, currently competing at 1st level with her Quarter Horse Paint, Jazzy. Karen is an RN, MBA who has worked for 30 years in marketing management with top companies including J&J and most recently, Hill-Rom. She has developed many new products, created and launched multiple successful clinical marketing initiatives, and received numerous patents and awards in her field of medical marketing. Today, Karen is president of her own medical marketing consulting firm, Janoff and Associates, based in Charleston, SC.

TRIBUTE EQUINE NUTRITION PARTNER

Brennan Equine Welfare Fund is proud to be a member of the Tribute Equine Nutrition's Tribute Partners Program. Proofs of purchase from Tribute products earn money for BEWF's grantees: $.25 for each bag proof of purchase and $10 for each ton of bulk feed purchased.

Learn more: http://www.tributehorsefeeds.com/

TRIPLE CROWN NUTRITION PARTNER

Brennan Equine Welfare Fund is proud to be a member of the Triple Crown Partners Program. Proofs of purchase from Triple Crown products earn money for BEWF's grantees.

Learn more: https://www.triplecrownfeed.com/

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Rebecca Hoffman-Beasley: https://www.facebook.com/serendipitousimagingohio/

Amy Latka Photography: http://www.latkaphoto.com/

Cathy Barr Price

Linda S. Pavey