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News Journal 12/1/06
A horse saved is a savior
Summerwinds Stables specializes in reclamation projects, equine and otherwiseBy KIM HOEY, Special to The News Journal Read Comments-->
Molly Johnson (right) greets Merlin at Summerwinds Stables in Hartly. Elena DiSilvestro founded Summerwinds in 2001 to help neglected and abused horses. (Buy photo) Special to The News Journal/CHUCK SNYDER 12/01/2006 -->
Summerwinds Stables was founded to rescue horses, but it's saved more than a few people as well.
"I think my life would be a lot different without it," said Ashley Eckeard, 13, of Felton.
Ashley, who won a volunteerism award from Gov. Ruth Ann Minner last year for her work on the farm, started off as a kid with troubles of her own.
Today, she not only helps to care and train the horses but also trains and counsels other children. She said it was being with the horses who needed so much care that made the difference for her and so many others.
"If you're sad or mad, you can go to the horse. It can't despise you or say anything rude to you. It just helps you," she said.
Elena DiSilvestro, 31, who lives on the grounds with her family, founded Summerwinds in 2001 on their 10-acre farm in Hartly.
It all started with George. DiSilvestro met George, a severely neglected horse, while traveling in the country. He was too sick and malnourished to stand on his own in the horse trailer.
DiSilvestro, who had built a large barn for her own horses, knew she couldn't leave George where he was. She bought him and called her husband on the way home.
"It's been a flood ever since," she said.
Once she rehabilitated George, who was adopted and went on to become a champion show horse, people started calling, saying they heard she was running a rescue facility. DiSilvestro, who studied veterinarian medicine in school, quit her day job and opened the stable as a full-time, full-service, nonprofit rescue.
Today, the stable, which can accommodate 10 horses, is always full, and there is a waiting list to get in. As soon as one horse is adopted, another takes its place.
The Summerwinds mission is to care for neglected and abused horses, to find permanent homes for them and to educate the public to promote their humane care.
The idea of involving youth volunteers came from working with Ashley, DiSilvestro's neighbor. After seeing how much Ashley benefited, DiSilvestro knew people and horses could benefit from each other.
She now runs formal programs with troubled children, home school groups and anyone else who is interested. In fact, the stable was certified in 2005 to run a psychotherapy program that pairs children with a horse and a therapist.
"The kids get to see the horses come in who are abused and neglected," DiSilvestro said. "They see the horses heal, and they heal themselves."
Working with so many horses and children doesn't come cheap. Summerwinds always needs donations, volunteers and more land to accommodate more horses.
Next year, it plans to expand to a 200-acre farm near Cecilton, Md., which was granted for lease through the Thoroughbred Charities of America. Although Summerwinds will be able to help more horses, the costs and need for more volunteers will increase as well. But DiSilvestro is sure everything they need will come from somewhere.
"It's a blessing," said DiSilvestro. "I feel like Cinderella."
TO LEARN MORE
For more information, or to find other ways to help, visit www.summerwindsstables.com or call Elena DiSilvestro at 492-8038.
Summerwinds Stables specializes in reclamation projects, equine and otherwiseBy KIM HOEY, Special to The News Journal Read Comments-->
Molly Johnson (right) greets Merlin at Summerwinds Stables in Hartly. Elena DiSilvestro founded Summerwinds in 2001 to help neglected and abused horses. (Buy photo) Special to The News Journal/CHUCK SNYDER 12/01/2006 -->
Summerwinds Stables was founded to rescue horses, but it's saved more than a few people as well.
"I think my life would be a lot different without it," said Ashley Eckeard, 13, of Felton.
Ashley, who won a volunteerism award from Gov. Ruth Ann Minner last year for her work on the farm, started off as a kid with troubles of her own.
Today, she not only helps to care and train the horses but also trains and counsels other children. She said it was being with the horses who needed so much care that made the difference for her and so many others.
"If you're sad or mad, you can go to the horse. It can't despise you or say anything rude to you. It just helps you," she said.
Elena DiSilvestro, 31, who lives on the grounds with her family, founded Summerwinds in 2001 on their 10-acre farm in Hartly.
It all started with George. DiSilvestro met George, a severely neglected horse, while traveling in the country. He was too sick and malnourished to stand on his own in the horse trailer.
DiSilvestro, who had built a large barn for her own horses, knew she couldn't leave George where he was. She bought him and called her husband on the way home.
"It's been a flood ever since," she said.
Once she rehabilitated George, who was adopted and went on to become a champion show horse, people started calling, saying they heard she was running a rescue facility. DiSilvestro, who studied veterinarian medicine in school, quit her day job and opened the stable as a full-time, full-service, nonprofit rescue.
Today, the stable, which can accommodate 10 horses, is always full, and there is a waiting list to get in. As soon as one horse is adopted, another takes its place.
The Summerwinds mission is to care for neglected and abused horses, to find permanent homes for them and to educate the public to promote their humane care.
The idea of involving youth volunteers came from working with Ashley, DiSilvestro's neighbor. After seeing how much Ashley benefited, DiSilvestro knew people and horses could benefit from each other.
She now runs formal programs with troubled children, home school groups and anyone else who is interested. In fact, the stable was certified in 2005 to run a psychotherapy program that pairs children with a horse and a therapist.
"The kids get to see the horses come in who are abused and neglected," DiSilvestro said. "They see the horses heal, and they heal themselves."
Working with so many horses and children doesn't come cheap. Summerwinds always needs donations, volunteers and more land to accommodate more horses.
Next year, it plans to expand to a 200-acre farm near Cecilton, Md., which was granted for lease through the Thoroughbred Charities of America. Although Summerwinds will be able to help more horses, the costs and need for more volunteers will increase as well. But DiSilvestro is sure everything they need will come from somewhere.
"It's a blessing," said DiSilvestro. "I feel like Cinderella."
TO LEARN MORE
For more information, or to find other ways to help, visit www.summerwindsstables.com or call Elena DiSilvestro at 492-8038.
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