Nine students from Proctor Academy come together as one to comprise Proctor’s Winter Horsemanship program. Of this group, two students hail from Andover and one from New London. The group meets six days a week at Whisper Wind Stable on Flaghole Road in East Andover. Owner of the stable and Head Coach of the team Allison Barry claims, “This activity is not for the faint of heart, as New Hampshire winters are challenging for horses and their riders.”

For Winter Horsemanship, we are rehabilitating a rescue horse and his four-year-old miniature horse companion. We are focusing on all aspects of horse ownership and care. Our other activities include ski joring, trail riding, driving the carriage and the sleigh depending on weather, and fostering a rescue horse from Live and Let Live Farm.

Live and Let Live Farm Rescue is an animal shelter that rescues abused and unwanted animals. They provide either a forever home or a temporary home for each and every one of their animals. Live and Let Live currently holds over 100 rescued animals. Volunteers from all around come together to work with the animals on the farm. The farm allows animals who were never given a chance to now get another chance at loving care.

Proctor’s Winter Horsemanship students have varied abilities and experiences which offer unique and diverse methods of training and riding. The goal of the team is to learn about caring for horses in addition to riding and handling them when the weather permits. Each and every one of the Proctor students have a different view and different ways of handling our horses. By bringing all of our methods together, both the horses and the team members learn more about each other.

This winter, the team has banded together in order to bring our rescue horse Clint into the program. Clint is a ten-year-old draft cross in need of love and guidance. Our goal is to work together as a team to rehabilitate Clint and provide necessary veterinary care, farrier work, and training to enable him to find his forever home.

We picked Clint up from Live and Let Live on January 15. Within just two days, he went from “playing hard to get” to just standing in place and letting each of us halter him up and take him for a walk. As we continue to work with him, it is clear that he remembers his past and is a quick learner. As each day with Clint passes, we start to see the light at the end of the tunnel for him.

As Clint continues to learn from us, he betters his chances of finding the forever home and loving owner that he has needed and wanted for a long time now. As a team, we like to think that we are making this kind horse’s sad past fade away and his great future become a little more clear.

Clint’s care and expenses are covered by donation. The Winter Horsemanship team worked together to sell 100 Live and Let Live Farm calendars for $15 each, as well as ask around for donations to help cover his expenses. We sent over $600 to Live and Let Live as a donation and to cover the cost of the calendars that we sold.

Any help to care for Clint may be made to the Winter Horsemanship program at Whisper Wind Stable or to Live and Let Live Farm Rescue. Any donations for Clint’s foster care are much appreciated by Clint, the Winter Horsemanship team, and Live and Let Live farm. Donations for Clint’s care and professional training can be sent to Whisperwind Stable, 647 Flaghole Road, Andover 03216 or call 934-2139.