Calendar of Events
Meet the Staff
Wish List
Current Newsletter
Program Brochure
Volunteer Brochure
Annual Report
Disability Resources
Board of Directors

STAR uses horses as a therapeutic modality for handicapped persons. These wonderful animals are instrumental in the success of the clients, often bringing about many unanticipated improvements. All of our horses are special and help the riders in many ways, but there is one that stands out from the herd. Bucky is a small pony who has proven that "the outside of a horse is good for the inside of man". We are proud to have him nominated to the Tennessee Animal Hall of Fame. His story is as follows.

Lynn Petr received a call one evening from our farrier, Ed Meador. After much hesitation, he prefaced his request with, "Now I don't recommend horses to anyone and Lord knows I don't recommend ponies, but a client has one that's just too good to kill". With further explanation it seemed a lady was selling all her horses and had one pony left. He was turned out on 80 acres of grass by himself, so of course he foundered. Instead of taking the time necessary for his recovery, this lady was sending the pony to the killers. Ed had known the pony for a few years and realized he had special qualities not always found in ponies - manners and no vices. He was hoping STAR would save him. You have to realize in this business, Lynn receives calls all the time from people trying to give us horses. Many of these give-a-way horses are old, lame or full of vices, so she has to be very critical and emotionally detached. Her normal procedure is to screen the animals in person before bringing them to the farm for more in-depth testing. We didn't have this kind of time. There wouldn't be a place to send him if he failed our screening and Ed couldn't even remember how big this pony was (or he conveniently forgot!) But, against all her normal policies, for some reason she agreed to take the pony if Ed would care for his feet.

Bucky arrived a few days later. Out of the trailer hobbled a shaggy, TINY pony. Lynn's first thought was, "Oh geez, here's a useless with a capital "U"! How are we ever going to use this guy? Her second thought was, "Isn't he just darling?! He was so...so huggable. As the owner was preparing to leave, she walked over to Bucky, put her hands on either side of his halter to pull his velvet muzzle up to her face. Lynn thought it a sweet goodby gesture until she heard the words she spoke, "You better be on your best behavior here or you'll gooff to the meater". Lynn was shocked! After all, it was her fault he foundered in the first place. Asshe drove away Lynn stood holding the lead on her new fuzzy friend, and promised him he wouldhave a home either at STAR or with her. Bucky's life at STAR began.