Darla almost lost her life in July 2006 due to a severe staph infection called MRSA. Darla was bed ridden for 5 months and to this day lives with chronic pain. To face death, one can change their outlook on life. Horses have taken Darla on a path that she never dreamed of walking.
Darla's first horse Dolly, resided at a private thoroughbred training and lay over facility for racehorses. It was here that she found a natural ability which the horses drew out of her. Spending most of her time in the barn or at the side of the pasture, she quietly and carefully observed and learned their language.
Several months after Darla bought Dolly, a large quarter horse arrived at the barn without a name. Day after day she noticed that he kept his head low to the ground in the back corner of his stall. "Charlie" would not turn around and seemed to be locked into a depression. Bringing this to the attention of her family, they worked as a team to get this horse to interact. Darla's husband Fred sought out information about "Charlie" and learned that he had raced for a couple of years and then moved into a career of ponying racehorses for over 10 years. Due to arthritis in his knee, "Charlie" lost his job at the track...and he seemed to know that his career was over. Fred bought "Charlie" and renamed him Moses, who would then help lead Standing In The Gap's first injured racehorse to recovery.
During the spring of 2009, Standing In The Gap relocated to a smaller, peaceful farm named Heiland Hill Training Center. At their new location the horses are exposed to a whole new way of life. It is here where Maverick begins his training and Standing In The Gap takes in their second injured racehorse on July 1, 2009...Solo Tour.
Standing In The Gap endeavors to be fully equipped and financially able to rehab and retrain injured thoroughbreds. Presently, their team is small but every day they work diligently to get the word out. Darla and VP Leslie Morley are working on building positive relationships with the owners and trainers of racehorse thoroughbreds. Standing In The Gap is supportive of the racing industry and knows that like any sport...there are sometimes injuries and they endeavor to give owners and trainers a positive alternative and a chance for the horse to lead a full life. Most thoroughbreds love to work, it is Standing In The Gap's passion to retrain these broken athletes as therapy horses for military vets.
Like I said, check out the website.
Now enjoy a great picture of a horse...
