12/23/2025
IN HONOR OF A SPECIAL HORSE THIS CHRISTMAS…
Ally wanted to do a special rescue. I told her we could go to an auction or travel up to the pen.
She said either would be fine, but later said she felt, like Sterling, the horse would find her.
And they sure did.
But first a little background..
Recently we found out Gude Affair or “Roo,” Ally’s $2800 off the track thoroughbred she purchased THIRTEEN years ago, was going to be the Thoroughbred Open Jumper Horse of the Year for 2025.
A prestigious award that means out of every horse and rider team in the nation in their category— “Roo” and Ally were top of the leaderboard for thoroughbreds in show jumping.
Pretty exciting stuff!
Recently I’ve seen some posts eluding or even outright writing that CCR itself was funding my wife’s show career (LOL) — the one she’s had since she was 12 years old and done every year for the last 20+ years.
CCR is only approaching its 5th year since inception. My wife has been riding for 20+ years, and at the top level for 15+ years.
My wife has a very impressive resumé— Intermediate Level Eventing, 1.30 meter show jumping, representing the USA at Young Riders, grooming for Olympians at the Pan Am Games and beyond. She is truly an athlete with a special feel and love for these horses.
Showing, riding, training are all things she did BEFORE CCR ever existed. She imported her first horse in 2014. We bred our first warmblood baby in 2019.
CCR was started in 2021.
We no longer breed and only bred less than a handful (all of which we still own with the exception of one that is owned by someone we consider family and was bred specifically FOR her) due to our experiences with seeing horses in the slaughter pipeline.
Although our babies were born in a very different price bracket— we agree now that creating more horses is just unnecessary as a hobby, which is all it could ever be for us due to time constraints both personal and professional.
In this job, it’s perfectly okay to learn and grow and change your ideas from when you started. That’s called growth and maturity.
It’s ludicrous to attribute any of Ally’s earlier horse related success to CCR, when CCR got its start for free on her family farm as a way of giving back to these animals who have done so much for her.
Did we think it would grow to be the largest horse rescue in the nation?
Absolutely not! And we would have told you then we didn’t want it to, haha!
Adopting out thousands and assisting thousands more?
No, we didn’t. Never in a million years!
But… it did.
Without her show record, and experience working with top level riders, trainers, vets, grooms and other horse professionals— CCR would never have the success it has today.
Ally is truly our unstoppable force pushing us forward.
And I’m so damn proud of her!
If CCR closes its doors, my wife will continue to show, ride and train. Ally was born to sit in the saddle— she loves it, lives for it, and we all feel strongly she can both rescue horses and compete at the top level with kindness and compassion for horses in mind.
We hope you guys do too.
You can give back and you can also spring forward.
In 2026 we have many exciting new initiatives coming forward. $10,000-$25,000 given away to other smaller equine non profits each month. $10,000 for private individuals needing emergency vet care grant approval instead of having to surrender or euthanize. A fully funded low cost riding lesson/therapeutic riding facility to bring horseback riding to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it…
2026 is the year CCR focuses on community.
Which is why when Ally was tagged for help by a close friend for two homeless thoroughbreds— Don’t Poke The Cat and Financial Security headed to Mexican Slaughter— she didn’t hesitate. Funds were sent, veterinary contacts in Texas were called, and the trailer wheels started rolling.
CCR wants to be the rescue you think of when you need help for an equine of any creed or background… the one who can spring into action at a moments notice.
Because after all that “Roo” the thoroughbred has done for Ally over the last thirteen years, it was absolutely a sign that Ally was tagged to help these two boys.
And she believes in listening to fate. That’s how a scrawny dark bay two year who was 15.2, built like a wheelbarrow, and had a nasty habit of flipping over backwards ending up darkening her door thirteen years ago.
And look at Roo now… Horse of the Year!
We have every bit of confidence these two boys are going to find their people after quarantine, medical evaluation and a training evaluation.
Who knows? Maybe the RRP is on the horizon for both? There’s nothing Ally loves more than showcasing the heart and try of a thoroughbred.
Stay tuned.
