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ANIMAL
HERO:
SWEET ADELINE
by ©Barbara Ellen Ries
Sweet Adeline's
Story of Courage
“It is with the heart one sees rightly:
what is essential is invisible to the eye."
(Antoine Saint de Exupery).
Sweet Adeline is a horse that saved
12 people's lives, keeping them steadfast against the founding wall
during an f3 tornado in Ohio. Adeline did not exhibit flight survival
behavior; she kicked three people to the ground and kept us unaware of
the approaching storm. She had an intuitive sixth sense of danger
approaching. She became a hero that day and the leader of the herd.
I’m one of the storm’s survivors, and
I’m here to tell the story of a hero. There is no greater honor than to
save someone’s life. It is an even greater honor to save their lives
back. Sweet Adeline needed for me to tell our story….
One ponders the last seconds of Sweet
Adeline’s decision that day, when she corralled a group of 13 visitors
against the founding wall at Serendipity Stables. She put her own life
at risk to protect the people against the oncoming f3 tornado. The 13
visitors were participating in a horse companion visit at the
Serendipity Stables in York Center, Ohio, when an f3 tornado circled the
building, completely collapsing the stable.
The tornado
was a
vortex of earth’s power
sucking and winding in
a counter to any clock-
wise fashion. The roar
of the wind was filled
with the power of the
stratosphere and the
magnitude of all four
directions coming together in what Native Americans call the arrival of
the thunder beings and messengers.
 The
huge gusts lasted 15 seconds, intensifying at midpoint, with winds
reaching 150 miles per hour. It seemed time stood still.
Three horses
led the wind around the barn, racing against the wind and the wind won
out. Parker, Tristan, and Yankee, being the elder horses, cooperated
with the angels to buffer harms way for the two legged beings. The
horses knew of no other choice but to give their lives in sacrifice. All
three horses kept the two leggeds near a safe haven.
During five
seconds of time, a howl and a piercing came through every board in the
stable, demolishing any thought or question as to the nature of the
event. Those seeking shelter from the storm received some comfort by
crouching.
While the
wind swirled, Sweet Adeline kicked three people to the ground to prevent
their sure demise. She then emerged cut and battered from the rubble of
the building, galloping as the fury passed.
The
visitors had only
minor
injuries, but
not
one perished during
the storm’s plight.
Finally,
visibility returned.
Every person told, as was
documented on the front page
of the Columbus paper, about thirteen people. In reality, there were
only twelve present. The 13th person was there only a few seconds for
the miracle. The thirteenth person spared the lives of twelve to tell
the story of the miracle that day that Sweet Adeline kept us near the
founding wall, saving our lives.
Barbara Ries is
on the left, standing in front of the foundation wall one week after the
storm.
Contact Barbara Ries
at
Spirithorsebr@aol.com
Story photos
courtesy of Barbara Ellen Ries.
Featured articles and documentary:
Sweet Adeline,Story of Courage, Magical Macs
Legacy : Home
Holly
Zaccgariah. 2004. Columbus
Dispatch. Healing
Invisible Wounds. After Tornado, Horses Used In Therapy Need Treatment
Themselves.
Mike Harden.
2002. Columbus Dispatch.
Pets
Complete
short story, from Barbara Ellen Ries. Contact
Spirithorsebr@aol.com
. Phone 419-522-4772
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Ries, Barbara Ellen. It Is With
The Heart One Sees Rightly: What Is Essential Is Invisible To The Eye.
2002.
Exupery,
Antoine de Saint. The Little Prince. Harcourt, 1947.
Barbara Ellen Ries,
L.S.W., L.I.C.D.C,
has a solid
background of holding key administrative, marketing and clinical
positions in Chemical Dependency, Dual Diagnosis for 20 years.
Barbara is completing
her masters degree in Health Psychology. She is a volunteer at
Serendipity Stables, a non-profit organization specializing in
individuals with autism and special needs. Her marketing efforts have
produced a documentary submitted as a Hollywood movie,
Pets &
Sweet Adeline, Story of Courage, Magical Macs Legacy : Home
Barbara provides
nature-based programs for
children and elders in hospitals, special needs
schools, nursing homes and inner city youth
programs. The Spirit horse Guardians Inc. is a
nonprofit which grew out of the belief that we
are all connected through nature, and that this
connection can restore a sense of wholeness,
place and context in the world.
She honors Sweet
Adeline and her heroism
on this web site,
Sweet Adeline's Story of Courage
Editor’s note:
Sweet Adeline was badly
injured in another
storm last year. She continues to require care
for a severe leg injury.
Contact Barbara Ries
at
Spirithorsebr@aol.com
Read more Equus Spirit articles
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