07/10/2026
Summer Breeze, 2001-2026 🖤
On this hot, sunny afternoon, our mare Summer will be laid to rest. Known for her feisty spirit, this mare overcame so many challenges in her life and has made an immeasurable impact on so many lives through her work here at Lasting Strides.
Summer and I were a pair that taught important lessons in teamwork and respect. Our personalities did not jive well, and it always came as a shock to new visitors when they would ask if there was a horse here I don't enjoy working with and I would say "Summer" without hesitation. It always opened up a dialogue about the role of respect and empathy in successful teamwork, discussing how you don't have to be best friends with someone to appreciate their role and work together effectively. Summer was treated with the same top notch care as the rest of the herd, and when she and I were paired together for camps or Young Rider days we were more than capable of getting the job done. I thanked her as she dried the tears of our lead wrangler when Tango passed, and watched her with admiration as she stood like a statue for weeks of campers painting around her soft brown patches. My absolute favorite memory of her is watching how she and Jay would stir up trouble in the peaceful moments, the two old ladies causing chaos at the retirement home - that spark of mischief has never dulled in her, and the herd will be losing a lot of their spice when she goes today. I will forever be grateful for the lessons she taught me and the impression she made on so many hearts here.
Please share your favorite memories or photos of Summer in the comments so we can all celebrate her life together 🖤
