The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center Wins Ocala Literacy “Kiss The Horse” Campaign

Staff members at the Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center are eager to “kiss and tell” about their recent victory – winning the Marion County Literacy Council’s “Kiss the Horse for Literacy” campaign. The Sanctuary, one of the most comprehensive facilities of its kind in the world dedicated to the healing and well being of equine athletes, raised $23,219.81 to win the campaign.

Brenda McDuffee, General Manager of The Sanctuary, said the state-of-the-art facility is focused on helping the community and taking part in the Marion County literacy campaign was a wonderful way to benefit the community. “Literacy is a problem in our country and in the horse industry we often come across people who can’t read and write so it was also personal for us,” McDuffee said.The “Kiss the Horse for Literacy” campaign had Ocala businesses and community leaders raising money to increase literacy awareness. The campaign, which hoped to raise $15,000, promised that the winner would also get to “kiss a horse” in a grand finale moment. Thanks to earning over $23,000, The Sanctuary not only took the title but also got the honor of kissing the horse.“I was the lucky one from The Sanctuary who got to kiss the horse,” McDuffee said, adding that the horse was Jamaica, the 2008 USEF Horse of the Year owned by Chester Weber. “Jamaica is not only extraordinarily handsome but also a true gentlemen. The Sanctuary has partnered with Weber and Jamaica also, so it wasn’t like I was kissing a stranger!”While many counties have “Kiss the Pig” campaigns, Ocala adopted the “Kiss the Horse” campaign because Ocala is the Horse Capital of the World. “It always feels great to give back to the community and The Sanctuary had a great time raising money to help increase illiteracy awareness,” said Tom Grabe, The Sanctuary’s Managing Partner, adding that The Sanctuary held a fundraiser and all of the profits from the event went to the “Kiss the Horse for Literacy” campaign. “Jeffery Deaver, author of the book The Bone Collector did a book signing at The Sanctuary’s fundraiser and we also had a silent and live auction.”The Sanctuary, located on 30 acres in Ocala, features the most advanced conditioning and rehab equipment available in the world including an Equine Hyperbaric Chamber, Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill, a Cold Saltwater Leg Spa, an Equine Swimming Pool, two Eurocisers and Solariums.

For more information on The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center, visit their website at www.sanctuaryequinerehab.com. To learn more about the Marion County Literacy Council and the “Kiss the Horse for Literacy” campaign visit their website at
www.marionliteracy.org.

The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center Partners With Combined Driver Chester Weber

The Sanctuary Equine Sports Therapy & Rehabilitation Center has joined forces with Combined Driver Chester Weber, becoming the latest Team Weber sponsor to join the championship team as they head toward the 2010 World Equestrian Games. The Sanctuary is located in Ocala, Florida, and Weber, a force to be reckoned with in the field of Four-In-Hand Combined Driving, also claims Ocala as his home base.

“The Sanctuary is proud to partner with someone as dynamic as Chester Weber as he is a true horseman as well as a champion. Anyone who has met Chester, or seen him compete, knows that he demands the most from himself and his equine athletes. The Sanctuary is proud to help Chester maintain his top horses,” said Tom Grabe, The Sanctuary’s Managing Partner. “The Sanctuary is excited to have Chester Weber on board as a strategic partner. We feel that The Sanctuary's cutting-edge therapy and proven modalities can do nothing but enhance the performance of his team.”

Weber and his team are the United States Four-In-Hand Combined Driving Champions, a title they have held for the past six years. Team Weber is currently preparing again for the U.S. Championships, hoping to earn an unprecedented seventh consecutive win. Weber was also the first American to win an individual medal at the Four-In-Hand World Championships in The Netherlands. “Besides being a top competitive driver, Weber is involved with thoroughbred race horses and jumpers. This knowledge and expertise offers us a perspective that we don't get from many horsemen in the industry,” Grabe said.

As a high quality facility, The Sanctuary offers Weber resources that will aid him in achieving his goals. “Fitter, sounder horses is always something we strive for,” Weber said.

The Sanctuary, located on 30 acres in Ocala, features the most advanced conditioning and rehab equipment available in the world including an Equine Hyperbaric Chamber with box stall type freedom of movement while therapy is administered, as well as an Aqua Pacer Water Treadmill, the safest, most effective water treadmill available. The center also features: a Cold Saltwater Leg Spa featuring 34 degree, highly salinated water for all types of leg therapy; an Equine Swimming Pool – a 110 foot long, 14 foot deep inline pool with therapeutic water; a 5/8 mile race track; two Eurocisers with therapeutic tracking surface - one under cover and one outdoors; Solariums; Temperature-controlled veterinary inspection area with semi-surgical lighting, and rubberized surfaces in most areas.

“We have been using the Aqua Pacer and I am very pleased with the results. This seems to be a great low impact workout without the wear and tear of heavy stress days. Moreover, the saltwater leg spa seems to alleviate some of the swelling associated with the rigors a top sport horse can be subject to,” Weber said. “The Sanctuary has also done a great job of keeping my vet and I in the loop with regard to how the horses are progressing.”

Grabe said The Sanctuary is able to help Weber’s horses reach their peak physical and mental condition due to their cutting-edge therapies. “We have the capability of helping his equine athletes stay fit, avoid injury, and recover faster and more completely from certain injuries they might experience when competing in such an intense, physically demanding sport,” Grabe said.

For more information on Weber, visit his website at
www.chesterweber.com.