DarkHorse Ranch - Credits and Awards

Dark Horse Ranch - Equine Art Poetry Prints

Credits and Awards
Bestowed on DarkHorse Ranch

Barbara Anne Dunn, a lifelong horselover and a specialist in equine welfare, received the "Legion of St. Francis Award" in 1993 from the International Generic Horse Association (IGHA) "in recognition of exceptional acts benefiting equines." This award is the highest accolade the IGHA may award a person, and it is awarded to individuals for exceptional acts benefiting horses and ponies.

Barbara's equine poetry print, "My Horse's Wish", was chosen to be part of the September, 2000, North American Pleasure Walking Horse Championships, sponsored by FOSH.

Barbara credits her parents and the 4-H Program for instilling in her a high standard of good horsemanship that went beyond just riding. "Through my years of growing up, I saw departures from my standard of good horse care and horsemanship. I didn't recognize it at that time as abuse or neglect, but rather foreign and strange. Nor did I recognize yet that something could, and should, be done to correct it.

"I later became personally involved because I believe that abuse and neglect of horses is wrong -- no exceptions. I also believe it is wrong for me then to do nothing about its prevention and correction."

Barbara has been involved in many different facets of the equine industry, including showing, training and stable management. In her wide range of experience, she has observed several factors that precipitate horse abuse and neglect. These factors include "ignorance, misinformation, irresponsibility, financial hardship, financial gain, drug and alcohol abuse, the poverty or failing health and faculties of the elderly and outright sadistic cruelty. However, the most common factor I have observed is ignorance in combination with misinformation." Thankfully for these people and their horses, education can remedy the problem. Sadly, Barbara has also known certain individuals who are "truly cruel and remorseless" in their abuse.