About Black Forest Farm

Welcome

A Horse's Prayer

To thee Master, I offer thy prayer.

Feed me, water me and care for me;

and when the day is done,
provide me with shelter and
a clean dry bed to lie down in.

Please be kind to me.

Talk to me.
Your friendly voice soothes me and brings me comfort.

Pet me and brush me often, that I may serve you more gladly
and learn to love and trust you.

Watch me, for I am unable to tell you when I am not well,
or that something is wrong.
So watch me, that by signs you may know my condition.

Give me shelter from a storm or the sweltering heat of the day
and a blanket on a cold winter's night.

I do my best to carry you and your burdens without complaint,
and patiently wait for your return.

Please don't get angry with me if I question
what it is that you want me to do.

Just try and understand my world as I must try to understand yours.

Finally, O Master, when my useful strength is gone,
do not turn me out alone to fend for myself,
or send me to some unknown fate;
but do thou my Master, take my life in the kindest way.

And may God reward you for caring enough to see me to the end.

All I ask are these few things,
in the name of Him, who was born in a stable.

Amen

—Author Unknown


	About Us Black Forest Farm, LLC has approximately 30 horses including a mule and a miniature donkey. They range in age from young horses to senior horses. There is one stallion, IM Magic and a number of geldings and mares. All horses form a hierarchy so there are horses in all positions of dominance and down through their social network. This is not a bad thing for horses as it gives them comfort to know their place. This principle of leadership in the herd is the cornerstone of natural horsemanship training and in some areas of equine assisted training. Each horse has an individual personality that makes it more or less suitable for certain uses just as we do. Then there are environmental factors. Mares come into heat, sometimes a horse may not be feeling its best on a certain day, uncomfortable weather and even the full moon can play a role on horse behavior at any given time. There are horses of differing skill and experience level. Some horses are new to riding while others are old pros on the trail. No matter what, they are still horses and as such can be unpredictable. Some horses are more empathetic toward people and other horses. Some horses are more task oriented. All in all, we have a variety of horses to choose from for any given activity and a community of horses ready to serve. Giving Back Black Forest Farm, LLC supports a number of organizations who promote animal welfare and the bond between people and animals. One local non-profit who receive regular support from the farm is Angel's Wish. Black Forest owner, Marlene has in the past shared her home as a foster home for rescued dogs and assisted with placement to new adoptive families. To date, she has helped place over 2 dozen dogs in new forever homes. The Mission Statement for Angel's Wish States: Angel’s Wish is dedicated to reducing animal overpopulation, rehoming companion animals, and raising awareness of animal welfare issues in South Central Wisconsin. They are perhaps known more for rehoming cats. You can find gift certificates and merchandise for both Black Forest Farm, LLC and Marlene's other business, Dance Easy on Angel's Wish Online Auction. In 2009 the I Am Magic Foundation, Inc. was formed as a non-profit partner in serving groups who could not afford profit services. The foundation uses animals as facilitators in education and healing programs focusing on local youth organizations and groups with special needs clients. It is "horses helping people discover their . . . magic." Although the primary facilitators are horses, the foundation uses dogs and natural settings to facilitate it's work as well.
Our Past Owner Marlene Cordes moved to the farm in 1999 and incorporated Black Forest Farm, LLC in 2000. In the beginning, the farm was a more traditional horse business involving breeding, boarding, training and sales. AQHA stallion IM Magic and many wonderful mares provided some 27 foals. Marlene personally had the opportunity to be present when about half of them were born. Our horses were "Premium Horses of Color and Performance." They were from solid bloodlines and possessed unique and valuable colors. Marlene never was a traditional horse person. For that matter, it could be said she was not a traditional person. Her sense of horses as individual sentient beings that had value whether they were rideable or not was not as widely accepted at the time. She never viewed horses as livestock. She instead considered them members of the family. As with other companion animals, when hard choices come, often the animals no longer have the safety net of their family. As economic times changed and our country plunged into a deep recession in 2008, horses were of no value. Many experienced heartbreaking stories as their owners couldn't or wouldn't care for them anymore. Although the farm business suffered drastically, Marlene was able to maintain the care of her horses and other animals on the farm. It was at that time Marlene decided on a new course and to take a chance on what her heart had been telling her all along. While she kept her stallion, she stopped breeding. Just as with other companion animals she believed that was the only responsible choice for those who love animals. She worked with local rescues and fostered dogs until they were adopted. She also started involving herself in other non-profit activites that supported animal welfare and the human/animal connection. She formed the I Am Magic Foundation, Inc. as the non-profit arm of the profit business. Equine Assisted Learning and Healing became the new focus of the farm. Our Future Our future is still evolving, however we are gaining much more support in new markets and attracting a new type of client. We continue to focus on Equine Assisted Learning and Healing and other activities that showcase horses' special gifts of mirroring their human companions. We use aspects of natural horsemanship from a variety of clinicians in training horses and people. Marlene says that the more she allows the horses to lead the experiences at the farm, the better and more rewarding the experiences are for clients. Horses are simply amazing creatures who deserve our love and support. They have so much to teach us about ourselves.