I read this on my driving list. Sally Swift, the founder of Centered
Riding passed away yesterday.

Bobbi

________________________________

From: "Centered Riding Office" <centeredriding@...>
Date: April 3, 2009 12:02:32 AM EDT
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient:;>
Subject: Fw: We sadly announce the passing of Sally Swift


It is with deep regret that I must inform you of the passing of our
beloved Sally Swift. Sally struggled with pneumonia since the end of
January, and although she tried very hard to get better, she was not
able to get back on her feet. She peacefully slipped away today as
one of her friends read to her. We are all deeply saddened by the
loss of this gifted, caring and gentle woman. The world will not be
the same without her. Our thoughts and prayers go out at this time to
Sally's family, friends and caregivers who are struggling with this
great loss.

You can be comforted to know that when Sally first discovered she was
seriously ill with pneumonia in January, she spoke about the peace she
felt in knowing that Centered Riding was in the good hands of such
competent caretakers. Centered Riding and Sally's Centered Riding
family meant the world to her - it and all of you captured her
greatest pride.

She spoke about knowing that no matter what the outcome of her illness
might be, Centered Riding was in "very good hands." She trusted the
many "loyal soldiers" who would carry on her life's work. What we can
do most to honor Sally now is to carry on her work of teaching others
with humility and integrity and offer others the unconditional
positive regard that Sally had for each and every person that came her
way.

Despite being a woman of great accomplishment, Sally never elevated
herself above others, but opened her heart with acceptance and
friendship. Today, all of us that knew Sally personally or came to
"know her" through her work, feel as though we HAVE lost a dear
friend. This is the enduring gift Sally has left for our hearts and
memories. Centered Riding is the enduring gift she has left for the
world.

Following is the announcement on our website regarding Sally's life
and accomplishments. More details will be posted about the memorial
service for Sally as they become known.

Linda Galt Powley
President

LEGENDARY WOMAN, AUTHOR AND FOUNDER OF CENTERED RIDING LEAVES THE
HORSE WORLD IN MOURNING

Sarah Rodman Swift known to her worldwide following as Sally Swift
passed away on April 2, 2009. Sally was less than three weeks away
from reaching her 96th birthday. She was born on April 20, 1913 in
Hingham, Massachusetts to Rodman Tod Swift and Elizabeth Townsend
Swift. She had one sister, Agnes, who died in 2004.

Sally Swift was known all over the world for her innovative
horse-riding methodology known as "Centered Riding.: She was the
author of two books Centered Riding and Centered Riding II, Further
Explorations which, together, have had sales of more than 860,000
copies worldwide in fifteen different languages. Sally was the
Founder of Centered Riding, Inc., which is the non-profit organization
that oversees the worldwide membership of instructors and horse riders.

Sally began Centered Riding at the age of 62 upon her retirement from
the Holstein Association in Brattleboro Vermont. Her first book,
Centered Riding was published in 1985.

In August of 2006, Sally Swift was inducted into the United States
Dressage Foundation's Hall of Fame. In June of 2008, she was
presented with the seventh annual Equine Industry Vision Award by
Pfizer Animal Health and American Horse Publications, an award which
recognizes innovation, ingenuity and service across the entire equine
market.

At the age of 7, Sally was diagnosed with scoliosis, lateral curvature
of the spine. She worked for many years with Mabel Ellsworth Todd,
author of "The Thinking Body" who believed that you could control
parts of your body with your mind when you couldn't direct them with
physical movement. Sally used concepts of her work with Mabel Todd to
develop the Four Basics of Centered Riding.

Sally was home-schooled until 7th grade and then attended Milton
Academy in Milton Massachusetts for her 7th through 12th grade
education. She graduated from Cornell University in 1947 with a B.S.
in agriculture. She worked for 21 years at the Holstein Association
of America located in Brattleboro, Vermont, retiring in 1975.

Upon her retirement from the Holstein Association in, Sally began
teaching her friends at the rate of $10 per lesson and $50 per day for
a clinic. She never advertised; her teachings spread by word of mouth.

Before long, she was going up and down the East coast with her
teachings. In the early 1980', when Sally was in her early seventies,
she began traveling to other locations in the U.S., Canada and
eventually to Europe. In 1988, at the age of 75, she went to
Australia to work alongside Richard Weis, who was her first
apprentice. Sally continued to be very active in Centered Riding
until her recent illness.

During the days of her illness, Sally was surrounded by her friends
and Centered Riding family who loved her. She was closely attended to
by her long-time friend, Lucile Bump, also of Brattleboro, her devoted
friend, Munson Hicks, her care-givers, and her special friend Francois
Lemaire de Ruffieu.

Sally was well-loved my many, many people. Despite her fame, breadth
of knowledge and accomplishments, she greeted all who journeyed down
her path with warmth and humbleness.

Plans for a memorial service in honor of Sally Swift are underway and
will be announced on this website. In lieu of flowers, donations in
Sally's memory can be made to:

Centered Riding, Inc.
P.O. Box 157
Perkiomenville, PA

Windham County Human Society
916 W. River Road
Brattleboro, VT 05301

The Heifer International Foundation
1015 Louisiana St.
P.O. Box 727
Little Rock, AR 72203

Amnesty International
16th Floor, 5 Penn Plaza
New York, NY 1001

The world was made a better place by Sally Swift, and the horse world
and all who came to love her deeply mourn her passing.

--
Bobbi McIntyre
Alaria Moss Gypsy Horses
Affordable Farm Services - http://www.affordablemanureremoval.com/
Nokesville, VA