VolunTIER coordinator Peggy sums it up by saying "Max makes you feel special. He makes you feel as if you want to dust of your clothes, kick the dirt off your boots, make sure your shirt is tucked in and that your hands are clean. He brings out the best in you.
Due to changing computers, some data was lost for a long time and has now been recovered.  Unfortunately, we received the information about Maximillan (Previous name: Saber) in February 2006 after he had crossed the Rainbow Bridge.
2/26/2006
Hi Gail-
Here are the photo's of Saber I promised you. 
I know that his life was very good & that he was very loved up until the last 3-4 years ago when I lost track of him.
History of Saber:
-Born on a cattle ranch, an accident from a TB Show Jumper jumping the pasture fence. He was started as a ranch horse. I know from my experiences with him that he did not like cows AT ALL.
-3-4 Y/O Sold at a low end auction. The buyer took pity on him, and outbid the killer buyers. This owner discovered that he was a very talented jumper, and supposedly won quite a bit of showing him.
-8 Y/O He was sold to my friend as a Preliminary level event
horse. She used him for Rainbow Pony Club, and achieved her "B" rating with him as her mount. She & Saber or "Save Her" as he was affectionatly called, went on to Pony Club Nationals (Utah and Kentucky), and won two National Show Jumping Championships. She won every Gambler's Choice jumping class w/ Saber, and Pony Clubbers all over San Diego County loved him. I rode Saber quite often and fell in love with his kind soul. She listed him for sale in Riding Magazine and had many offers. 
-12 Y/O My Grandma bought Saber for me, after my Morgan mare colicked suddenly and died. My friend wanted someone to have him that would love him, her Mom said we could have him for 2000. 
The  next 5 years were wonderful!!! Saber & I did low level combined training, Pony Club, and some local shows. I taught a 5 & 8 year old girls how to ride on him. I'd ride him bareback on the trails, and groom him until he fell asleep. I can't count how many times I cried on his shoulder. He helped me through some of the roughest times in my life, and I will always be grateful to him for everything he taught me.
-17 Y/O My parents went though a very nasty divorce, I tried to keep him and very reluctantly gave him to a 'friend' that I thought had every intention of keeping him. She used Saber as a pleasure mount & a lesson horse. 
-Approx 19 Y/O My 'friend,' inherited some International property, sold Saber to a student of hers and left the country. The student owned a beautiful ranch in San Diego County, and he never went without anything. 
-Approx 22-23 Y/O The kind Lady that had him listed him for sale (also in Riding Magazine). I read the ad and contacted her. She allowed me to come out and visit him, I loved on him for the whole afternoon. She told me the she had already taken a deposit on him, but would give him to me if I could take him. I had just gotten married, and financially could not manage the expense. I was broken hearted. She ended up selling/donating Saber to a "Theraputic Program" in Poway, CA for emotionally disturbed teenagers- thinking that he would get a lot of love and attention. I do not know if she in fact verified that it really was a Theraputic Program, or a horse trader posing as a caring person. 
I am still looking for my 2 favorite pic's of him. One is him grazing & me barefoot, the other is me leaning against the
horse trailer- in a liplock w/ Saber. I forgot to tell you that I taught him how to give kisses )  Elizabeth 
26 Y/O I found him on the TIER message board, and my heart broke again for him all over again. 
Gail, bless you and your wonderful friends for saving this old soul, for feeding him and loving him, and for ensuring that the last part of his life was spent in loving greener pastures- with caring volunTIERs and amazing horse friends. Saber had such a big heart, and he touched so many lives. I will always be extremly grateful for all that you did & tried to do for your
Max, and my Saber.
1/12/2006 - Max passed away sometime during the night.  There were no signs of struggle.  It appears that his great heart just gave out.