Greystone is the newest addition to Deco Farms' small herd. He came from Maryland where his owner was too timid to ride him. She had been unable to sell him, didn't have the time to market him and could no longer afford to pay for his upkeep. John offered to help her through Chance of a Lifetime (C.O.L.T.), a program he designed to  help horses and horse owners in trouble. "People who may have lost their horse, who are financially distressed, maybe lost their job and couldn't afford to keep their horse, or the horse died and they couldn't afford another horse -- these are the people I want to help," John said. "But, I also want to help people who are thinking about getting into horses and have no idea where to start. Most people who haven't had horses don't realize what a huge time commitment it is and how much work they are." He lets novice riders work with the horses on his farm. "I get a little help, they get a little fun and hopefully learn about what it takes to own a horse. If you aren't committed to it, forget it." On his five-acre farm, Deppen has a five-stall barn, a pasture, a few paddocks and a couple of arenas. On a recent day, chickens pecked around the dirt, hay and shavings looking for bugs and other goodies to eat. Horses beckoned visitors for rubs, treats and attention. John tossed one a flake of hay and rubbed the forehead of another. John rides and works the horses that come to him through the program at no charge to the owner. He preps the horses for sale and markets them to riders and trainers he knows. He looks for the best match and best home for each horse before making the sale and is willing to take the horse back if the partnership is a bust. So far this year, he has taken seven horses into the C.O.L.T. program. Deppen has a Facebook page for the program and has found horses suitable for the program through word-of-mouth among the friends, trainers and acquaintances he has made in the horse world. "We are very specific in what we take because the goal is to sell the horse," John said "This isn't a rescue. We don't take just any horse. I don't have the room for that." What does John get out of it? The chance to train the horses from the ground up. "I truly love the process of developing horses up the levels and watching the buyers fall in love at first sight," he said. When John sells a horse, he recoups whatever he spent on feed, bedding, vet bills and shoeing while the horse was on his property as well as a percentage of the sale price. "I'm not making money off of this," he said. "I'm getting my costs back and at the same time, helping a horse and an owner." John grew up around horses and riding. His mother, Joann Webster, competed in dressage around the world and ended her career competing on western pleasure horses. John has owned and trained grand prix and Olympic-level horses, participated in dressage demonstrations and learned from top trainers, including Robert Dover, George Morris and Dana Fiore. Before he bought Deco Farms two years ago, he operated a small boarding/lesson program in Wellington, Fla. He also managed the Town and Country Equestrian Center in Ballwin, Mo. "I just love the horses ..." John said. "I just want to give a little back" to the equestrian community. Sisters Samantha Aiello, 17, and Jodi Aiello, 23, both of Granite City, were there recently to get hands-on experience with horses. John has taught them how to clean stalls and how to groom, feed, handle and, eventually, ride horses. Both are interested in owning a horse, but had no idea how much money, time and sweat it takes. The initial cost of buying a horse is the least expensive part of owning horses, Deppen said. Boarding a horse can range from $3,000 to more than $6,000 annually. That does not include the cost of vet care, worming, shoeing, showing, training, emergencies, supplements and equipment. "It's a lot of work," Jodi said. "A lot of work. I didn't realize how much work it is, but it's fun." The sisters don't seem to mind the dirt and grime on their hands or even the lecture they received from John about wearing inappropriate shoes. Samantha looked at her soft-soled shoes as John reminded her to wear boots to the barn next time. Hands-on horse care is not for those who cherish perfect manicures or manure-free boots. John showed Samantha a photo of a woman who made the mistake of wearing flip-flops around horses. A hoof found her exposed foot. The result: Not pretty. "It's a learning process," Samantha said. "There is a lot to learn, and it's a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun." John likes their enthusiasm. "I have a lot of people who ask to come out. They just want to come out and learn," he said. "And I want to help them learn, but they have to be committed to it." Eventually, he would like to have enough committed, quality riders participating in the C.O.L.T. program to be able to match them with horses. With their help, the horses are cared for, ridden and prepped for sale and, eventually, find new homes. And the cycle starts again with the next horse on the waiting list. For more information about the C.O.L.T. program, contact John Deppen at 444-9285 or via e-mail at Decofarms@aol.com.