May 2008
Celebrating Successes
Chatsworth Day Of the Horse
May 3 in Chatsworth
The 5th Annual Chatsworth Day of the Horse will be hosted by Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship on Sat. May 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This day of fun is intended to celebrate and support the area’s active local equestrian community. There will be vendors, exhibitions showcasing the many and varied equestrian disciplines, a silent auction and free food! There will also be demonstrations by Ride On’s wonderful students and staff on hand to discuss the benefits of therapeutic riding.
For more information, visit www.rideon.org or call 818-700-2971.
Ride For The Cure!
National Event for American Cancer Society
May 10, anywhere and everywhere.
The 2008 Equesse Ride of Your Life for the American Cancer Society will be held on Sat., May 10. This national, web-based initiative is a day for horse enthusiasts to donate “horse-time” as a fundraising activity to fight cancer. For the first time, the entire equestrian community has an opportunity to join together and participate in a national fundraising event. Anyone can participate, regardless of riding level or ability and, because it is an Internet-based program, from virtually anywhere in the world.
The registration process is simple. Participants first decide how and where to spend their day, and then through the TeamACS-Equesse website, will receive a personal webpage, or “participant center” where they can announce and describe their chosen horse-related activity. The website offers tools to help individuals raise awareness and gain support through donations from their own network of family, friends and others. Donations made on-line go directly to the American Cancer Society and are automatically tracked for each participant.
“It’s up to the individual to decide what activity they will do in support of this event,” explains Equesse Ride of Your Life founder, Leah Juarez. “They may want to go on a trail ride, compete in a horse show, organize a group event, barn cleaning, clinic or simply spend a quiet day with their horse – whatever they enjoy the most. It doesn’t matter what you do, the important thing is that everyone is using their horsepower on this day to fight cancer.”
Personal stories, photos and dedications to loved ones who have faced cancer can be posted on the participant center as well. To participate in the 2008 Equesse Ride of Your Life, go to http://main.acsevents.org/equesse.
Equesse, Inc. is a membership organization designed to provide inspiration, information and insight to women who love horses. Membership includes exclusive access to online features and articles as well as a subscription to Equesse Magazine. For more information about Equesse, visit www.equesse.net.
Paint For Partners
Fundraiser for Partners Therapeutic Horsemanship
May 18 in San Diego County’s Santee
Partners Therapeutic Horsemanship is an NARHA-certified program dedicated to improving the quality of life for those with special needs. Located in San Diego County’s Lakeside and run by Karen Crampton, Partners Therapeutic uses specially trained horses to enhance riders’ balance, muscle development and learning skills such as hand-eye coordination, concentration and short-term memory. Tonya Thompson reports that her 10-year-old daughter went from having trouble counting past 20 to counting to 100 after beginning riding lessons there in February. “It is amazing,” reports the happy mom, who is also the contact person for a fundraiser at the paint-your-own-pottery studio, Color Me Mine, in nearby Santee. The studio fee of $5 per person will go directly to Partners for feed, tack and scholarship programs. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Color Me Mine is located at 214 B Town Center Parkway in Santee.
For more information, contact Tonya at 619-820-7454 or visit www.partnershorses.com.
Experience The Unusual
Happy Horse Day
May 25 at Los Acres in Stockton
An afternoon’s worth of unusual horses and equestrian activities is in store for visitors to Happy Horse Day at the Polk family’s Los Acres in Stockton. The farm breeds and trains Arabians, Lusitanos and Gypsy Vanners.
The 22nd Annual Happy Horse Day begins with a blessing of the ranch’s new outdoor arena, where Portuguese “cavaleiro” Joao Serracoelho will demonstrate the training of the Arabian stallion, Jair Tamaal, using a wild bull. It is “bloodless bullfighting,” assures Terry Polk. Joao will then ride St. Clarins, an imported Gypsy Vanner owned by Celeste Huston. Los Acres’ annual Liberty Challenge comes next, with horses performing on their own in a large outdoor arena. A presentation of Los Acres 2008 foals follows in the indoor arena. The day’s grand finale is a demonstration of the art of “marialva,” which Terry describes as the ancient art of correct riding while bullfighting on horseback. “It was first noticed by the explorer and writer Xenophon in 600 BC,” she says.
Everything starts at 1 p.m., and it’s all free. For more information, please visit www.losacres.com or call 209-931-1391.
Mama Get Your Saddle!
State Trail Trials Challenge
May 31 in Napa
The Napa Saddle Jackets have been an all-woman riding club for 55 years. Their longevity is partly due to the success of their regular trail trials, the next of which is May 31 at the Napa Skyline Wilderness Park. It’s the biggie: the State Trail Trials Challenge. Sanctioned by the California State Horsemen’s Assn. and promoted with the slogan “Mama, Get Your Saddle!” it will be judged by senior official Cindi James. Both genders are welcomed and encouraged to participate.
For more information, contact Claudia Spain at 707-252-4226 or claudiaspain@hotmail.com.
Does your special event deserve special coverage in California Riding Magazine’s What’s Happening Event Calendar? If so, let us know and don’t forget a photo. Send it all to kimfmiller1@mac.com, or call her at 949-644-2165.
Our deadline is the first of the month for the following month’s issue. Please submit your events by March 1st for the April issue. It’s the place to be and it’s free!
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