2010 Sponsors, Fundraising Gurus and Friends/Family

I've given posts to each of my coaches and the grooms that have helped me along the way this year. Now I would like to say thank you to all the many individuals who have encouraged me along the way. If I have missed you, PLEASE forgive me, and PLEASE let me know so I can add you. It is totally a mistake if your name has not been mentioned!

A huge thank you to my individual sponsors for 2010. I could not have done what I did without your financial support! Thank you!
* Allene Wiley
* Ashley Farrell
* Beverly Rardin
* Bill and Marilyn Goff
* Children of the Georgetown, SC YMCA
* Dolores Reynolds
* Gwen Siegrist
* Kathy Giannocopoulos
* Kim Sturgeron
* Laura Clark
* Leon and Nancy Nobles
* Linda Sandoe
* Mary Beth Bennett
* Mary Lenhart
* Melissa Phillips
* Mike Kelly
* Polly McKnight
* Rae Lee
* Robin and Kathy Marshall
* Rodney Spence
* Shirley McGreal

A special thank you to my fundraising gurus for 2010! I never would have been able to raise the money to do what I did without your tireless help. Thank you!
* Kim Sturgeon
* Lori Reed
* Sheila Spinx


Also a huge thank you to all my family and friends. I could not have this without your awesome friendships! Thank you all!
* Amanda Forbus
* Andrew Lenhart and Michael Bland
* Ann Jones Gilman
* Ashley Doscher
* Barb Hutchison
* Barnaba and Barbara
* Betty Dean
* Bob and Kelly Parr
* Brandon Jones
* Bryan Tesh
* Carolyn Martel
* Chainey Briar Farm; Ridgeville, SC
* Correy Fore
* Dachia Arritola - The Healthy Horseman
* Dave and Barbara Rippon
* Dave Garino
* Dave Jones 1
* Dave Jones 2
* Dave Jones 3
* Dick and Jan Knight
* Donna Karianen
* Georgetown Kraft Credit Union
* Gigi Nutter
* Gwen Jones Hanger
* Hardy and Robin Brown
* Harry and Peggy Jones
* Heather Bertauski
* Helen Geromette
* Igor of IPPL
* IPPL; Summerville, SC
* Jack and Mary Jane Tesh
* Jackie Durr
* Jan Taylor
* Jennifer Zimmerman
* Jodie Donohoe
* Josh Guin
* Josh Jordan
* Julia Jacobs
* Karen Vasquez
* Kay Johnson
* Kemper Jones
* Laura Miller
* Lauren Barwick
* Lauren Griffin
* Lia Aybood
* M&M Kahler and family
* Marian Reads
* Marilyn Gilligan
* Marissa and Doug Jones
* Mark Delegge
* Mary and Bucky Lenhart
* Mary Ann Martin
* Mel Spivey
* Melissa Standifer
* Mike and Jackie Stout
* Mike and Pam Collins
* Mike Steinmetz
* Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs
* Murray and Brenda Presley
* Nancy Hilburn
* Nell
* Pam McCoy
* Peggy Jones
* Rebecca Wilkin
* Reva Murphy
* Rob and Andrea Lenhart
* Rob Chaffart
* Rob Coker
* Robin Marcinko
* Robin Monn
* Rusty and Becky Fort
* Sandra and Paul Snyder
* Sara Fitzgerald
* Steve Nelson and Pete Vitale
* Theresa Doherty
* Theresa Partilla
* Tim and Ann Nelson
* Tracey Gordon
* Tracey Rowe
* Vanessa Hinson
* Zoe of IPPL

A special hug and thank you to my mom, Jean Jones, for taking the time to care for my animals while I am gone, even though some of them are aging and require special attention. Luv u mom! Thank you!

Merry Christmas

May the Peace that came that first Christmas be with you now and always. Merry Christmas everyone!

2010 Grooms

A huge thank you to all the grooms that helped me in 2010. You guys are the hidden heros of our sport. You are always behind the scene, the hidden caretakers of our horses and the helpers of we who drool. Thank you so much for all your help, patience, kindessness and work - on behalf of Ollie and of myself. Thank you. You don't get enough credit for all the work you do. You feed, bath, water, clean, tack, untack, walk, and keep the well being of the horse all day and all night, every day and every night, if need be. Thank you doesn't sound enough.

* Blaine
* Carolyn
* Jen Cain
* Jes Brumfield
* Laura Clark
* Nicole Anderson
* Rachel
* Sandra McLeod
* Steph Coffield

2010 KER US World Equestrian Games Teammates

A huge congratulations to the 10 WEG riders and the 5 alternates.

* Barbara Grassmeyer
* Becca Hart
* Elizabeth Pigott
* Erin Alberda
* Holly Bergay
* Jennifer Baker
* Jonathon Wentz
* Kathy Groves
* Kim Decker
* Laura Goldman
* Mary Jordan
* Robin Brueckmann
* Susan Treabess
* Wendy Fryke

It was a pleasure and an honor to get to know each of you a little better. I look forward to competing with you again, raising the bar for the US, and this time, competing with you in the London Olympics. Best wishes to each of you for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy new year!

Michelle Donlick

I cannot thank Michelle Donlick enough for her friendship, her input, and her willingness to bend over backwards to help any and all of her friends to attain the goals they have for themselves. She is one of the most selfless people I have ever met. And she is one hell of a natural horsemanship horsewoman.

She has done everything from loan me her Level 4, Preliminary eventing horse free of charge, to letting me ride any of her 20-30 horses on her farm that she deems safe enough for me to ride, to dropping everything to take me to a Walter Zettl clinic (twice!), and allow me to take one of her horses each time. She is an amazing woman and I never would have been able to do the things I have done or made it as far as I have without her input and generous help. I am always at a loss for words to thank her. She is just an amazing woman.

You can find her website here:
(www.avalofarm.com)
or you can click on her name to the right and find her website.

She is awesome with the horses and one of the most giving people I have met. The people of Avalo Farm rock!

Michelle, thank you from the bottom of the heart! Me luvs you girl :)

Walter Zettl

I first "met" Walter Zettl when I was a teenager (1984??). I somehow came across his new book "A Matter of Trust". There was no dressage training in my area, and dressage was sort of poo pooed. But it was something I wanted to learn - and I wanted to learn it in the correct manner. When I came across his book, I immediately began teaching myself and my horses after his methods (secretly, of course!). I also dreamed of meeting him and learning from him one day, but had no idea how to make that come about.

In 2001, I had my horse accident and feared I would never, EVER meet him since I was disabled. Fast forward to 2003. I had begun to get back on a horse and relearn to get my balance. By 2005, I was beginning to be able to actually ride a little instead of just sitting as a passenger.

My parents had some friends, Rob and Kathy Marshall of Nova Scotia. They used to tell me that I should go visit the Marshall's in Nova Scotia, as they had a horse farm. I never went - until.... In 2005, they came to visit us. Kathy and Rob went with me to see my horse. She asked all kinds of questions of me about my riding before my accident, what my goals were, etc.... I let slip that I had always wanted to ride for Walter Zettl but would never get the opportunity now that I had had my accident and was disabled. I had no idea I was talking to the one woman who spearheaded getting FEI level dressage into Nova Scotia. I just knew she was quite knowledgeable!

Before they left to go home to Nova Scotia, they invited me to their farm. Not only did they invite me, they paid for my round trip air ticket. So we set a date, got the tickets, and Kathy arranged for me to have daily lessons on an FEI horse at the Atlantic Dressage Development Center with a girl named Pam and a a 17.3 hand Whestphalian horse named Foster. A couple of days before my departure, Kathy calls me and says, "Guess what?" As fate would have it, Walter was slated to come teach at the same barn and at the same time I had chosen to come to Nova Scotia. He was teaching Saturday and Sunday. I could only come audit the Saturday as my plane left the next day. They (ADDC and Kathy/Rob) encouraged me to write a letter to Walter Zettl, which I did, and they gave to him. Upon reading the letter, he offered to tack me on as the 9th rider of Saturday's clinic.

This is how I first met Walter and his wife, Heide. I have had the privilege of keeping in touch with them regularly since then. Either through auditing clinics of his, riding for him, or keeping up by phone and email. It has been an honor that someone of their caliber has taken the time to keep up with lil' ole me. I continue, even as a disabled rider, to attempt to pattern my riding after his teachings, as I believe in them deeply.

Thank you Walter and Heide for your continued friendship and for the opportunity to learn from you whenever I can. It has, and continues to be, a life changing experience.

Sharon Schneidman

PHOTO BY JOHN C HUTCHINS

Sharon Schneidman is has been the U.S. Para Dressage assistant coach at the 2008 Hong Kong Olympic Games, at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (held in Lexington, KY), and will be the assistant coach for the 2012 London Olympic Games. She has an extensive background of coaching, training and competing for over 40 years and has competed through the FEI Grand Prix level in North America. She and her husband own and run Westmanton Stables in Colorado. You can find the link to their website here:
(http://www.westmantonstables.com/index.htm)

It has been an honor and a privilege to learn from her on the few occasions I have. Often she has been right there giving last minute advise just before going into the ring to compete. I look forward to learning more from her over the next several years.