Gimme Grace Dog Boarding and Training - Silent Auction (Aug. 13, 10 pm through Aug. 21, 2011 @ 9pm

Raising funds to help me compete at:
1.  the 3*/nationals in Sept 2011,
2.  Mexico City in November, 2011
3.  Wellington, in Dec 2011,
then in 2012:
4.  Texas,
5.  Portugal,
6.  Del Mar Dressage Affair in California,
7.  the 2012 Selection Trials, and
8.  I believe finally/hopefully, the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England!

Gimme Grace is a boarding and training facility based out of Louisville, KY.  The head trainer/owner is a wonderful and kind dog trainer who really knows her stuff.  She has graciously offered the following package for a silent auction (www.gimmegracedogtraining.​com):

2 week Board n' Packages for any breed of dogs.
(location:  KY, Nashville, Cincinatti & the quad state. Nationally if willing to travel.)

No dogs with human or canine aggression accepted without initial evaluation and consent of trainer.
Training up to owner: Obedience, Manners, Agility, Crate, Games, Competition, Tricks, Combos, etc.... Owner solely responsible for transport unless dually agreed.................

Bidder is responsible for all involved travel costs. GMG can pick up and transport from the Louisville and Lexington airports, although there will be a $50 fee for transport from Lexington. General travel is to KY, Nashville and Cincy, and the quad state area.
 
Worth an actual value of $1200 and a face value of $750
*************
1.  Please comment in the comments section of this blog to bid with your email address.  

2.  If there is no contact email address, the bid is not valid.  

3.  This is a silent auction so your bid/comment/email address will not be posted. 


4.  The winner will be contacted after bidding has ended on August 21, 2011 after 9pm to tell them how to make payment. Once payment has been confirmed through USPEA (www.uspea.org) for 'Kim Jones", the winner will be put in contact with Gimme Grace Dog Training's owner to claim prize.  Your payment will be tax deductible through USPEA.

Let the bidding begin!

Star Gets A Massage!

Star Says, "Thank you for my massage!" to Amelia Main

The other day, Star got a massage from non other than Amelia Main.  Without me telling her before hand, she identified areas that I had had issues with when I rode Star before he broke his leg.  Star is owned by Beverly Rardin of Rardin Farm in Mount Pleasant, SC.  After the massage, he was more relaxed, had straighter self carriage, and was altogether happier and more relaxed.

If you wish to contact Amelia to massage your horse, you may reach her at ameliamail@hotmail.com .

Thank you, Amelia!!

Captain Lymington (Lou)

Babe of Ballisodare, owned by Michelle Donlick of Avalo Farm in Wagner, SC has not been competed this year yet as he is coming back from his injury.  For our nationals this year, he has to either qualify with one ride from another rider (Michelle) from a competition this year with an R or S judge, at or above my grade comparison, OR qualify with a Championship AND a freestyle score from me from one of our PE international judges.  I considered trying - and even competed him in a Championship test (receiving a qualifying score).  But after giving him his first real workout in a year, I felt it was not fair to push him to do all that in a two week time frame.  He is healing well, feels good, and I decided to forego that for now in hopes of possibly riding him next year, if that is what his owner decides she wants to do.

I've been riding another friend's horse this past week.  Sara Kinard is the trainer and runs Half Pass Farm and Stables in Ravenel, SC and has a horse named Lou.  He is 9 years old, a Holsteiner, and is currently between 3rd and 4th level.  Here is my 2nd ride on him.  We are playing around with some school figures and hoping to put together a freestyle.  It's sloppy, I know.  He's the biggest horse I've ever ridden.  I'm slowly learning to not look so sloppy and get him more over his back, forward and engaged.  Hoping it all comes together soon.

Thank you, Sara, Rob and Maggie!

Will There Ever Be Justice For This Young Race Horse and Others Like Him?

The Sad Fall of a Young Race Horse

This story makes me literally sick to my stomach.