Rona Jacobs and Hugs for Horses

The late Ollie and me 2010

We all had to learn to ride somewhere, eh?  I started when I was three on my brother's pony and went from there on my own with borrowed ponies and horses whenever someone would allow me a ride on their steeds.  But when it came to lessons, I did not take lessons until I was about 11 years old.  We had just moved to Andrews, SC and she was an instructor in Georgetown about 30 minutes away.  Her name is Rona Jacobs.  What I remember most about her was her gentleness, her kindness and her sense of humor!  She backed my first horse, Stardust Dancer (Dusty) which had been given to me a few years prior as a newborn.  She taught me hunt seat, equitation and jumping - all of which I loved!  It was under her care and instruction I was reserve champion for SC for whatever circuit we were showing in a couple of these (can't recall which now - I'm 50!) after just one year of her teaching.  She took me into to her home and allowed several of us horse crazy girls to spend the night often - sleeping in sleeping bags in her living room floor.  She became like an aunt to me in my early years.  She taught me not only to ride, but that sportsmanship and teamwork and integrity mattered in life too.  It's not just about winning, but about living life well, treating your horse right, all the while going for your dream.  Thank you, Rona!

I haven't seen Rona for many years but she still teaches today.  Her small, oh, I don't remember, maybe 6-10 stall barn is now a 60 stall barn with an indoor arena.  She has opened a therapeutic riding program in Georgetown called Hugs for Horses - based out of her Georgetown Equestrian Center.  It is a non-profit dedicated to helping people of all ages with physical, intellectual, or emotional disabilities benefit from riding, caring and loving on horses.  If you'd like to see her website, please click HERE!

I did not have a picture of Rona - it has been so many years since I have seen her.  A lot of pictures were wiped out by Hugo in '89.  I've added a picture of me and the "Late Great Ollie Dollie - Fascination"  Grand Prix Jumper and Grand Prix Dressage horse.  My heart still aches when I think of him.  I still can't believe he is gone.  Some of them are supposed to live forever....  If I come across a picture of Rona, I will post that later.  

Sally Banner-Brown DVM

Sally with her own "pony"!

I must say many thank you's to Sally Banner - Brown, who has spent countless hours helping Ghlen recover from EPM since June 2015 and holding my hand when I didn't know what else to do for him.  Before that, she and John Malark were his vets when we came back to SC in 2012 after the London Selection Trials.  Their care has been second to none.  With John's untimely and suddenly tragic death, Sally is Ghlen's single vet of choice.  She knows his ins and outs and all of his idiosyncrasies.  Although HE's not so happy to see her truck drive up to the barn - "I" am happy to have a vet who takes such good care of all of the equines in her care and in particular, Ghlen.  She's knowledgeable and accurate and brings a great personality to the table as well.  Thank you, Sally, for all you've done for us.  We plan to start competing again in another month or two - as soon as we are cleared by the vet!  It truly has taken a village to bring Ghlen back and Sally is most definitely part of that village.  To learn more about Sally and Edisto Equine Clinic and Hospital, click HERE!  Thank you, Sally!

RIP Sweet Ollie

This gentle giant, who opened a whole new world to me, passed over to the rainbow ridge.  A part of my heart went with him.  He belonged to Jennifer Conour, who generously loaned him to me to try and make it to WEG at the last minute.  There was one more qualifier for the selection trials... in Canada.  My second horse had also come up lame and there was one week to go before this last qualifier.  Jennifer allowed me to come try Ollie (who had been retired, but she brought him out of retirement for, I think, the 3rd time, for me.)  After one ride together, I shipped him to Canada the next day and flew out myself.  My second ride on this big boy was on the day of the jog.   3rd ride was down centerline.  We did get our scores for selection trials that weekend and ultimately made it to be alternates for WEG, thank you to the awesomeness of Jennifer Conour for sending her horse out of the country with someone she had met once and to Shelley Van den Neste who coached me and helped me learn the ropes as I winged it.  Little did I know how kind, gentle Ollie with his massive height of 17.3 and his big broad shoulders would propel me into a whole new arena in life.  I will miss the six to eight months we spent together, him beginning to reteach me movements I had to relearn after my accident (He retaught me my flying lead changes with James Dwyer giving us an "8" on our first ones while we trained with Missy and Jessica Ransehousen at Blue Hill Farm!) ...him sleeping standing over my wheelchair...him taking my ponytail and twirling in in his upper lip over and over... his gentle nicker when he would see me...him following me around like a puppy - only he was a quite massive puppy....  As my riding improved, he gave more - never more than I could handle, but always enough so I was challenged.  When other horses would spook at an object, he would literally look back at me as if to say, "You're ok.  I've got this." and he would steadily go ahead.  He was such a confidence builder. 

Jennifer asked me if the winters were to get too cold, could he come south with me - and if anything were to ever happen to her, would I take Ollie.  Of course, I immediately said I would.  I've made sure I've had room for him wherever Ghlen and I go from that time forward.  I am going to miss my great, big, massive godson who was a legend in his own right.  He helped so many get their bronze, silver, gold medals.  He helped me gain international experience.  He taught so many and was so generous a schoolmaster, from beginner to grand prix, it didn't matter.  He was a saint.

It's not often that a retired Grand Prix jumper/Grand Prix dressage horse comes out of retirement to show you the ropes, reteach you some skills and give you the confidence to move on.  Ollie, you were one of a kind and I hope you are one of the first ones I see when it's my turn to cross the rainbow ridge.  RIP my dear, dear friend.  

Ramard

Photo by Lindsay McCall.  2012 London Paralympic Selection Trials; Gladstone, NJ

There are only two companies where I've tried multiple products and thought each product from that company provided a benefit to my horse.  The first one I ever experienced that with was KER.  The second is Ramard, Inc. 

Ramard is in the process of bringing a new product out for horses who have experienced the neurological effects of EPM, as well as other neurological issues, including stringhalt and shivers, to name a few.  The product is all natural and each ingredient has been proven by science to help the neurological components of the body (both human and equine) function as intended.  Ghlen was the perfect horse to try this on with both shivers and EPM.  Since his EPM diagnosis in June 2015, he was having trouble backing in his stall without dragging his feet.  After the first dose, he was backing, lifting his feet and not dragging them, about 50% of the time.  I can now ride him and back him and he backs 90% of the time as he is supposed to do.  Before I started this gel by Ramard, he was completely incapable of doing this.  His forward and lateral balance has become better under saddle as well and he is becoming more sure of himself.  This is a totally natural product and is FDA approved.  As soon as the name is announced, I will let you know! 
     I've also tried this product on myself.  Those of you who know me know how skeptical I am of new products.  You also know that since my accident in 2001, I have had anhydrosis.  After just 3 or 4 doses, I am beginning to sweat!  Not much yet, but definitely sweat.  Errrrrr perspiration.  From the positive effects seen in both Ghlen and myself, I plan to keep us both on this for many years to come.

Another Ramard product I like is Total Medicated Rinse.  Ghlen is a northern boy and the bugs and heat here in the south are no friend to him.  His allergic reactions are bigger than any horse I have ever owned and have sometimes produced some very serious health issues.  Plus - he is a redhead.  So I decided to buy some Total Medicated Rinse.  It soothes his itchies and reactions and provides a nice smell which also repels the bugs.  It's been tough to find things that work for him and his weird skin type.  But this definitely works for him.

Total Joint supplement is another product I have begun to purchase for Ghlen.  It combines MSM, chondroitin, glucosamine and HA (in a high molecular weight so it is digestible) in one supplement.  I like it because #1, it works and #2, it is in an affordable monthly container.  What I was purchasing before was GREAT, but I had to buy a bucket that lasted for several months at a time and with my disability, fixed income, that was getting harder and harder to do.  I've been very happy with the results Total Joint gives me and none of the ingredients are on the FEI banned or controlled substance list. 

I have been very happy with the Ramard products I have used.  They are top quality ingredients, the benefit to my horse is definitely noticeable, and their service and quality is top of the line.  I will let you know when the gel for neurological issues comes out on the market.  It has already been FDA approved and is all natural.  It has provided benefits for skeptical me and my horse.  I was quite impressed and am looking forward to the continuing neurological improvements this product provides for both Ghlen and me.

From the bottom of my heart -- Thank you, Ramard, Inc!!

Walter Zettl

-15 degrees F outside; 20 degrees in the indoor!

Sometimes there are not enough words, or the right kind of words, to thank someone for all they have invested in your life, both through the books they've written and the personal input they have given.  Walter is that person for me.  The VERY abbreviated version is as follows.  In 2005, four years after my accident, Kathy and Robin Marshall invited me to their home and farm for 10 days to see Nova Scotia and to begin relearning to ride the FEI movements on FEI horses at her farm and at the Atlantic Dressage Development Center.  It just so happened that Walter, a childhood idol of mine whom I felt I would never get to meet or ride for because of my accident that left me using a wheelchair and a walker, was there teaching a clinic at the end of the 10 days I was there.  Walter heard I was there through the staff and agreed to tack me on as the 9th ride of his clinic one day.  That was an awesome week, ending in an experience of a lifetime.  A couple of weeks later I received a phone call from a number I did not recognize.  It was Walter!  In the 12 years since, he and Heide have been kind enough to call every once in a while and to allow me to keep up with them.  In addition, I've been honored to take lessons with him sometimes up to six times a year, and/or audit his lessons, often with sponsorship from my good friend, Lori Northrup.  He has helped me through some major decisions, including making the difficult decision to euthanize my previous mount, Radical Roddin.  He's taught me that horse business can and should be done with ethics and honesty, that principles and character matter in a person, and that kindness to the horse is the most important of all things -  all sometimes difficult to find in the horse world.  I have been so very privileged and honored to learn from one of my childhood heros, Walter Zettl.  As I say at the end of each of my lessons with him, "Thank you, Walter!"

It takes a village....  And Crystal Franklin is a part of my village.  She allows me to bring baked goods to her office and do a "bake sale" as often as I can bring in the goodies.  It might seem like such a little thing.  But, when trying to raise $100,000/year or more, every single little bit helps.  Originally, I was doing this bake sale to raise money to go to Canada and train with Walter Zettl and Eddo Hoekstra in April of this year.  When I fell ill in April and then had surgery, it became apparent that was not going to happen just yet.  June is my recovery month.  So this bake sale has been used to buy the essentials - like wormers, meds, fly sprays, shavings, etc.....  We still plan to go to Canada and will let you know when that is going to happen.  Thank you, Crystal Franklin, for all you are doing to help make a life long dream come true and for looking after my sweet mom when I am not at home.  You are a friend in every sense of the word!

Thank You, Equestrian Aid Foundation

I would be remiss to not thank Equestrian Aid Foundation for their tremendous help - not only with myself, but with several athletes I know.  They assist with financial help equestrian athletes from all over the world who have been hit with catastrophic illness or injury.  They have helped me as well as many athletes I know who have been devastated financially and otherwise by accidents, injuries and illness.  If you ever see a fundraiser being given by them, GO!  Encourage your friends to go.  Participate in the online events offered.  You never know when you or a loved equestrian friend may need their services.  Thank you, Eddo Hoekstra, for referring me.  Thank you, EAF, for your kindness, assistance and help.   Their website is:  www.equestrianaidfoundation.org
Or - you can click HERE!

Life at the Wilken Farm

Ghlen's First Selfie

Life at the Wilken Farm is busy and uses every skill for my daily physical therapy.  At the end of every day, I am exhausted and every muscle in my body is screaming.  But it is worth it.  The Wilken Farm is a personal/private farm of some friends of ours and they have allowed Ghlen and me to come here as we continue on our journey back to the sandbox.  They have taken us under their wing, provided a stall for Ghlen and his own personal paddock.  They allow me to stay in their extra bedroom.  I get to feed and take care of their two dogs and eight cats (kind of like the dog and cat nanny!)  They feed me (and I try to feed them some too).  Ghlen is under cameras, so I can see if he is getting into some residual epm trouble and intervene quickly if needed.  These episodes are getting fewer and further between.  They follow instructions regarding his care when I am gone.  THANK YOU, Wilken Farm owners for helping Ghlen and me make our comeback.

Ghlen is improving each day.  I am amazed at where he was and where he is now.  Each day, I allow my heart to sing a little more with Ghlen's comeback from an almost certain grave.  Ghlen is happy here and is in work 3-4 days a week.  Next week, after my surgery, I plan to bump him back up to 6 days a week, allowing each day and how he feels/is doing to dictate whether it will be a strong work day or a light work day.  Ghlen has a pasture just behind his stall we call the big boy pasture because he has become such a big boy with his being brave.  Several years ago, he was, in the words of his owner, "not very brave".  I've spent several years earning his trust, taking him purposefully into situations I knew were scarey for him but safe for us.  He is beginning to trust and to let me lead him and to look to me with questions when he is afraid, rather than taking the bit and bolting, forgetting he has a rider up there on his back.  He is so bold and powerful and now we are beginning to add the brave.  It is an awesome thing to ride such a powerful horse when there is brave behind the power!  I can't wait to show him off to the world again one day soon.  A special thank you to the Wilken's, Lori Northrup, Kathy Marshall, LV Performance, the Equestrian Aid Foundation, KER, Parson's Auto and EquitOtic - and of course, Nancy Stanton. I'm off to try and fundraise to the tune of about $200,000/year minimum....  Contact me if you have any ideas!!!

Thank you, LV Performance!

Fuzzy pic.  Sleepy baby boy with his magnetic sheet

I'd like to thank some others who have helped us on Ghlen's journey to recovery and back to the competition ring.  Today I am giving a shout out to LV Performance!

Ghlen has shivers, as everyone who knows him knows.  It has never affected his abilities and he has been national champion every time his owner, Nancy Stanton, has taken him out.  They told me when I first started with him that if he makes less than 70% on anything, he's having a bad day!  With me, in a three week span, we qualified for and were invited to the London Selection Trials in 2012 and placed 12th.  Nationally, we placed 6th.  Not nearly what I had planned, but not bad for only three weeks together on a horse that is definitely not a push button horse!

During this time, his requirements for vitamin E were 3-5,000 iu/day.  After he became ill in 2015, his requirements jumped from 3-5,000 iu's/day to 10-15,000 iu/day of Vitamin E.  This amount of naturally occurring Vitamin E has helped immensely in his comeback. 

This is where LV Performance comes in.  I order my vitamin E (among other things) from them.  Their service is quick, efficient and knowledgeable.  I can order his Vitamin E and before I know it, it is on Ghlen's stall step!  They take an interest, not only in placing your order, but in the horse and rider individually and what their needs are.  They have a great line of products from freshly batched equine sourced probiotics to supplements, leather care and insect control.  They are located in Wellington, FL.  Their website is:  www.lvperformance.com or you can click HERE.  They are a newer company and will be adding more products as they grow.  I'm sure if they don't have it, they can get it for you.  Check them out!

Update on Ghlenlivet (thank you EquiOtic!)

Well.  It's been a long, long time since I've posted here.  Ghlen has been through a lot.  I have been through a lot.  And we are both mending and heading back in the right direction.  As many of you know, Ghlen had a run in with EPM in June of 2015.  Since that time, there have been quite a few ups and downs.  He is doing well, under saddle, working on his good days (which is most days now), and is having days where his movements are even more astounding than when I first started with him.  If I can say so myself, this gorgeous mover is getting better with age.

I would never have gotten him back without the help of EquiOtic and Doug Froh.  He talked to me on the phone the night we thought we were going to lose him and offered his help.  Ghlen's response to the EquiOtic was nothing short of miraculous.  I had him on probio's.  But not live EQUINE sourced microcial probiotics.  I cannot thank Doug or EquiOtic enough.  They literally gave me my horse back.  If you have not checked them out, look them up HERE - or go to www.equiotic.com

Out goals have not change - just the timetable.  We are eyeing para nationals,  para weg, paralympics and able bodied nationals, as well as some other things, if he is able.  One day at a time but things are definitely looking upwards! As always, thank you, Nancy Stanton, for entrusting this boy with me.  I hope we can do you proud one day.