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!

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.

Scenic Run Equestrian Center

We are at the lovely Scenic Run Equestrian Center in Novelty, OH.  We came here to work with Nancy Stanton for the summer, who has graciously given me the ride on her Ghlenlivet, whom I am working to own one day.  I couldn't be happier with the facilities.  Between Flip, Phil, Rodolfo and Dani the place is run very well.  There is an indoor and an outdoor arena, pastures, all weather turn out and a whole bunch of cool people!  Ghlen settled in nicely after his 20 hour haul, had one day off and settled into a nice work routine.  I absolutely love that boy!  I am so thankful to Scenic Run and all their staff for their help and to Nancy Stanton for reaching out to help us on our next leg.  We hope to be back to international competition soon, with a specific aim to Rio.   A special thank you to Colleen Kelly, Lori Northrup and Reggie Summey Transport from NC for getting us here safely.

For more information on Scenic Run, check them out here at  Scenic Run Equestrian Center.  If you are in northern OH and are looking for a place to board and train - look them up!  They run all kinds of packages from self care to total care, depending on your needs.

Pictures coming soon!

My Mom

Mom's Are Wonderful!


I just wanted to give a special shout out to my 72 year old mom.  She has become quite the horse person.  Before, during and after my surgery she brought me to the barn and let me bark orders to her about how to feed, clean buckets, muck stalls, lead Ghlen in and out of the pasture, etc....  She has gone and fed him lunch when I had doctor appointments or physical therapy.  She leads him around like she's been doing it all her life.  Ghlen looks forward to her visits.  What a sport!  She even dumps the manure in the manure pile, sweeps the isle, cleans the feed room and whatever else her hands find to do.  Mom's rock - particularly MY mom.  Thanks Mom!

Sun News Article

Photo by Lindsay Yosef McCall 2012                
 Horse's name is misspelled on scoreboard.  He is Ghlenlivet, owned by Nancy Stanton of Chardon, OH

Steve Palisin recently did an article on Olympic and Paralympic Dressage and was kind enough to include Ghlenlivet and myself in the article.  You can find that article HERE .

Thank you Steve!

I promise to bring you up to date on my blog before too much longer.  Thank you to all my family, friends, supporters, coaches, horse owners, vets, farriers, grooms, and everyone else who makes this possible for us.  We are completely indebted to you all.

Dylan, Nancy Hinz and Yellow Rose Dressage

Update 7 June 2012

Pictures are here.  Nancy Hinz, Dylan's owner, sent these pictures of Dylan - the awesome Welch Cob she allowed me to ride in TX.  They have continued to keep in touch since then and even helped raise some funds to help me get to Selection Trials!  Thank you Dylan, Nancy and all of Yellow Rose Dressage!!!!

***************

Pictures coming, pictures coming!  I don't have any pictures back from my picture taker.  But they are coming.  I'll add them when they do!

I recently competed in Katy, Texas and the CPEDI 3* there, which was the final requirement of my being invited to the Selection Trials where the team for the 2012 Paralympic Team to London, England will be selected.

I was unable to raise the funds to bring "my" horse(s) and wrote the organizers to ask if they might have a horse I could catch ride.  They put me in touch with Nancy Hinz of Yellow Rose Dressage of Montgomery, TX.  She offered her pony, Madoc Dylan - and it ended up being a match made in heaven.

Because of finances, I could not afford to come a week early to train on Dylan.  Bill Stapleton traveled with me, did all the driving, pulled my wheelchair in and out of the car, bought food and pushed me around.  For the record, within 20 minutes of Dylan arriving at the show grounds, Bill was mucking stalls, unloading trailers, filling water buckets and giving out hay just like he had done it all his life.  He gets 5 gold stars for this trip and lots of hugs.

We arrived in time to have 3 rides on Dylan at Nancy's farm, Yellow Rose Dressage.  Then Nancy hit the road to bring him to the Great Southwestern Equestrian Center in Katy, TX.  Dylan is so awesome!  He is a Welch Cob pony, not a spooker, and boy, if you insist on it, he delivers.  I had a little trouble with my insisting sometimes (something I am working on), but he still was rock, solid stable.  For the team test (and on our 5th ride together), he delivered a 65 and some change.  The next day was the individual test for 62 and change.  Sunday was the freestyle, which I basically made up as I went along.  Dylan loved the music and  gave a 66 and some change.  I would have loved to have had Dylan's first 70%, but I was very happy with all we did.  It wasn't that he couldn't do a 70% - it was that I wasn't able to ride him at 70%... YET, lol.  He is a lovely pony.  Nancy, his owner, bent over backwards to make it happen for us both (thank you, Nancy).  Cindy Moriarty was fill in groom when she could and Nancy couldn't ... both of them totally rocked (thank you, Cindy/Nancy).  Everyone from Yellow Rose Dressage did GREAT with their classes.  Allie, on her pony Maple Lane Kero, (also known as Peaches) did a wonderful freestyle and brought the house down on Saturday evening.  Everyone, including Dylan, was awesome.  In addition to the above scores, we ended up being Reserve Champions for each of our Grade II classes.  Thank you, Dylan!   Just think of how well we would have done if we had had a week or two together before hand.  I was completely impressed with Dylan, Nancy, Cindy,  Allie and EVERYONE at Yellow Rose Dressage.

A very huge hug and thank you to everything Yellow Rose Dressage did and everything they ARE doing to help us on our journey to London.  A very big hug and thank you to Missy Ransehousen and Sharon Schneidman for all you guys do to help make us all be our best as well.

If you are in TX, check them out HERE!   (pictures coming soon!)

Medicine Wind Tack Shop

picture from Medicine Wind Tack website

I recently dropped by Medicine Wind Tack Shop  (owned by Dale and Jennifer Martin) to pick up a couple of things as I passed by on my way to volunteer at IPPL (International Primate Protection League).  In the process, I ended up with a Fenwick Titanium shirt and the matching headband.  Products infused with titanium are the latest technology for natural healing.  It is supposed to restore energy, boost the immune system and calm.  Star has a new face mask with this stuff in it and he seems to love it.  When I came up to him yesterday with it, he was literally putting his head into the mask. Thank you for all your help that day, Jennifer!

Check out Medicine Wind!  They carry some nice stuff!

Meet Ghlenlivet! and Classic Star!

Meet Ghlenlivet, affectionately known as Ghlen or Ghlennie.  He is owned by Greg and Nancy Stanton of Chardon, OH.  Nancy is the Grand Prix trainer at Sendon Way Equestrian Center.  Sendon Way is a family affair with Nancy being the trainer, Sharon being quite involved, and Greg & Nancy and Bob and Bernie living on the property.  The horses have 24 hour care.  Their awesome groom is Alex.

I met them when looking for a horse for purchase when I thought I might have sponsorship to that end.  That ended up falling through, but maybe I can find another way to one day own this lovely, kind hearted, talented boy.  There are not many horses I get on and they immediately feel like a glove.  Umm, not that I could sit his HUGE trot right away, but that he just fit.  He lifted up into me and I was carried by him.  The rhythm from his gait settled into my head where I was able to get my cues to land at the appropriate time without 10 days of practice on him.  (There is alot I have to compensate for the land both sides of my cue at the same moment and in the correct moment of the stride.)  From the moment I saw him, I was smitten and wished there was a way I could own him.  But it was not to be.   I approached them about the possibility of trying to take him to the 2012 Paralympic Selection Trials instead of purchasing him at this time.  God must have been smiling at me, the stars all aligned and the Stanton's graciously offered to take Ghlen off the market until after the Paralympic Games in London.  These people took me in like their own and have graciously made themselves available in every way possible to help this happen.  Look for us in London!

To the Stanton's and Lewis' - from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for giving me this opportunity with this special boy.  It's been love at first site with him - an instant bond that doesn't happen very often in a lifetime.  Stay tuned!  We plan to knock everyone's socks off :)

----------------

Meet Classic Star!  Star, Starstar, Starmeister has been a horse I have been riding for about 4 years now.  His owner is Beverly Rardin.  She contacted me several years back and told me she had a jumping horse who was getting up in years and knew he had some dressage training (but wasn't completely sure how much - around maybe 4th level)  and would I come work with him to see what kind of dressage he knew and could get back after being out of it for so long.  I needed a horse to ride and she needed her horse to be ridden.  So it was a perfect fit!

I took the first two years to build up his back strength and hind end as he had been ridden in a hunter/jumper frame instead of a FEI dressage frame for the last 10 years or so - give or take.  Gradually, he began to build up his different muscles and began to love his dressage work.  We were starting things like 1/2 passes at the trot and canter, collected and medium canter, 1/2 step trots, etc....  He had obviously had some dressage training up to at least I1.  One day, he began to offer 2 tempi and was so proud of himself!  I didn't ask for it, but I was certainly happy at his exuberance!  After that first day, he would offer 2 tempis whenever he was excited and happy with his work.

Beverly and I began to search for his passport.  We tracked it down and low and behold, Star is not 15 or 16 like we thought, but 24!  Not only that, he was a Grand Prix jumper in his younger years and had attended the big wig shows in Aachen and such.  So we decided to try and make a bid for London with the 24, going on 4 year old.  Only Star had some interim plans.  With his spunk and spirit we all know, he decides that kicking his stall wall might be a fun thing to do.  In the process, he broke his splint bone.  We think he may have at that time also injured his suspensory in that leg because all his xrays had been clean to that point for suspensory injuries.  It's been a process getting him back.  But Star is all heart and loves a job.  Then in the middle of rehabbing him, I had an injury and was out for 4 months.   I'm back.  Star's back.  I am willing to work and see what he can do as long as he is wanting to try and is not injured.  So we are working to get to Selection Trials.  So far, so good...but he has a long way to go to get the stiffness out from being off for so long.  He is also a bit emotional with things, which is new for him.  So I'm taking it one day at a time and seeing what he can do each day.   We are working every day on getting there and I have no doubt as to his "want to" and drive.  It will be fun to give him a chance in his golden years to shine on the international stage one more time.  For me, it's more about the relationship than the goal - so if he ever decides he can't - or if he is in danger of being injured again, we won't do it.  The horse comes first.  Always.  But if he can, then we will.

Beverly has also taken me under her wing and adopted me.  She has done absolutely everything possible to help me, not only with Star, but simply to make it to the Paralympics.  I could not do this without people like her who give so generously and do everything they can to make someone else's dreams come true.  Beverly is a class act and it's an honor to know her and work with her horse.

Star has quite the personality and it is impossible not to love him.  I love him so much.  If I could own him, I would own him too!   I am so proud to ride him and honored to be a part of his life.  To Beverly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to ride him and see what he can do.  He's got too much heart to turn out to pasture and retirement until he says he is ready.  Thank you.

-----

To the Stanton's, Lewis' and Rardins:  I am honored beyond belief that you have entrusted your horses to me.  I get teary eyed everytime I think of the trust you've put in me with your wonderful partners.  I hope to make you all proud of your four legged family members.  Thank you!

Black Bottom Tack Shop; Ladson, SC

Black Bottom Tack Shop in Ladson, SC has been established since 1989 and provides all ranges of tack and equipment for the horseman at affordable prices. Their staff is wonderful and can help you find anything you might need. They bend over backwards to help me with my needs: before WEG in 2010, after WEG, and now as I aim for the 2012 Paralympic Games. They always go over and beyond the call of duty for anything needed. I have many friends who also shop there and have always heard nothing but great things about their tack shop! If they don't have it, they can get it for you. Check them out HERE or at  http://jeffreycrider.tripod.com/tack.html

Thank you, Black Bottom Tack!

Well, it looks like it's time for an update here!   The horse pictured above was my Radical.  Oh how I miss that boy.

2011 ended with a bang.  Ha, in more ways than one.  I trained with Missy and Jessica Ransehousen for a couple of weeks in September, there was an awesome clinic by Robert Dover in Gladstone, NY,  I took a lesson from Walter Zettl courtesy of Challenged Athletes foundation, I audited another clinic given by Walter Zettl, started rehabbing Classic Star,  finally got to clinic with Karen Rolhf at Michelle Donlick's of Avalo Farm (I've been wanting to for years now), started learning how to make horse hair bracelets, fell off a friend's horse, and did a whole lot of resting and recuperating.  I hope to resume riding this week!

I'm in fundraiser mode now, hoping to make it to Del Mar.  I was registered to compete in FL these last three weeks of January, but was unable to find a horse.  I even had Hope Hand and a few others scouting for a horse for me and did not hear back from any of them of finding one either before the entry deadline.  So I had to withdraw.  I'm hoping for better luck for California!

Fundraisers:
Horse Hair Bracelets!  For a donation of $30, you get a horse hair bracelet made with hair from your horse (if you wish).

Colleen Kelly is coming to town.  For those of you who don't know her, she is an expert in rider biomechanics.  For those of you who know ME, you know that is a big interest of mine, especially with all the compensating I have to do just to live through a day, much less ride!  She also has hooked up with Pat and Linda Parelli - which is a huge plus.  I regularly toot the horn of natural horsemanship and believe it goes such a long way to develop that relationship we all want.  You can find out more about Colleen Kelly here.
SHE WILL BE HERE FOR A LECTURE ON FRIDAY, FEB 10 AND A CLINIC ON SATURDAY, FEB 11!
If you are interested, give me a ring - or comment on this entry form.  I'll get back to you with more information.
Also, I'll be posting a whole post about the up coming clinic once we get the details ironed out!

The road to 2012 has been varied and quite bumpy.  But my nose is still pointed in that direction.  Stay tuned!

Update

It's been quite a while since I've written, so I thought I'd give you guys some updates.

Equifit has this awesome product, ShouldersBack.  My shoulders tend to hutch forward because of all the time I have to spend in a wheelchair.  I've been using it and it is AWESOME!  You can find a ShouldersBack and other products HERE.

The pancake breakfast fundraiser had to be canceled for not enough interest.  We are currently working on a CT, a golf tournament, a spaghetti dinner, and a clinic with Colleen Kelly in February.  Contact me if you are interested in helping with any of these!

Lou is back from PA and is doing well.  I miss him so much.  He was such a sweetie.  Hopefully I can get out to see him in the next week or two.

I had to withdraw from Mexico for lack of funds.  The next competition is Portugal and I need to raise about $15,000 in about a week.  Anyone with any ideas of quick fundraising, let me know :)

Last week, for my birthday, Challenged Athletes Foundation paid for me to ride with Walter Zettl.  I always love learning from him. I rode at Houghton College in New York on a 23 year old horse named ET.  I was able to work again on my flying changes (needs LOTS of work from right to left and my hip tends to get stuck going that direction), canter pirohettes (they are improving a little), piaffe and passage. ET was a lovely partner and I enjoyed learning from Walter.  Thank you Challenged Athletes, Jo-Anne Young, Houghton College, ET, and especially Walter Zettl.  I have a small clip of some of my riding but need to get permission to post.

That's it for updates.  Next month will see if the funds come in for me to compete in Portugal (actually, the next week will tell that), I will audit the clinic Missy Ransehousen and Robert Dover are giving at Gladstone, clinic with Walter again possibly, train with Missy and Jessica Ransehousen.  December will be Portugal and continuing to raise funds and look for a horse.

Thank you all for your friendship and support!

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!!