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.

Nancy Stanton Dressage

Warming Ghlen up at the trot (picture by Lori Northrup)

We are here in Novelty, OH working with the owner who owns most of Ghlen, Nancy Stanton, for the summer, as well as some work with Walter Zettl and Carl Eijkenaar.  Nancy graciously allowed us to come for the summer to get back on track for competition.  We've had a few set backs over the last two years.  Ghlen had a very serious reaction to a spider bite.  Then I was sick for quite a while.  Then the weather did not cooperate at all this winter.  We are both on the mend, the weather is gorgeous up here, I am back in the saddle, and Ghlen & I are back into full time work.  Nancy has patiently helped us begin to get our feet back on the right track and I am forever grateful for her input, profanities (just kidding) and advise.  She is a class act lady who knows how to put fun into dressage without compromising the quality.  Thank you Nancy! I am so grateful to be back in the saddle and back towards aiming for national and international competition soon - both para and able bodied.  We have alot of goals , and therefore, alot of fundraising and looking for sponsorship in our future.

I would also like to thank Colleen Kelley and Lori Northrup, Reggie Summey Transport and Scenic Run Equestrian Center.  Without them all, this trip would not be possible.  It truly takes a village....

Nancy now has an assistant trainer, Meghan Kelley, who is a up and coming dressage trainer.  I have watched her ride and have been impressed with her seat and her knowledge base.

If anyone in the OH area wants lessons or training, feel free to contact me through this blog and I will put you in contact with them!

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!

county saddlery logo

A huge thank you to County Saddlery for changing out Ghlen's older girth when it started leaving sores on him from the top edges of the girth.  The new design has rounded edges and fits very well.  Ghlen is very happy with his new girth and his rider is so thankful to County Saddlery!  Check them out!  They have great saddles and girths and their customer service is second to none.

Thank you, County!

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.

I've been switching Ghlenlivet over to this feed called CoolStance.  It's a low carb, high fat feed.  It's made of medium chain triglycerides -  which basically means the feed starts to digest almost as soon as the food is swallowed, not in the hind gut where alot of feeds are digested (which can lead to hind gut acidosis and colic).  MCT also means that the glucose gets stored easily in the cells and is easily accessible for energy.  It does not need to be converted into something the body can use as it comes out of the cells...it is already in a usable form, unlike some other oils and high fats like vegetable oil or corn oil.

Because Ghlen has shivers, he needs to have a steady stream of glucose in his system, not the highs and lows associated with some other feeds - but without molasses and grains.  His body doesn't tolerate the molasses and grains in many feeds.  He can't even have sugar cubes, poor kid!  But he gets plenty of carrots and some apples to boot.   Studies show that blood glucose stays a constant steady on this feed for 24 hours/day.  Cool Stance is turning out to be a great feed for him!

Cool Stance has been around for 20 years or more in Australia and other European countries.  They have to CoolStance feed, PowerStance (which is coconut oil which is dried into powder form) and even some human coconut products. They are just now marketing in the US.  For more information, go to www.stanceequine.com or click HERE

Thank you, Cool Stance!

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!

$100 Gas Card Gift Goes To....

Beverly Rardin!  Congratulations!

A great big thank you to all who contributed to help me raise money to attend the last requirement in Houston in order to remain eligible for the Selection Trials.  This fundraiser raised about $50 towards that.  Every little bit helps and I am so grateful for everyone who participated.

THANK YOU!

Free Gas!

I am still raising money to try and make it to Houston, TX to the 3* there and then to Selection Trials. The ipod raised $200.  $200 down, $54,800 to go.

Anyone who makes a donation (tax deductible!) in my name to USPEA (our non-profit for our international riders) this month will be entered to win a free $100 gas card.  Every $2 will generate one raffle ticket.  You will be contacted with your ticket numbers.

The dates are from now through the end of the month.  The winner will be notified by phone or email on April 1st with a blog post to follow here not long after.

There are two ways to give:
1.  Donate by clicking on and following the directions of the purple label near the top of this page OR by going to www.uspea.org   Donations MUST be earmarked for Kim Jones or it goes to a general fund and I won't know of your gift.

2.  Paypal as a gift to my email:  kimjonesmaestro@yahoo.com

Thank you so much and good luck!

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!

The Dressage Foundation

The Dressage Foundation is an organization founded by Lowell Boomer in 1989 with the mission: "To cultivate and provide financial support for the advancement of dressage."  Mr Boomer was also the founding organizer of the USDF in 1973.

I had the honor of speaking with him by phone for about an hour and a half in 2010, asking all kind of questions of how to fundraise for competing internationally.  There are not many organizations that help financially with para riders in dressage, but that is changing.

The Dressage Foundation has quite a few avenues for someone wishing to invest  funds and receive a return as well as grants to help athletes, judges and coaches ease the financial burden.  You can check out The Dressage Foundation's website HERE or you can go to www.dressagefoundation.org

If you have any questions, contact me and I'll try to point you in the right direction.  You can also contact them directly by clicking on the contact button on their website.

And the winner is...

Dachia Arritola!  Congratulations on winning the February raffle Ipod Touch!  May you have hours and hours of fun with your new ipod :)

A big thank you to all who participated!  I will be raffling another item for March.  Let me know if you have any ideas!

(I was going to post a video of the ticket being drawn, but am having trouble uploading the video clip.  Here is a picture of the winning ticket.)  Thank you again to all who participated and a huge congratulations to Dachia!

iPod Touch Raffle

Photo from Apple

We are raffling an iPod Touch 8Gb to try and raise funds to compete in Del Mar at the Dressage Affair, Texas, and the Selection Trials.

The raffle cost is $2/ticket.

Drawing is on February 29 at 5pm EST.

Drawing will be videoed and posted.

I will contact the winner and let them choose white or black (the only two colors offered in the iPod Touch) and if they want their name engraved.  The iPod will then be send directly to the winner from Apple.


There are 3 ways to pay:

1) pay pal @kimjonesmaestro@yahoo.com as a "gift".

2) click the purple link on my blog www.disabilitydressage.blogspot.com below the opening picture and follow those directions.  This take you to the USPEA (United States Para Equestrian Association) and will make your donation tax deductible.  Be sure and designate that it goes to me under "special instructions".  Otherwise I will never know you donated and your money will go to a general fund.

OR

3) write a check to USPEA for the amount you want to spend on the raffle and contact me under the comments section of this blog for a mailing address.

Good luck!  Thank you to all who have entered so far!  I couldn't do it without all the wonderful friendships and support I have been given.  Thank you all from the bottom of my heart!

Here's What's Going On!

Mom grooming Lou Sept 2011

Well, alot has been going on, which I will tell you about.  I am still hopeful to make it to selection trials.  But first, let met tell you what is going on in my world.

As you know, we had to pull out of nationals last year.

Star has started with his rehabilitation.

I had a wee bit of a horse accident in December and am not back to riding.  I am hoping to be back in the saddle very soon!

I missed my two Florida 3*'s.  I wasn't able to locate a horse in time.  Not to mention I was not back to riding yet (although if I had found a horse, I would have been there anyway).  There was also the small, wee little issue of not having raised enough funds to get there.

The Colleen Kelly clinic was canceled, but we are working on rescheduling for either May and/or August.  I'll keep you posted.

I have, so far, been unable to raise enough funds to go to Del Mar.  I have to have an entry in by Feb 17, so that does not leave much time to raise the funds.  I'm working on it hard every day though.  After Del Mar, there is only one more 3* left before selection trials.

Even though I made my qualifying score for the Selection Trials for London in 2010, we also have to go to a 3* between Dec of last year and April of this year to remain eligible.

It's getting down to the wire.  If anyone knows of any immediate like, good fundraisers ideas, contact me right away.

Thank you guys for all your encouragement and support these last few years.  I still plan to make it to London!  I'm not sure how, but I still plan to make it.  I plan to not only make it, but make it and kick butt.  Stay tuned.  I'll try to do better with the updates!

Congratulations to all my teammates who have been out sweeping up competitions left and right.  I am so proud of them!