$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!

Walter Zettl Clinic November 2011 in Houghton, NY

My computer died, so I have no pictures of Walter & Heide Zettl and me.  But...

Here is a link to parts of a recent lesson with Walter Zettl.  I had not ridden this horse before my lessons with him, so please be kind!  The horse is E.T.,  a 20 plus year old schoolmaster who has taken a few riders to their gold medals.  I was very honored to be given the privilege to ride him and learn on him with Walter.  When I look at videos of myself, I see just how much I have to go to be where I want to be.  I am encouraged at where I've come from, but very aware of how so very much more I have to relearn and learn.  I tend to be critical of my every mistake and it makes me want to ride much better with each ride.  (I call it my "dork" position... and ask each of my coaches to help me get the "dork look" out of my riding, lol!)  The better position I can have and the more accurate I can be with my cues, the better we can dance together as partners. It's come a long way - but, wowza, it has a long ways to go!  Hope you enjoy :)  Thank you ET for the ride, JoAnne for the loan, and Walter for the lesson!

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!

Mini Update

Classic Star

I recently had the honor and pleasure of being invited to ride and learn from Walter Zettl at a clinic again.  I also audited a clinic not long after that.  Thank you to Mr. Zettl for offering your 60 plus years experience to teach us all.  Thank you to Mrs. Zettl for all the organizing, packing, editing, and mothering you do.  I love you both.

I also had the honor and pleasure of learning from Karen Rohlf (Dressage Naturally) at Michelle Donlick's Avalo Farm.  It was a great weekend.  Thank you to Karen for coming - and thank you to Michelle for hosting and loaning me De'Jeur (I think I spelled his name correctly)!

If anyone knows of any fundraiser ideas, I am still qualified to be invited to the selection trials next year for the 2012 Olympic Games. I have found a possible horse!!!!!!!  But the funds are still needed.  Let me know!  No idea is too small or too big!  I might be behind in available funds, but once they are there, I still intend to make that team!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving From My Family to Yours!

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!

No Mexico For Us

Wellllllllllllll, Lou is back home in his new digs at Heritage Hall, owned by Vicki Hall.  It's a wonderful place and she and the staff take great care of the horses there.  Sara Kinard, Lou's owner, is back from Germany... and my lease of the lovely Lou has come to an end.  I miss him already.

Just to update everyone, I was unable to raise the funds needed to compete in Mexico and have let them know I cannot compete this go round.  The definite entry is due by Friday, and with the little bit of bake sales I've been able to do, it's just not enough.  I will have to aim for Wellington in December - unless a miracle happens before Friday of this week.

Ya'll take care and I will update you soon!

No Nationals This Year

I have officially withdrawn myself and Lou from our nationals/3*.  I was both unable to raise the funds to continue on to the competition and felt that Lou's stamina would eventually affect his soundness and did not want to ask him to do all that and risk injury.  He was happy, but exhausted by the week before we were to leave for Saugerties from Blue Hill, and I felt it was too much to ask him to continue.  There will be another 3* in Wellington, FL in December which I will attend.

All was not lost though.  Lou and I have had an awesome time learning from Missy and Jessica Ransehousen and from Jean Luc Cornille.  Thank you to all the Blue Hill grooms, Missy, Jes, Jean Luc, Jean, JoAnne, Sue, Eadie, and Brewster for helping this be such a great learning time.

I'll let ya'll know when we come home!  Thank you for all your support, kind words, emails and support!  I love you all!

My Answer To Stress!

Click here!    

No, I don't have any drama llama going on in my life.  However, I am quite stressed about our upcoming nationals.  Not the competing part; just the financial part of raising the funds, the stress and responsibility of borrowing and transporting someone else's 4 legged boyfriend to PA, NY, PA and then home, raising funds, a hurricane possibly coming our direction while I am gone, raising funds, arranging for my mom and cats to be evacuated in my absence if necessary, raising funds.... You get the picture.

This is where the Drama Llama comes in.. Although no drama is going on, this song makes me laugh every time I hear and see it!

Enjoy!

(Sorry no pics!  My computer bit the dust and all my pictures were lost.  I'll be back to posting pics when I get a new computer!)

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. 

Babe of Ballisodare

One of my friends, Michelle Donlick of Avalo Farm in Wagener, SC, has allowed me to ride her horse Babe of Ballisodare often since 2003.   Last year, he had an injury and is just now coming back into work.  Before his injury, he was Michelle's prelim eventer and a level 4/5 Parelli horse.  I was supposed to ride him at WindReach in Canada last year, but he was injured 2 weeks before we left.   The other day, I drove up to Wagener and we took him to an arena down the road from Avalo Farm.  This is that ride.  I did not ask him for more than he wanted to give and basically just allowed him to pick how much effort he was willing to offer.  This was a first-time-back, go-at-your-own-pace test.  He did beautifully, I think, for the first time in a year.  This test was turned in to our international para judges and was scored a 62.86.  Not too shabby for a first time back test.  Thank you to everyone for hauling, grooming, loaning arenas, encouraging and helping me that weekend!

Errr scratch that.  I've tried for 3 days to get it to upload and it will not.  Dang it all, lol.


Because that video does not load, here is another of me riding Babe for Walter Zettl 3 years ago.  This is part of our warmup, the video is grainy and jerky.  But you can see how nice of a mover BabeMan is here:

Michelle has lots of horses for sale so check her out!