This message is from: "lindy"
Dear Listers
I wish to add my thanks and attaboys to the volunteers Sue Freivald
mentioned earlier. John Bolinski was always by the ingate; measuring,
microchipping and dispensing uplifting advice and wisecracks despite the
searing sun and oppressive temperatures for three full days at Herndon. He
was unendingly cheerful and helpful. We would have been much the poorer for
his absence.
He was ably assisted for a number of hours during both the Evaluation and
Show by young John Raabe, who has such a deft hand with horses it makes me
envious. They were both incredibly helpful to all of us.
Betsy Smith is a rock! And she rocks! She was always there, calculator
and encouraging words at the ready.
It is so important to have two people to double check the scores, and she
and Sue did an admirable job. Thank you ladies!
Margaret Bogie provided plenty of water and snacks, and boy, did we need
the water! The temperatures and humidities were brutal for people and
Fjords both.
In spite of the overwhelming heat, a wonderful time was had by all, and I
am grateful to Margaret Bogie, Curt Pierce and everyone else who worked so
hard to give us a good time. Y'all done good (as they say here in Virginia)
!
I also want to relate a heartwarming incident that I was privileged to be a
part of. Frying Pan Farm Park is a local park in Herndon, and in addition
to the usual park stuff of swings, slides and the like, there are barns of
farm critters for the city kids to see and pet. The place was full of moms
and kids all four days we were there. One mom caught my eye . She was with
her daughter, who I guessed was a special needs child. I have a special
needs child of my own, and after a while, one learns to spot them.
This little girl was interested in seeing the horses, although she was not
very verbal. Her mom said she was autistic, and had started to talk more
since she was getting equine therapy at another facility. I offered to let
them pet my mare, Dagney. The little girl went to the door of the stall,
and then turned and ran across the aisle and said "hat". Her mom told me
that the children were told to always have a hard hat on before they
approached the horses. She grabbed a helmet from our tack stall and then
walked into Dagney's stall. I was standing there with Dagney in a halter
and lead. The little girl walked up to Dagney on the near side and turned
to her mom and said "ride".
She looked at me, and I told her it was okay with me if it was okay with
her. So she picked up her daughter and put her on Dag's back. Dagney stood
like a stone, and the little girl got the biggest smile, and it brought
tears to my eyes.
After a few minutes, she got down, gave me back the hard hat and off they
went. The mom and I exchanged weepy smiles. These horses just KNOW, and it
blows me away.
Lindy (and Dagney, who just KNOWS and I love her for it)
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