TRAV Riders compete!
Hoofbeats competed in the 18 th annual Therapeutic Riding Association of Virginia (TRAV) Regional Competition on Oct.8th and 9th at the Virginia Horse Center. Lynda McGarry was the awesome show manager and she put on a great show! Judges were Jan Fessler, Gabrielle Hooten, Hamlin Rainey, and Anthony Huff and Mary Jo Beckman was the behind the scenes master Secretary.
Hoofbeats took 44 riders and 9 horses to compete in Equitation, Dressage, Musical Kur, Trail, and Poles. Everyone had a great time and came home tired, loaded with ribbons, and with dreams of next year! Thank you to all of the Volunteers and Fabulous Families that went with us and made it so much fun! Thanks also to Tamara Hattersley who took all of the pictures!
Highlights of the weekend included a Pas De Duex with Jill and Betsy Dawson in honor of deployed soldiers. Many Hoofbeats riders performed Musical Kur Freestyles that they helped to create. Cody Robinson, Betsy Dawson, and Sebastian Dawson won Championship in their divisions. Hannah Beard and Kayla McCoy won Reserved Championships. SHERMAN was voted TRAV THERAPY HORSE OF THE YEAR 2011
Show Team Pictures!
- Diane and Willie the Great!Michaela and Sherman
Hoofbeats Show Teams have a blast in 2011!
Cronies on Ponies Drill Team
Hoofbeats riders competed in Dinner Theaters, Games Rallies, Drill Teams, Local and Regional shows in 2011! The Hear the Beat Horse Show Series and the Dressage with a View Shows were extremely popular and our riders learned so much about teamwork, preparation, and goal setting as well as getting so much experience! Thank you to everyone who shared themselves and made it such a lovely experience for everyone!
Hoofbeats Holds Games Rally!
Blueberry in Kisses and Curlers!
Very Sad News
In March, we lost our very dear little Licky Pony.
He had been with us for 16 years, teaching children about the wonders of horses and the natural world. We were honored to know him. He was truly a blessing. We love you, Licky.
Dinner Theater Battle of the Instructors 2011
Hoofbeats hosted the Battle of the Instructors on May 28th.
Riders rode musical kurs and quadrilles to music that the instructors, Carol, Maria, and Jill spent the winter putting together. (Thanks to Weby for her infinite patience in showing us how to play that computer game!) 
Volunteer writes about her Hoofbeats experience
Washington and Lee volunteer Alex Fernandez writes about her Hoofbeats experience and how the barn has made a difference in her life.
Check it out at:
http://wlubonnerleaders.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/bonner-leader-finds-a-home/
ACTHA Trail Rides A Big Hit!
Tenney Mudge is a Hoofbeats Board Member, the real mother of Hoofbeats Therapy Horse, Blueberry, and the mastermind behind the wildly successful fund raiser, THE VIRGINIA STATE COMPETITIVE TRAIL CHALLENGE. This event is a part of the American Competitive Trail Horse Association which promotes trail horses and events to celebrate them all over the United States. Tenney’s rides were held at the Virginia Horse Center on June 25 and October 15th of this year as a benefit to support Hoofbeats. These rides cover 6 miles of trails with challenging judged obsticles along the way. The rides are beautifully marked and carefully thought out along with the huge efforts in Hospitality that are charmingly Tenney all the way. ACTHA has recognized this ride for excellence giving it a 5 star rating! It takes a ton of people to put on this event from the judges, trail makers, food servers and set up crews! Thank you to everyone who had a part in it! Special thanks go to The Virginia Horse Center, Good Eats Cafe and Catering, and the army of volunteers that help Tenney do this magnificant thing!
Hoofbeats Dedicates “Ryan’s Trail”
Hoofbeats dedicated the beginning of the Sensory Trail to Ryan Turpin. Ryan and his favorite horse, Flash, are the inspiration for the trail. Ryan has taught us to appreciate the value of enjoying the moment, to escape to the trail to enjoy their senses and the gifts of nature and to escape the rat race that embodies so much of the modern world. Bless this trail and all the people who brought it into being, all the riders and the horses who will come to enjoy it and all the volunteers who will continue to make the miracles happen.
Hoofbeats Kitties on Staff
Hoofbeats has 3 kitties on our staff! Billy Rae Kitty came to live at the center in October 2010. She is a grey Tortoiseshell of perfect camouflage markings. She is very excited to help with the Literacy program currently in development and with general pest control issues.
Billie Rae was lonely, so we added a second kitty, “Puddin”, to the mix ! Puddin is a tan and white doll baby! She helps with all computer work and with hospitality issues.
Puddin in blog mode
- Pat the Cat assists with lessons and helps with the lesson program.
Recently, an unexpected addition was uncovered in the hay trailer. Boogie and her five children. If anyone else drops a cat off at Hoofbeats, I will hunt you down.
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