Colorado

As with every year for my job, I go to the School Nutrition Association Annual Conference.  This year, excitingly, it was in Denver, Co! 

Denver is where I met Amy LeClaire and her family and took them to the National Western Stock Show Rodeo in January.  She was Dreaming of Three's first Rodeo Kid!  Colorado was also where the wildfires were that we raised money to send to the equine victims and also a semi load of hay to send to a facility located in Colorado Springs. So to go out and spend some time in Colorado was very special to me. 

Franco Harris, (ex Pittsburgh Steeler) is my boss and the owner of Super Bakery.  We have a booth at the convention and also hold a very large party on Monday night during the convention.   This is my part of the convention, putting together this party for a lot of the school food service directors of schools across the nation. 

Since I had just held the fundraiser with the t-shirts, sending $1645 to the Tip Top Ranch, who houses the horses for the Sky High Hope Camp (a week long camp for children with cancer and their siblings), I thought what better way to meet them all!  I invited them to this party Monday night!  It was a true pleasure to meet them!

Jeff & Cindy from Tip Top Ranch & also some folks from Sky High Hope Camp with my
boss Franco Harris and also Lydell Mitchell (Baltimore Colts)

Jeff & Cindy from Tip Top Ranch, some folks from Sky High Hope Camp & myself.

I was able to spend some time chatting with them even though I had the rush around of taking care of "party detail".  

Tuesday, after the conference, we headed out toward Colorado Springs.  It was a very beautiful area, but no doubt made my heart sink when I would see the areas burnt.  Some of the blackened ground came so close to some of the homes there, I can't imagine how scarey that would have been!  Opening the windows to snap pictures, we could still smell the smoke.

As you can see, there were signs all over thanking the firefighters and all the volunteers that helped get those fires out!

Luckily, as you can tell, they got the rain that was needed!  Even while driving around the area, it was raining hard and the bright rainbows that appeared really melted my heart! 

Double Rainbow in Colorado Springs near Pikes Peak

When my step father passed away, my sister recited the "Rainbow Bridge" poem.  That evening when we returned home, there was a rainbow over my home, seemingly coming from our church right into our back yard.  Both of my kids said, "Look, pap is telling us he's ok and made it across Rainbow Bridge".  So, to see these rainbows in Colorado-where my step father's ashes are buried, to know that TEAM DO3 pulled together to help the victims of these wildfires, made me have a very choked up feeling.  I am glad I was able to drive around the area, to see first hand how the fires affected the area, as it made me feel so proud of Dreaming of Three/TEAM DO3 and what we accomplished with our hay drive and fund raiser!

Wednesday was the last day of the conference and therefore I made an appointment for something I had wanted to do for a long time.  I never knew exactly what I wanted, but I knew when I finally did so, it had to have meaning.  I never wanted something chosen from a book or online, I wanted it to be special and unique.  My very first "Rodeo Kid" was in Colorado, DO3's very first National Crisis fund raiser was for Colorado, and my step father's ashes are buried in Colorado, a place he loved dearly.  Those three things combined, made me realize what to get and that I had to get it in Colorado.  Therefore, I DID!

Tattoo

To me, it's a way to honor all the Rodeo Kids that I have taken thus far, to honor my father & step father, for all those initials on my saddle crosses, for the victims of the wildfires in Colorado, and for future efforts that TEAM DO3 and Dreaming of Three put forth.  Some may think it's crazy, that at the age of 43 I got a tattoo, but, it just never was the right time, place, or design.  I drew the logo myself, therefore it was unique and all my own.  (I can also cover it with my hair when needed.  :)  ) 

The rest of the trip in Colorado was wonderful.  Such a beautiful area!  I found myself taking snapshots of all the beautiful flowers in the area constantly!

We toured the Coors Brewery as well.  My husband, Sean loved this part, as who could pass up FREE BEER!

We visited Red Rock Amphitheatre, which was very cool, as Sunday apparently is a huge workout day there!  People running the stairs, doing squats on the bleachers-what better way to workout!  Outdoors in such beautiful scenery!  Wish I had such a gym!

On Thursday we headed to Breckenridge, where Franco's sister had a vacation home.  Another beautiful area!  Even in summer, there is tons to do! 

We took a horseback ride into the mountains.  (However, it truly makes me miss my own horses, that have a faster speed than slow!). 

We also rented mountain bikes and rode the ski lifts up to the top of the mountain and rode the trails down!  Which for me, was a little narly!  I'd much rather be on the back of a horse coming down a mountain, than a bike-but I managed.  However, that right wrist, the one for the back brake, the one that Sis broke several years ago, was really quite sore by the time we made it to the bottom!

We drove around some, headed up some mountains, where the temperature cooled off significantly!

We saw some wildlife, however, not as much as we had hoped.

Fox right in downtown Breckenridge!

Garden of the Gods

I am  happy to be back in the Burgh however, with my children, my horses and dogs!  It was a great trip to Colorado, and very meaningful for me.  If you've never visited Colorado, it is a must see state!

Unfortunately, while there, the Movie Theatre shootings happened.  Another tragedy is not what this state needed!  My thoughts and prayers are with victims and their families. 

Now it is back to riding, and getting ready for Ohio State IBRA Finals next weekend! 

Rodeo Kid #4

Aaron Aamon, a 10 year old boy from Western Pa will be Dreaming of Three's next Rodeo Kid!  Aaron has had some cardiac problems and has been a patient at the Pittsburgh Children's Hospital.  The folks at Children's Hospital and their Child Life Staff helped me to locate Aaron and his family to take the North Washington Rodeo this month!  They are VERY excited!

Incredibly, Aaron and his family are somewhat newcomers to the Rodeo world!  So, he is literally a "Rodo Kid"!



He has just started to ride calves and is very serious about continuing in the sport of rodeo himself!! Aaron's older brother, Jesse (17), has also just started riding Jr. Bulls as well!  He has competed at Buckhorn Ranch Winter/Spring series. 

Aaron also has another older brother, Luke (13)-who has tried riding the steers, but really isn't his "thing". 

With the North Washington Rodeo being so close to home, I am hopeful that several of TEAM DO3 members will attend as well the evening we take the Aamon family!  It's exciting to have a family that knows all about rodeo, and loves the sport already!  However, I hope we can make THIS rodeo a very memborable night for Aaron and his family!

Children & Their Ponies

Yesterday, was a very bitter sweet day for my daughter, Sierra, and my family.  As all kids grow out of their shoes, they also grow out of their ponies.

Sierra & Mascot Snowball (her feet touching ground, so holding herself up-not all weight on Snowey)

 Bell, has been my daughter's pony for the last 5 or 6 years.  She was exactly what Sierra needed when we bought Bell. 

At that time, we only had our mini and now my mascot, Snowball and Sis.  A month earlier, I had purchased a little palomino pony named Lady.  Lady & Sierra got along wonderfully.  I trusted Lady to let Sierra walk around the property unescorted by me.  However, Lady's previous owners must not have wormed her, as when I wormed her, she colicked.  This seemed to go on for a gutt wrenching month.  She would be fine one day, and then not the next.  When the vets came to see her, they had told me most likely the worms died, blocked her intestinal track and when things would move to that area, is when she'd feel bad.  I kept thinking we were going to get her through it.  I'd stay up with her to the wee hours of the night, walking her, nursing her, hoping we'd pull her through.  However, when I returned from work one day, Lady was standing in the field, drenched with sweat and barely able to walk.  My husband was in Germany at the time, so when the vet came, and told me I could either put her down or by morning she would be gone.  That her temperature was thru the roof, and she wouldn't survive.  This decision had to be made by me, and I just did not want to be the person to make it.  My vet was kind enough to stay with me even though it was past midnight while I agonized over making that call.  I didn't want her to suffer any longer, and had to hold her as he gave her that shot.  Something I hope I NEVER have to watch again.  Puts a lump in my throat even writing about it today. 

Luckily, the kids were going camping with my parents that weekend, so I waited until they returned home to tell them and  I was able to get Lady taken care of before they returned home. 

With that aweful experience, and seemingly the kids not riding a whole lot, I thought, why not purchase a smaller trail horse that was laid back enough for my kids and hubby to ride.  Which I did, and we bought Lacey.  However, Lacey, although laid back, her height intimidated Sierra.  Any quick movement by Lacey, scared her.  So I knew I had to move back down to pony size, and my husband inherited Lacey all on his own.  Which he enjoyed up until this year when Sis had to be laid off, and he offered to sell Lacey in order for me to get a backup barrel horse.  Lacey went to another loving family and is giving another little girl some great confidence!

Lacey

So, once I realized I had to move back down to a pony size for Sierra, the search was on.  Not an easy task, as Sierra was quite timid at that time.  Actually, still is today that I have to be very particular about the animals I put her ontop of, as I feel one mishap, and that would be the end of her riding. 

I found Bell.  (at that time, they just called her Roaney Pony-which to me was too general.  It was around Christmas, therefore, the kids called her Jingle Bell).  She was exactly what Sierra needed.  Never a wrong move.  When we would go trail riding, and the other horses wouldn't move forward for a fear of something or other, Sierra would be called up front to take Bell through first.  Bell never hesitated.  Bell walked in the parade this Memorial Day, and with all the sirens going off, and hussle bustle, never flinched.  She is the perfect step up pony from a lead line pony for any child!  Which, in my mind, a family should NEVER keep such a wonderful animal that can give a child such joy.  I believe they should be passed on to other kids to learn and to get that comfort level on the back of a horse.  As otherwise, once outgrown, they waste away in a pasture.  Although, these ponies and horsese are part of the family, once outgrown, it's nice to find the pony another little girl or boy to teach them the ropes. 

It took Sierra probably about a year of wanting to move up thinking she was #1 too big for Bell (Sierra is about as tall as I am now..5'4"), but yet not wanting to sell Bell.  Everytime I felt like she was wanting more of a "barrel horse" and I'd mention, you could sell Bell, she'd tear up, and tell me she was just fine trail riding.  Then, with the creation of TEAM DO3, my husband selling his trail horse to get a barrel horse and learning how to barrel race, my son, Shane moving up to a faster barrel racing horse from his pony, Sierra was feeling a bit left out of the crowd. Even though I'd tell her, she was still apart of the Team, being a pledge member by pledging hourly time in the saddle, she wanted to participate at the barrel races.   I'd always keep my ears and eyes open, to find that one special horse that I knew wouldn't scare Sierra but yet would know the pattern, take care of her, teach her more, and allow Sierra to progress at her own speed-allowing her to be in the arena as a TEAM DO3 member.  When I saw a friend post Penny's video online, I knew, THIS was the horse for Sierra.  I showed Sierra, and that was what put her over the edge of saying it was time to move on and sell Bell to another loving little child. 

Sierra & Penny (registered name Penny Pooper!!)

So, first and foremost, I wanted it to be an easy transition, therefore I posted Bell on Facebook, hoping that in my community of barrel racers, somebody would be looking for a safe pony for their child.  I also listed her on Craigslist, just to be safe, as we have a 5 stall barn-so 6 horses in that, was a bit hectic!  Luckily, fellow barrel racer was looking for her daughter.    Her daughter Claire seemed to fall in love with Bell from the start. 

Bell & Claire

Sierra was riding Penny in the arena, and when I told her Bell was going to head to her new home, I knew that the tears would start.  She rushed out to their trailer, to say goodbye, and got me and almost everybody else crying as well.  I know it was bitter sweet for Sierra, as she even said so after, to know that Claire loved her so much alaready (wanting her to sleep in her bedroom with her), but yet, not wanting to say goodbye to her first pony that was all her own.  (Snowball was shared by her and Shane).  Luckily, Claire's mother and I compete in the same areans alot and hopefully will see her at plenty of barrel races in the future as we watch Claire grow up and build confidence on good old Bell's back.  Then, with a new sibling on the way for Claire, Bell will have yet another kid right behind Claire to show the ropes as well! 

Sierra cried most the way home.  I told her that night as I tucked her in bed, that I was about the same age when I had to sell my first pony, Ebony.   I told her it was no doubt a very sad day for me too, but as with Bell, I knew she had to continue with destiny of making little kids have great experiences on the back of a horse, so they can grow up to be crazy horsewomen and men like the rest of us! I told her I would come to work, and print the story I wrote when I was in high school about Ebony.  That is what I did.  Below is that story! 

Ebony SurpriseAt age five, I used to sit with my jar full of pennies and count them to see if I had enough money for a horse. My mother would come into my room and find me crying, and ask me what was wrong. I would look up, eyes full of tears and say "I’ll never have enough money for a horse".

My Breyer horses were as close as I would come. My parents got divorced, and we moved in with my grandmother. One day my step father told me we were going to go and look at a truck over the weekend. I wasn’t too thrilled.

The weekend came, and we drove out into the country. Each time we would pass horses in a field, I would ask to stop so I could try and get them to come over to the fence. When we pulled up into the driveway where we were supposed to look at the truck, I noticed that the owner of the place owned horses. I jumped out of the car and ran to the fence calling at the horses in the pasture. A lady came out of the house and started talking to my mother and stepfather. After they looked at the truck, the lady asked me if I would like to walk through her barn and see some of her ponies. Of course, I ran to her side.

As we walked through the barn, I stopped at each stall, got up on my toes to peek. When I came to the last stall, a shiny black pony nickered at me. My mother asked me what I thought of her and I said that I liked her the most. Then she said, "Look, there is a sign on her stall". I looked, and read out loud:
　
　
　

Me & Ebony meeting her for the first time.  My mom in background.

Hi Jackie!

My name is Ebony Surprise.

John and your Mom bought me for you.

I hope you will LOVE me as much as I am going to LOVE you.

YOUR HORSE, Ebony Surprise

I couldn’t believe my eyes. The sign was saying that she was mine! I looked up at my mom, and ran over to hug her.

We went to get her the next weekend and took her to a boarding stable not far from my grandmother’s. I’d go out every weekend and after school to ride her. I met a cowboy at the stable, named Rusty, and he taught me all about being a cowgirl. He always would make me get back on her when I fell off, and told me not to be afraid. You see, Ebony was only three when I got her, so I didn’t have the training abilities that she needed to become a well behaved pony. So to say the least, she threw me off a few times.

Eventually we moved Ebony to a place of our own. I rode Ebony on the trails with my girlfriends and their ponies everyday. Then eventually, Ebony became too small for me . The day came when I had to sell her and buy a horse. I sat in my bedroom and looked out the window crying as I watched the trailer drive her away. To this day I wish we had the room to keep my Ebony Surprise.

In Loving Memory of Rusty.

We Succeeded!

I am happy to announce that the semi filled with hay made it to Co Springs and has been unloaded and will begin  helping all those horses affected from the fires in that area. 

It truly is a great feeling to see all of Team DO3's hard work and dedication be successful in this mission!

We have also taken all the orders for the T-shirts.  We sold over 120 shirts!  At about $15 a shirt going to the cause, even with having to purchase some hay to fill the semi, we were able to donate $1645 to the Sky High Hope Camp's horse facility Tip Top Ranch-whose ranch was devestated by the fires. 

We have stopped taking orders for the shirts, as they needed printed and shipped, however if you'd like to donate any more money to them to help out, you can do so at: 
http://friendsoftiptophorses.org/

Thanks to all that helped in this mission!  I am very proud of everybody!

Operation Colorado Wildfire Aid Hay Drive

This past Saturday, I woke up pumped up to start the day off to collect hay donations at Simmons Equestrian Center at their Firecracker Classic.  We got there, parked, and realized the show was going to be a lot smaller than expected.  We barely got the tent set up near the semi (pictured below) before it was time to get saddled and ride!

All of us on TEAM DO3 was so hopeful that we would get a great start on the filling that semi Saturday and Sunday.  However, as the day progressed, I had only eight bales of hay gathered.

I swear I heard an echo as I yelled "hellooooo" down into that semi!  As I was trying to make myself feel better with joking about the lack of hay we gathered.  However, we did manage to raise $140 over the weekend to put towards fuel.  Plus, what we raised online for fuel, made it a total of $520 in fuel money raised!  Therefore, at the end of the day as we left the showgrounds, empty for the most part, I decided to call somebody to purchase 200 bales with the fuel money, as Rob & Karrin at RFCampf Trucking decided to also donate the fuel cost out to Colorado and back!  (which will probably be about $2,000!!!)  Therefore, allowing me to buy some hay with the $520 donated for fuel to get the semi started on filling up!  We used about $200 of the tshirt money as well.

I contacted Dean Yates, and he delivered 205 bales, not charging for the delivery fee, and only charging for 200 bales!  So a big thank you to Dean! 

After we got home that evening, I sulked.  Very sad at our attempt to get a semi filled!  208 bales were in that semi, and to fill it we probably needed about 600!  I had my hubby take me out for a big fat strawberry shortcake sundae at Brewsters!  While sulking over it, a friend of ours saw our sad situation online, called her brother who sells hay at Campbell Farm and they donated 200 bales!!!  It was a certain lift-me-up!    On Sunday, in the afternoon after the barrel race, my hubby and I went and picked up our friends (who may I add are non-horse people who stepped up to the plate!), and we went and loaded our horse trailer first with about 88 bales!  Also, a "hay fairy" dropped off several more bales of hay overnight! 

Sean & his red solo cup squinting into the sun!

Wayne Hartle & Jody Campbell

Then we borrowed Dave Treehorn's stock trailer and they headed out to get the other 122 or so bales.  Recruiting some help from two other non-horsey people as well, James and Billy!  Thanks guys!  You saved us!  By the time night fell Sunday, even during a thunder storm they had unloaded the rest and there were 434 bales of hay as we closed it up and headed home, hopeful that the rest of the TEAM DO3 could pull through to fill it up! 

Kylie Wells volunteered to go get the 50 bales in E. Canton Ohio from Debra Meyer today!  Thanks Debra for your contribution!

Then Kylie headed to Trumbull County Fairgrounds to assist Brittany Hall and her crew from the BSB & 4H who gathered over 100 more bales!

TEAM DO3 members Kylie Wells & Brittany Hall

RFCampf Trucking Last bit of hay going to Co

Our HERO truck driver, Gary Gremminger who will be delivering the almost 600 bales!

So, after all, TEAM DO3 succeeded in this mission-"Operation Colorado Wildfire Aid" Hay Drive!  We filled that semi, with alot of sweat from alot of volunteers and alot of hay and money donated through very caring people! 

We still continue to take tshirt orders to help us be able to write a big fat check to them as well to purchase whatever else they need.  The shirts will be on sale until this Friday, then they will be sent to print and we will determine the final tally after all shirts get shipped, hay that we bought is deducted, etc., but as of right now,  we've raised over $1800 in shirt sales to donate.  I am hoping we reach $2000!!!  So keep the tshirt orders coming!!!

Click here to purchase yours TODAY!!!

So, until our next mission-TEAM DO3 will continue to fight along side one another for Cancer, Heart Disease and Animal Rescues!  We all certainly enjoyed taking this mission on!  Stay tuned for our next!