How Did I Get Here

Recently, while getting my hair done, my hair dresser, who is a man, probably in his late 50's early 60's was combing out my hair asked me, "Have you ever paused and thought, how in the World did I get to this point in my life?".  Of course, at that particular time, it was sort of humorous, because he was combing my wet hair, and seemingly he wasn't too thrilled with "where he was" at that time.  He went on to tell me how when he decided to become a hair dresser back in the 70's, this was when he would go to parties, and there were hair dressers that were men, woman hanging all over them and he thought, "now that is the ticket!".  Now he sat in his salon, his wife across the way, chit chatting to other ladies while they discussed nails, and all he wanted to do was discuss golf and football!  Sure it was fun back in the day, meeting all the ladies, getting all the chics, but now, it wasn't so great!  Now, decades later, he wishes he would have chosen another path for his career choice!  I have had those times, where I've thought, how did I get here.

I had a similar thing happen to me several weeks ago, but not in a sense of it being a "bad" thing of reflecting back of "how did I get here?"

When my family and I headed to Baltimore, MD for the Retired Racehorse Training Project Makeover & Symposium with some of the trainers from Dreaming of Three's barrel racing Makeover, never in a million years would I have thought I'd be heading to a race track for such an event!  As I sat at the racetrack, in the white chairs lining the racetrack watching elegant horses performing dressage moves or jumping, or demonstrating polo, instead of sitting on dusty bleachers and yelling "push" and "keep kicking" and "drive him!", it felt a little weird to me.  Then, as it came time for our girls to get ready to hit the track for our barrel racing demonstration, I felt a sense of pride of what Dreaming of Three has become.  To see Tara with her flag and to know DO3 has inspired her to ride for cancer in her performances, to see Lacey's smile as she turns n burns around three barrels on a horse that she never thought she'd want to ride because of the breed, and to see Laura on the very first of many OTTB's she's rescued and now has rescued numerous more all because of our competition creating a new passion for her. (I won't even try to guess at time of this blog entry how many OTTB's she has in her barn now!).  You can read more of the Pimlico Event on the ERR blog http://extremeretiredracehorsemakeover.blogspot.com/2013/10/pimlico.html)

My journey up until this point didn't start with good.  It started with heartbreak and loss to my family. So when I look back and think, "How did I get to this point?", I sometimes am struck with tears, and don't like to go back to those days.   But along the way, through deciding to not just sit back and do nothing, to mourn with others like myself, to give back through the horses we love so much, it has brought so many wonderful new friends into my life.  I've learned so much  more about the horse World, learned how many people out there are willing to give so much of themselves to help others, to help animals and to help make a difference with nothing in it for themselves.   So, I am very happy with the "here", and the thought of how much further it can go!

Currently, we are in the middle of a fund raiser for South Dakota.  About a week and a half ago one of my Team members sent me a message asking me, "What are we doing for South Dakota?". Then another friend, sent me the same message.  Dreaming of Three is now known to spring into action when disasters strike the U.S. and horses or livestock are involved.  I hadn't heard anything, as I typically do not watch much television it seems at night until winter. So I was unaware of anything happening in South Dakota.   But, the Atlas Blizzard wasn't even on the news much either.  So I started searching the internet and found what had happened there and the massive loss of cattle and horses and felt we needed to do something for those folks there. When I first started this journey, it was just myself wanting to get my rodeo card, that I wanted all my life and donate back to the charities.   I needed a new hat.  So, I thought I'd try to get some sponsors.  I, of course, was (and still am) a nobody in the barrel racing World, but Brad at Star of the West Hat Company was one of my first sponsors and supporters regardless of who I was, he believed in me and my mission!  Brad's shop is in South Dakota, he and his family have lost several head of cattle, therefore this cause was certainly near and dear, as I actually knew somebody living there.  We quickly started with a design for a shirt.  I researched, and waited to see if there would be a fund set up for the ranchers who lost everything.

http://dreamingofthree.bigcartel.com/product/south-dakota-blizzard-relief 

The funds from the shirt sales will go to the Ranchers Relief Fund.  Team DO3 member Sandra Whitcomb of course helped design the artwork for the shirt.  However, her original art couldn't be used with the shading.  So the print shop had to use different graphics.   Her reproduction of the original is up for auction on our silent auction on our Facebook page, which ends October 25.    The support we received for the ranchers is overwhelming!  I am trying to keep up by sorting orders in the evening and grouping in sizes.  When I sort and see names such as World Champion barrel racers, Ed & Martha Wright, NFR bound Fallon Taylor and World Champion barrel racer Kendra Dickson, it makes me tear up thinking that America certainly pulls together to help one another in times of need!  Even if our government shuts down, we can still come together by simple gestures to make a difference!  I have no doubt that there will be over 500 shirts once I add them all up!  Meaning, I'll need my local Team DO3 members to help me with packing and shipping!  So, pizza/packing/shipping party!    We do all the work ourselves, so ultimately, the ranchers benefit most.  We pay only for the shirts, and the paypal fee from the cost the buyer pays.  The buyer pays for the shipping cost themselves, which also covers the supplies. (some like to call it shipping and handling, I like to call it shipping and supplies, as I don't charge for my handling, my handling is FREE!  But I have to pay for envelopes, tape, labels, etc. :)  )

This past weekend, we also had a Saddle Up for St Jude's barrel Race in North Carolina.  It raised over $1,400!  Everybody seemed to have fun and our NC TEAM DO3 State Captain, Heather Jarman did a wonderful job for her first fund raiser!  She is ready for her next in December!

Some of the photos:  http://2dogsphoto.zenfolio.com/20131020


Coming up we'll have our See No Evil Finals!  http://www.seenoevilrace.com/#!finals/cxy8

This series has been so successful and helped the family of our Rodeo Kid, Dominique McAllister this year!  Dominique just visited the Doctor today and had some great reports.

So as you can see, Dreaming of Three continues to thrive!  We continue to grow and succeed!  So, how did I get here?  How did WE get here as a TEAM?

DETERMINATION  ~  EFFORT  ~  SELFLESS HARD WORK ~ 

TEAM - A group of people with different skills and 

different tasks, who work together on a 

common project, service, or goal, with a 

meshing of functions and mutual support.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead