Rodeo Kid #7 and more

It's been quite the busy February, with having a Rodeo Kid on February 22 and having the Horse World Expo in Harrisburg at the end of the month into March.  

My family and I traveled to North Carolina for the weekend of February 22 to attend a rodeo with our 7th Rodeo Kid, Hunter Presgrave!  It was an wonderful experience and such a great weekend.

We arrived at the rodeo grounds to find State Captain, Heather Jarman giving Hunter a little lesson on her horse, Playboy, who Hunter would ride into the arena.

 Then we headed to dinner, where we gave Hunter & his family a Christmas in February!  He opened all the presents with joy and excitement!

Heather made sure all the items were in bags that were camo!

 We made sure that the Presgrave family had plenty of items to remember their special night with us.

Artwork done by Sandra Whitcomb, a TEAM DO3 member of Hunter and His dog, with some horses in the clouds.

Josh from Channel 9 also joined us for dinner.  He was doing the story on Hunter that will air on the news on March 10.  http://www.wnct.com/story/24934911/a-cancer-kids-rodeo-dream

Then it was time to head to the rodeo grounds and prepare for his night or rodeo fun!  

Waiting to enter the arena.

It was quite the emotional entry.  You can watch the entry below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L5CNjbWNtQ

The Dignified Cowgirls, who taught Hunter all about horses before the night at the rodeo, also attended with a lot from their crew to support him and enjoy the evening with us.  They teamed up with us on this one, to help Hunter learn about horses and to get some additional sponsors to make his night extra special!  We were happy and thrilled to have them with us, and know the Presgraves have made lasting friendships with that crew as well as given Hunter a love for horses!

Hunter, Danielle Calore, Holly Presgrave, and Eden Braunstein

Hunter even got to ride the mechanical bull!
Check out the Dignified Cowgirls video!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=590901994323987&set=vb.351761824904673&type=2&theater

The rodeo community really helped to make the night special as well, from signing Hunter's new cowboy hat or just stopping to say hello.

I have no doubt that Hunter and his family will forever remember this evening.  Where worries were far away and smiles were close.

Hunter, Holly, Danielle & Jackie

Jackie, Hunter, Heather Jarman, NC State Captain

That evening, Hunter's mom Holly told us as he prayed, he told God thank you for the Rodeo.  To bless all the children with cancer, and that he hoped they learned about the rodeo, as it was awesome!

Photos by Lauren Carter, TEAM DO3 NC and edited by Sam Mike Photos

Hearin Hunter's prayer, and what he has told his mom about how before the horses, he didn't really like his life, but now he really does.How thankful he was for the weekend, it certainly makes me realize how we MUST continue to raise funds and must continue to take more and more Rodeo Kids in the future!  I hope we gain members in all States, who care and want to be a  part of all this, to make a difference in a child's life, such as Hunter.

I thank all the sponsors for Hunter and the Old Ford Rodeo for creating such a wonderful evening!

You can view more pictures from the evening here: from CMK Photos:
http://cmkdigitalmemories.zenfolio.com/oldford2014/h21B666D5

or from our TEAM DO3 member Lauren Carter:
https://plus.google.com/photos/106983063217826776568/albums/5984142632662537889

remember:

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

Hunter's Rodeo Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9z_GEGxZW4

A Non Profit Wasn't Exactly My Dream

Lately, I have had several people contact me in regards to how to go about starting their own 501c3, or telling me how they too would like to be like me running their own non-profit organization.  Well, I am here to tell you, a non-profit WAS NOT my plan in the very least!  Don't get me wrong, I am very proud of the accomplishments of Team DO3 over the last two years and this all was accomplished with a TEAM effort no doubt, but truly, I did not set out for it all to be an organization, let alone a non profit organization.  As most know that follow my posts on Facebook and Twitter, I am "real", I don't try to play as I am anything but just a normal barrel racer, mom and full time employee, trying to make a difference.  I have my ups and downs, good times and bad with trying to make Dreaming of Three succeed, and trying to continue to "do good" for animals and kids fighting life threatening diseases.  I do not have business of my own, nor am I a trainer of any sort that would benefit from any of the work I do through Dreaming of Three, or the Ultimate X Showdown, or anything that goes on with Dreaming of Three.  I get up at 6:15 every morning, drive an hour to my job, and come home every night at 6:00 p.m, to cook dinner for my family, take care of my herd of horses, and usually back to work with what needs done with the organization most nights.

I, of course,  have told the story a hundred times, of how things started with Dreaming of Three, not because I want to talk about myself, not because I want sympathy, but mainly because once I realized that things were growing, and perhaps as a Team, we really could make an impact together and grow this organization big someday, telling the story, getting it out there, is how that was going to happen.  Nobody was going to support us, or donate, or join, or sponsor, if we didn't build the reputation, if the equestrian industry never heard of us.  US, the Team, the concept, all of it!  Not me, Team DO3!   Most that know me very well, know I am not one to want much of being in the spot light.

In fact, I've worked for a very well known ex-Pittsburgh Steeler for the last 23 years.  My barrel racing friends and community, other than my closest of friends, did not know this until probably 5 years ago, as I kept that to myself as to NOT draw attention to myself.

So, the story of DO3 did get out there, we did grow, and FAST!   I just kept hanging on, doing what I had to do to progress, sticking on different "hats", as certainly we had no funds to pay people.   As I mentioned, a Non-Profit?  I had no intentions or dreams of starting one as some may have this dream.  Sure, I've always seen horses at auctions that I wished I could save, but just to bring home for my own.  Sure, I had the dream of a barrel race where trainers would give a horse a second chance via a barrel race.  But, Dreaming of Three, as you know was just supposed to be for myself to have a way to mourn my losses, for me to give back in my own way. 

My first attempt at my logo, bad hat, too fat of lines!

When friends joined, when more people joined, when we raised over $15,000 for a foundation to help animals such as a horse that was burnt in Erie...that is profit that we actually donated, so you can imagine if $15,000 was what we donated, what amount was coming into my own Paypal account!  There was also the Colorado Wildfire fund raiser as well in the beginning.  So, I, of course was advised to file for 501c3 status for Dreaming of Three if I planned on continuing, as otherwise, that $30,000+ coming into a personal  paypal account would be added onto my own income for the year that I would have to pay taxes on.

Northstar, horse burned after doused with accelerate in Erie, PA

Also, with the Rodeo Kid Program, there were companies donating items for these wonderful kids.  No doubt they did not mind, but to be able to offer more to them for assisting us in making a special evening, would certainly make things easier to get more folks involved in the future.  So, I realized, this was the next step I had to take.  As stressful as it was to me to take this step, as I knew nothing, it was what had to be done.  I asked several friends who I felt at the time believed in the concept to be on the Board, and we started the process.

I didn't know the first step in doing any of the non-profit stuff.  Luckily, with help from friends, like Karrin from Forever Safe Farm who had already gone through the long application, she walked me through what I had to do.

I also am on the Board of the Northstar Equine Foundation, Inc, who at the time was also going through filing their 501c3 paperwork and were able to hire a lawyer to do so, so I was able to learn along the way with what we were doing there as well.  

Non Profits, as I  have learned over the last two years, are A LOT of work.  Not for the faint of heart, or lazy, that is for sure!  There are't people waiting to give you money as soon as you get that paperwork back from the IRS.  We have bills to pay, things we want to do to help more, projects we want to see succeed but lack of money to do so.  Spreading the word of projects, or Rodeo Kids, or fund raisers for disaster relief, seems to get rougher at times, when a simple "share" or "like" doesn't happen from the 500+ friends on your list because Facebook doesn't allow them to see your posts, or your posts are just ignored or the over 10,000 followers on our business page don't even see your posts unless you pay for them to be seen.  We need money to operate, so I sit and try to think of ways to raise that money without having to be a begger on a street corner with a can.  

Having a Non Profit  is like having a second job that you are not getting paid to do, and that you work double shifts!  You have to be driven to "work" because if YOU and your Board members don't, IT won't succeed.  You have to perhaps spend less time with family to "work" on this second job, because if you don't, nobody else will and things won't get done.  You have to ask for help from others when you need it, even if you aren't used to doing so, because if you don't, the organization won't succeed.  Be prepared for friends wanting to help and believing in your mission to start and fading over time.    Be prepared for opinionated people, and days when you'll be in tears.

Overall, if your Non Profit is something you believe in and the people you have on your Board believe in it as well, you will get through it together.  You will meet a lot of new friends, it will be rewarding, and at the end of the day, you will know you obviously made a difference for something you had passion for and believed in.  

2013 a Year in Review

What a year 2013 has been for Dreaming of Three!  It was only our second year in existence (Really, April, 2013 was our official year in existence).  So many roads that personally I ventured down, that I would have never even imagined!

During 2013 we managed to solidified exactly what Dreaming of Three is all about as a Team, instead of just myself personally.  As when I started this all, the "Three", was about: 1: Raising money through my competing in barrels for the charities.  2:  Taking children with life threatening diseases to Rodeos along with their family for a fun filled, worry free night out.  3:  Allowing others to place their own loved ones initials on my saddle crosses so that they could ride with me as I honored them and tried to raise as much as possible for the charities.

As we grew, and we realized how much we could make a difference together as Team, we started to do bigger and better things.  Of course Dreaming of Three/Team DO3 is still about: 1: a Team of riders, of all disciplines, riding, competing and donating to charities throughout the year.  But now, also helping animals/animal rescues during natural disasters in the U.S. through Tshirt sales, which we work together to come up with a heart felt design, share the sale, and try our best to get as many sold as possible.

2: Taking children with life threatening diseases to rodeos through our Rodeo Kids Program, which has grown due to having State Captains allowing the program to go further than just my own personal reach.  This part really thrills me!  I was so nervous about opening things up to State Captains this year, as to hand over the reins so to speak to somebody else, letting them run things, was a tad nervous for me.  Once I did, and saw the passion that those that stepped up to the plate had, and how much they too, wanted to create a magical evening for these children and their families, I knew for sure I made the right decision.  My hope is that we can find enough State Captains in every State, that we can take families across the U.S. all through the year!  This would mean more families getting a night out without worry, more families getting to enjoy a night at the rodeo and to see how big the hearts are of every cowboy and cowgirl out there!

However, 3:  Number 3, because the saddle cross program was more of a personal thing for me, which I still do, (At the moment I have four saddle crosses filled and staring on my fifth) something new developed! As I mentioned, as a Team, we realized we could do bigger and better things!  In the beginning of 2013, the  idea of having a barrel race to help horses have a second chance was put out to Team DO3. Together with other Team members we discussed some ideas, and developed the "Extreme Retired Racehorse Makeover Barrel Race"(Now the Ultimate X Showdown, due to Disney wanting us to change the name because it was too similar they say to the Extreme Home Makeover), a 100 day trainer challenge for off the track Thoroughbreds to give them a second career, but in a western discipline, specifically, barrel racing!  No doubt it was an undertaking, as it wasn't something that was totally in the comfort zone of most OTTB enthusiasts. We received some heat over the mere mention of an OTTB barrel racing.  However, I felt it was worth the risk after discussing the idea with several professionals in the industry, as if it succeeded, it certainly would give these wonderful horses another outlet after their careers on the track were over.  If it failed, it would be myself and DO3 that would take the fall.  I felt it was worth the risk, because for all that DO3 does good, if we had a fail, we could at least said we tried, and we could just go on doing what we did before with riding throughout the year and also the Rodeo Kids Program.

Now, I admit, I am NOT a "Producer" of equine events, or rather, I was not before this undertaking.  I have handled large functions and parties with my job, but nothing really in the horse industry.  So this was all totally new to me.  I did have the confidence of all those that supported this effort, and I was not shy about asking questions along the way.  There were many stresses, many times I was in tears for just not knowing what in the world I was doing or how to do things, or people not being so kind, but in the end, it all turned out amazing.  I credit that all to TEAM DO3, to all those that supported this effort through our sponsors, through helping just by advice, and everything that it took to put it all together.  I believe that 2014 Ultimate X Showdown will be bigger and better than our first!  It is a fun Event not doubt!  I met so many new friends, and certainly my views on Thoroughbreds have changed.  If you would have asked me a year ago, "would you own a Thoroughbred?", most likely I would say "no", as I am a barrel racer, and mostly a Quarter Horse owning horse person.  Through our own event, my opinion has changed, I have become a believer in the breed, as they can truly do anything.  I will always own my Quarter Horses I'm sure, but no doubt, I will probably have an OTTB in my barn as well!

Which of course brings me to Pookie!  Again, if you would have asked me a year ago, "Are you getting another horse?", I would have said, "NO!".  I certainly did not need another horse.  I did not need another barrel horse either.  But, with the Ultimate X Showdown, me being the Producer of the Event through Dreaming of Three, I felt I needed more of a personal approach and understanding than just watching from afar.  I discussed it with my husband, Sean, and although we didn't have the room for another horse in our barn, we both knew this was the next step in making the Event successful.  So adding onto our barn it shall be!  To practice what you preach so to speak.  I couldn't continue to go to OTTB Events, being asked "Where is your OTTB?"  and having the answer, "I don't own an OTTB".

Pookie's Princess

 Discussing my concerns of not actually owning an OTTB myself with one of the judges from the Ultimate X Showdown, Patrick King, that I needed to get my own OTTB, and that I wanted to bring my chosen horse to him for a month to get the foundation work done, Pat volunteered his time to the X Project!  What is this you ask?  This is yet another project to help promote the Ultimate X Showdown and to help OTTB's even more and to help all those out there just like myself!  Every day horse owners, who perhaps before all of this had concerns about selecting an off the track Thoroughbreds because of all the stereotypes.  Pat wanted to show every step that was taken with my horse and film the training, so that others could follow along and to eliminate that stereotype of "crazy Thoroughbred".

Patrick King, Pookie, Jackie Harris (me)

The first episode of the X Project will be releasing in January!  We of course need sponsors and supporters to help us cover the associated costs with filming, etc., so we will be setting up a Kickstart program as soon as we get the first episode released.  Family and friends and followers will be able to support this project and online tv show from anywhere from $1 donation all the way up to being a larger sponsor of the Project!  The sponsorship form for the X Project can be found at the www.ultimatexshowdown.com website.  We truly hope that showing every step from Pookie coming directly off the track in November to her training through several months will help everybody become a believer and perhaps have them scanning those trainer listings, rescues sites and taking a closer look at the horses in our Event on September 5, 2014, as most likely some of these wonderful horses will be for sale as well.

We had many other fund raisers throughout the year in 2013 too!  From disaster relief efforts like the Colorado Floods, Oklahoma Tornado, and South Dakota Blizzard.  All Team DO3 members always stay alert for larger disasters where horses or other livestock is affected that DO3 can step in and raise some funds to help the local rescues or relief efforts.

During the Oklahoma Tornado, our Texas State Captain, Carlie Hayes, also stepped up and held a benefit barrel race that was also supported by Cowgirl Tuff Co to help raise even more funds to donate to one of the farms largely damaged, Orr Family Farm and also Horse Feathers Rescue who helped a lot of the horse owners in the area.  So, we went from having some online tshirt sales to help raise funds, to holding a benefit barrel race as well!  I never would have thought in a million years back in the beginning that Dreaming of Three would be holding a barrel race in TEXAS to help those affected by a tornado in Oklahoma!

Oklahoma Tshirt artwork done by Team DO3 member Sandra Whitcomb
Sandra is an artist who does a lot of our disaster relief effort artwork when needed.  You can truly see the talent and heartfelt sketch, as the horses expressions running in fear from the tornado and then with peace into heaven's gates.  Sandra and I always work together with each other's ideas, and the result is always amazing!

Not only did Carlie hold a barrel race to help those in Oklahoma, she also put together a series, See No Evil Barrel Race series, to help our Rodeo Kid #5, Dominique McAllister.  As after I had noticed on Facebook his family struggling a bit from all the trips to get Dominique treatments with car issues, and bills,etc, I asked Carlie if we could come up with something to help them in some way.  My simple thought was perhaps a raffle or online auction, to raise a few hundred dollars to give to the family to ease their pain with bills.  Carlie took it to the next step, and held a series!!  It turned into a huge success and certainly eased the bills that come along with driving back and forth for treatment with a child that is sick.

In Michigan, our State Captain, Andrea Cherwinski, decided to hold a "Clinic for a Cause", which was a barrel racing clinic to donate proceeds to our local animal rescue in Michigan, Horse North!

In North Carolina, our State Captain, Heather Jarman wanted to do a barrel race as well, having proceeds to go St. Judes Children's Hospital!

Year in Review Video Slideshow  http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z-WDH2-m94w

We also had a bull ride in Missouri held by our State Captain Felisha Whitman and a Team penning in Idaho held by our State Captain Christina Rasmussen, we had a Team member hold a fund raiser by selling some Scentsy items for one of our charities, another bunch of Team members did a fund drive for St. Judes through another clinic, so many good things that happened in our second year, it's amazing!  We are just gaining momentum!

So, we went from just riding and donating to charities, Rodeo Kids Program, to disaster relief, to a large Event like the Ultimate X Showdown, to benefit barrel races slowly across the United States!  I have a new horse, Pookie, and even a new barrel racing organization has been born from everything we have started through the Ultimate X Showdown, the Thoroughbred Barrel Racing Organization!  I will actually be able to be a competing part of too!

I am truly excited to see what new things come our way for 2014!  I can't wait to see how we grow, to see if we can once again double what we raised from 2013, as we did from 2012.    I hope we acquire some new members.  I hope that equestrians will see that joining Team DO3 (for a minimum $25 to one of our charities, which our discount sponsors cover that quickly PLUS the Team tshirt certainly makes the $25 minimum affordable) and adding a little more meaning behind every ride, can give them that extra push, that extra incentive to ride longer, to ride harder, to improve and do their best, as they can ride for others as well as themselves.

2013 was a good year for Dreaming of Three no doubt.  There were a lot of happy moments and some sad moments.  A lot of new friends made and some friends lost.  Some folks have disagreed with the direction in which DO3 has gone or felt we lost our initial intent by growing too large or wanting to be noticed in order to grow, but, in reality, we have only built upon what I had started two years ago.  Alone, I could have never raised as much money as we did as a Team. Alone, I could have never handled helping as many disaster relief efforts as we did, as I am only one person and that is just too many shirts to fold, pack and ship!  Alone, I could have never had an Event to help horses have a second chance.  Alone, I could have never taken children out of state to rodeos that were fighting life threatening diseases.

Our mission is the same as always: helping to raise money for American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, St. Judes, Animal Rescues, whether that is through our riding daily or through events or through fund raisers or disaster relief efforts.  To take children fighting life threatening diseases to rodeos for a worry free night of rodeo excitement with their family they'll never forget.

Year End Rewards & More

With 2013 coming to a close, it is always exciting for me to see all the charity checks roll in from Team members!  Even though throughout the year, some Team members will report in their earnings and donations to help us add to the tally, it is nice to get those checks and to be able to mail them to each charity!  We had approximately 50 checks mailed in this year, which isn't too bad I suppose.  I sometimes get discouraged with the amount of Team members we have, compared to the charity checks we receive, but I certainly realize that we will have Team members come and go as people are excited about something and then perhaps the novelty wears off over time.  I will certainly do my best to continue to make Dreaming of Three and TEAM DO3 an exciting and beneficial organization to be a part of as we grow in the future with discounts and fun things happening throughout the year!  For myself, just being able to give back with something I enjoy so much is good enough for me.  To know that all the hard work and effort put into it all has made such a difference in all that we have done, makes me smile every day, even when at times I feel like things aren't going as planned or that it is such an uphill battle, I can see we are making headway.

The winner of the Year End Rewards for 2013 are:

Grand Prize Winner:
Sinnsuous Firewater Breeding and more goodies:  Rhope Rasmussen/Christina Rasmussen

2nd Place:
Vicki Smith

3rd Place:
Jeanie Bowersock

Youth Winner:
Megan McCorkle

Here is the video (as I like them to see that I am truly drawing from the check copies that they sent in):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcqIWZMEQK0

Also, over the Thanksgiving break,I  busted out the Profile pages of the Team members for the new website.  Of course, as I went through each member, one by one, I also realized some I have not heard from since they joined, and unfortunately had to weed through them all.  We aren't a club where there is a membership fee.  We are on the "honor system" basically, whereas, you commit to join and donate at least $25 to your charity of choice by the end of the year and by November 15 before Year End Reward drawing.  We like to do it this way, as it is certainly more fun to add up your tally and donations throughout the year through your winnings or hours in the saddle by your pledges or however you have signed up to donate.  We will keep it this way of course.  However, if a member does not send in a charity check for one year, they will be put on probation.  For their second year without their $25 mandatory donation, they will be removed from the Team.  We do have tshirt sponsors, which we give each member a Team jersey with sign up.  It truly would amaze me that somebody would sign up, just for a free tshirt with a charity, that is mainly about giving back, and have no intention of giving back to the very charity they sign up to donate to, but I guess some just simply forget.  So, therefore, that is why we decided to give a little bit of wiggle room.  We just hope that people that join us in trying to make a difference, are honest and really want to commit to helping us make an impact in the equestrian World with what we are doing.  Whether it is by helping us cross post our tshirt sales during a time of disaster relief, or during a time we are taking a child fighting a life threatening disease to a rodeo, or tshirt packing, or our Ultimate X Showdown, there are so many ways to help in all the efforts of Dreaming of Three, physically and just by sharing posts that can truly help us in our mission!  Or of course, just by doing what you would normally do every weekend, competing on your horse or just by riding in general and logging hours as your pledge.

Now on to Pookie!  I had the chance to go and visit her this weekend!  She is a true sweetheart! I wish I could see her every day and spend time with her, but I know, spending time with Patrick King, and us doing this tv show, is ultimately spreading the word further about the OTTB's better than me just bringing her home and loving on her and letting her sit idle all winter, as I can't really ride through the winter months, and my horses get that long winter off.

It is amazing what Pat has done with Pookie with just a month off the track!  I cannot wait for the first episode to be finished for everybody to see what an amazing horse and what an amazing breed she is!  I do believe that Pat is even ready to start his own search to get one of his own too!

After Pat rode her around some, showing some of her new moves, he asked if my shoes had heels.  I hadn't really planned on riding, as we had just done some Christmas shopping, but I wasn't about to say no!  So I threw my leg over her and finally got to ride my very first OTTB!  She was so comfortable to ride.  Very responsive.  I even trotted her through the pattern!  So smooth!  I cannot wait for the future with her!  I know my son, Shane, is already hoping to call Pookie his own after he grows out of his current pony/horse, even though he wants to keep both!

We did get some video of that first trot through!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D33U2XzP2W0&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUX-jFKMluE29-mJDlSd-8w 

I do believe that our strategy is working though, as I have had several friends contact me looking for a prospect and have been helping to find an OTTB for them!  So slowly, but surely we are making progress!  With the X Project, showing people the steps needed to take an off the track Thoroughbred directly from the track to their next career, whether it be barrel racing, or simply a trail horse, this will be something that anybody can follow!  To make the every day horse owner comfortable with the Thoroughbred and to know that they are such an awesome breed of horse that can ultimately do anything you ask of them as long as you pick the proper confirmation for what job you are looking to do with them.  I am certainly not a professional barrel racer, I don't barrel race for a living (unfortunately), I come to an office and work 9-5 instead.  Therefore, I have many friends who actually train and barrel race for a living, just as I am sure most people who barrel race for a hobby do as well.  Or, if you show jump for a hobby, you have your handful of professionals you know as well.  These are the folks to help you in your choice when searching for that prospect.  Of course, make sure they are sound and that their confirmation is what you need, then you are ready to mold them into anything you desire, just like any other horse.  I keep hearing "crazy Thoroughbred", and once you see Pookie, she will change your mind!  I cannot wait!    She is certainly my perfect Poster Child and Covergirl no doubt and she loves the spotlight as well!

I do believe this project is certainly needed now more than ever.  I heard some sad news recently about one of the horses that I had on my list to go and take a look at to be the poster child for this project.  He looked a lot like Pookie, and was well suited for the job, however, the week that I was to go look at him, the others were being offered to me as a donation, and I felt with all that was needed to be spent to get this project up and running, I had to be smart about things for myself and my family and look at the ones being offered as a donation first.  The gelding I was to go look at, unfortunately, I heard was taken on a truck that was headed to Mexico for the slaughter house.  So close to being the Poster Child for this project, and yet he ended up with that fate instead.  I feel if we can continue to show that these horses can do anything, even in the Western disciplines, and of course with the other organizations such as the Retired Racehorse Training Project, and all the rescues out there showcases these beautiful horses, there will be less and less horses that are perfectly suited for wonderful futures headed to slaughter.  I am in the middle of the book, The Eighty Dollar Champion, the story about Snowman, and how he was on that very truck, headed to slaughter, and I think about how fortunate he was to be saved.

It was a risk I we took last year, putting on the Extreme Retired Racehorse Makeover Barrel Race, and we did catch a lot of heat in the industry and even in some publications over it, but I do believe we have turned that corner, and more and more folks are coming out of the woodwork telling us their story about their OTTB's success in the barrel racing arena's.  The new Thoroughbred Barrel Racing Association is underway as well!  So things are looking up, and we will continue to push forward, to help these beautiful, well bred horses, have a better future after their career on the track is over.

I Now Feel A Part of It All

When I first came up with the idea of having a barrel race to give horses a second chance, there was no specific breed in mind.  As things progressed, and the Extreme Retired Racehorse Makeover became a reality, of course the Off The Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) was the highlight.  Of course, I did not own a OTTB.  Although, after talking to numerous experts on OTTB's I believed in this whole concept that these horses could barrel race and are very versatile.  That indeed we compete against them most every weekend, side by side, and do not even realize.  One of my trainers in the Makeover, actually holds her WPRA card on her OTTB mare, Lindsay Jensen!  So OTTB's are in the ranks of Pro Rodeo as well!

It was a little bit of a risk I suppose to be the first to put on such an event for OTTB's, but I was willing to take the plunge, to either be the laughing stock in the industry both in thoroughbred land and barrel racing land, or perhaps it be a success and ultimately do what I wanted, to help more horses find homes, to prevent more horses from ending up in places horses should never end up. I remember the New York Post even writing that taking a Thoroughbred and using it for barrels, was like taking a figure skater and putting them in the ice hockey arena!  So, seemingly, we were catching some heat...but we kept plugging away!

I am happy to say as I write this post, that there is a new organization in the works because of the event that caught so much heat, because there are so many OTTB's competing in the barrel racing arenas already!  The Thoroughbred Barrel Racing Association!  http://www.tbbarrelracing.com/

Some Logo Concepts

I will hopefully be able to be a part of this organization someday soon!  These last few weeks I've been on my own search for an OTTB!  Not any OTTB!  A "Poster Child" for the new, improved "Ultimate X Showdown" (name change due to Disney not liking the fact that we had Extreme and Makeover in our name".    I felt that I needed to learn more, and the only way to do that was to own my own OTTB!

So let me introduce you to the beauties I looked at these last few weeks, and ultimately to the one I chose.  First, I must tell you that it is a good idea to have knowledgeable people helping you to locate your perfect OTTB.  CANTER is a great place to start!  I had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with a CANTER volunteer when I first started this journey with the Event, Jen Ruberto.  With her assistance and knowledge, she kept her eyes open for anything that would suit my needs.  But, of course, wherever you are located there are many OTTB placement organizations that you can turn to that have knowledgeable folks to steer you in the proper direction.  Of course, always, if you do not know the individual you are acquiring your horse from, get a vet check as well, to make sure there are no underlying issues.

Blue Soldier

This is Blue Soldier, a 6 year old Stud, out of Lost Soldier and Bedroom Blues.  A career earnings of $56,223, with 74 starts.  He is owned by Rachel Lyon and Lee Borgemenke .  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJtz4MD8zAE&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUX-jFKMluE29-mJDlSd-8w

He was certainly a beauty!  My only draw back to studly was that he wasn't a donation, and I also had to get him gelded.  With all the money we are going to have to come up with to produce this TV Show, I need to be very wary of what is spent.  I had two other horses that were being offered to me for free for the good of the cause and the Ultimate X Showdown!  But he is certainly well worth the money that is being asked for him, and a very sweet boy!  If I knew I wouldn't be putting a pile of money into this whole project, and just simply looking for a next prospect, I would have certainly snatched up this very handsome boy!  If you are interested you can contact Rachel Lyon at  3308533077.

Tempestuous One

Tempestuous One, aka Mr. T!  Mr. T is a 4 year old gelding out of Stormin Fever and Cozy One.  28 Starts and a lifetime earnings of $13,574.  Mr. T is owned by Laura Wiencek.    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TV4IVT7qY7g

I LOVED Mr. T and fell straight in love with him!  However, I knew I had to look at more than just two horses.  My rule of thumb with everything, from getting quotes at work, or anything, is get a good comparison and look at three.  But, I certainly could have loaded him up and taken him right home!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FPSaZXbATA&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUX-jFKMluE29-mJDlSd-8w

Patrick King also fell in love with Mr. T, and was ready to bring him back to his farm to start training. However, I had one more I was told to look at by Jen.  Pookie's Princess, that was perfect build for barrels, and worth a look.  So, I knew I better look before making my decision.  Although, I hated to leave this handsome boy!  But in my mind, I was ready to take him home (or rather to send him to Patrick, and start this whole X Project).

Pookie's Princess

Pookie's Princess, the only mare I looked at!  (Mare, another mare!  I wasn't even too thrilled to look at a another mare!  I've had to put up with Sis for 10 years!  I felt I needed a break from that!  Even though I know that Sis has been my most gritty of all barrel horses, with the most try and heart that I've ever owned).
Pookie is owned by Dave Treharne, out of American Tribute and Pookie by Wild Again.  She had 16 starts with a lifetime earnings of $17,928.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7KE0S9b6q4

When I had called Dave to go out and look at her this past Monday, I had heard that the girls at the ranch rod her to and from the swim area in a halter and bareback.  I wanted to get that on film for documentation.  Dave said we couldn't that day, as he had her in a race that night at Mountaineer.  So, I decided to do things a little differently.  We went to the track to check her out instead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdMBNfUZxAo

And her across the finish line..she was in the middle of the pack in orange! (course you can't really see..but she held her own!..a little quicker for the first stretch..hmmmm..quick for the short distance.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMaqOd7Cu2M

So, now, I had narrowed the choices down between the two.  A mare and a gelding.  Both very sweet personalities.  Both great looking horses that certainly fit the "Poster Child" look!  But, for me, not only am I not a trainer, I am not one to even choose a Quarter Horse for a barrel prospect for myself.  That, I have only ever done through my best friend Jeanie Bowersock.  But, I decided to hit all my experts in the field up with my two choices.  I already knew Patrick loved Mr. T.  But, as Patrick told me, he's not a barrel racer, and told me to get opinions of those who trained for the sport.  So that is what I did.  Again, I went with THREE of my "experts in the field".  I already knew Jen's opinion, who I consider my OTTB expert.  I always love to hear Heather Benson's background on bloodlines on each horse I was looking at, as she really knew her stuff on what horses produced polo horses, sprint lines, jumpers, dressage horses, etc.  (Heather is from Back Forty Media & Marketing which is one of my sponsors for Dreaming of Three and she also works with Gate to Greats, another great OTTB retraining facility!)  She felt that the mare was more built for barrels, and the gelding a perfect prospect for jumping.  So, I shot the videos, and names (so the folks could check them on Equibase, see races, bloodlines, etc.) to my three people who had biased opinions on the two.  (I of course respect Laura's opinion, Pat's opinion, but wanted an open mind looking at both.  I knew Jen's opinion already)

Mr. T - Gelding:
Slew lines are hard workers and generally fairly sound.
However, I am told he looks a little more forward moving, downhill, as in a dressage horse.  That he looks thicker, and is only 4. He has also been off the track for two months. Still sound.

Pookie - Mare

Mr. Prospector bloodlines are a fantastic sprint line. Although she didn't do much on the track she ran short and had a lot of speed.
Wild Again is a top sire of polo and sporthorses, known for their good minds and great physique!
Mare has just raced last night. No time off.

So, out of the three people I showed the two horses to, not sharing my preference (even though I had already kinda fallen in love with Mr. T), all three of my barrel trainers came back to me with the mare was better suited.  I am not saying I didn't love Pookie, but, Mr. T was that first horse that liked me!  So of course I fell in love!    But, I knew, I had to take the advice, and do what was best for this project, what was best for the Ultimate X Showdown, and ultimately for the whole thing, and go with what my experts were telling me.  The mare, Pookie, was the one I choose.    

Mr. T, of course can still make a barrel horse! OR, even a jumper!  If you are interested you can contact Laura at laura@win-seekperformancehorses.com or 330-638-2255  You will fall in love to the moment you meet him!!!

To know that I actually watched her last race after I finally decided, was so cool!  I watched her cross the finish line for the last time.  So literally, she is truly Off The Track..  just racing on November 11, 2013.  

I have known Dave Treharne for a long time, and trusted his opinion on her soundness with no known issues.  I didn't feel I needed a vet check.  Dave and Simmons Equestrian Center is also a sponsor of the Ultimate X Showdown as the facility in which we hold the Event.  They donate the facility!  So how cool is that!  Dave is also an excellent horseman!  Every horse I've seen that he starts on barrels succeeds!  And he assures me that we will get Pookie a good start when she is ready and done at Patrick's!  If you need something started, trained, or need a great facility for a horse event, contact Dave at 330-720-1832  or ropentrade@aol.com

So, once the decision was made.  My anxiety started to happen!  This was all a first for me!  A Thoroughbred!???  Not a Quarter Horse!  I know I believed in the whole thing through watching the Extreme Retired Racehorse Barrel Race.  But, me owning one!  I certainly didn't need another horse, that is for sure.  But, just felt the need to do this in order to make the Event better.  To be more knowledgeable.  So, again, I am diving in, to the great unknown!  Just as I did with the Event this year!  I'll figure things out as we go I suppose!

Patrick King wants to do an online TV Show, The X Project!  To show folks how to go about acquiring their next prospect for barrels in an OTTB.  To help us promote the Ultimate X Showdown, to help people know how to go about this all, (for basically unknowing barrel racers like myself, only used to quarter horses!).  He is donating his time to this project and taking on the cause full force for the good of the OTTB's!  We will need sponsors to cover production costs, and all costs associated with promoting this show.  So, hopefully, we can get some support on this.  (Again, some of my anxiety coming from this thought!  But I am hopeful we can pull all this off!  These horses deserve this!!!  Deserve to be highlighted in this way!)  

We compete against OTTB's all the time in the barrel racing arena and don't know it.  Only those few people out there know they can go to that source for a prospect.  If we can show more people how to go about this, how many more horses will get placed!??  Will less OTTB's show up at auction houses?  I sure hope so!  That is my WISH and desire from all this effort!

Yesterday was the day!  To go pick Pookie up and take her to start her next chapter in her life!  I was nervous.  I bought her a new halter, black and gold of course, DO3 colors, in hopes that she'll some day earn me money to give back to the charities through TEAM DO3.  Then, with barrel racers on it, to perhaps make her believe too, she is a barrel racer!

Then out to get her!  As you can see in my face, just a total anxiety and nervousness!  (I think anyway, not so sure anybody else can tell!)  I'm putting a Thoroughbred in this halter, NOT a Quarter  Horse!  Totally new to me!  I've never owned anything other than a Quarter Horse!  

She loaded like a dream!  And we were on our journey!

She unloaded like a dream!  Dave did such a great job with making sure his horses behaved!  As my husband Sean describes my mare Sis and me getting her off the trailer, it's like diffusing a bomb!  I peek in slowly, unlatch the butt bar and hurry to open the door as she flies off full speed.  I keep meaning to take her to Pat to fix that..just haven't figured out a way to get that time to do it!  As it's a danger!  And drives me nutso!  Anyway, Pookie unloaded wonderful!  

Pat worked her for a while on the ground.  I was amazed at how well she did. Tarps, no problem.  Right over them. Tarps over her head.  No problem. She wore it like a ghost Halloween costume without hesitation.  In Pat's words " She is a pretty phenomenal filly, for sure! What a pleasure it was to work with her.... she has some big things in her future, for sure."

Patrick King, Pookie & Me

We will save the footage for our first episode!  I can't wait for you to see!  I want to thank our first sponsor, Lubrisyn Equine for making sure that Pookie has what she needs for her joints!  I know she will no doubt excel having what she needs, as all my horses have done so!

If you would help us make this into a success for all OTTB's, to give them yet another outlet after their careers on the track are over, please consider becoming a sponsor or making a small donation to this project.  You can find all the information on our Ultimate X Project tab on www.dreamingofthree.org.  Once we get our first episode up, it will also be linked onto the website as well.  Stay tuned!

What good is an idea if it remains an idea?  Try.  Experiment. Iterate.  Fail.  Try again.  Change the World. --Simon Senek

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

Winter is around the corner!

It has been about a month since the Extreme Retired Racehorse Makeover Barrel Race.  Although, I am somewhat enjoying having some down time in no planning, organizing, preparing, I am looking forward to putting the application out to all those interested.  I continue to hear from folks that want to apply in 2014, so I have no doubt that we will have a larger number to sort through and to select from in 2014!

One of the things I wanted for the trainers that participated this year, was for them to get the publicity from it all and to gain clients and to get opportunities in the industry from it all!  I am so happy to tell you, that most of them have had more inquiries, and more opportunities since!

The winner of the Makeover, Lacey Tomasik and several other of the trainers will be headed to the Retired Racehorse Training Project 100 Day Makeover & Symposium October 5th at Pimlico in Baltimore, MD! They will be part of the Western Invasion of Steuart Pittman's challenge and will certainly help bring awareness to our Event next year, as Steuart has a larger following.  I hope we can continue to be a part of his Event every year with our winner and trainers to demonstrate barrel racing during his symposium.  I think it is a great opportunity for the trainers and for DO3!

Lacey & Sassy in her new tack she won from Makeover!

After the Makeover, owner of Sassy, Jen Ruberto, decided that Lacey and Sassy had such a bond and could go far, that she decided to give Sassy to Lacey.  Lacey sold her quarter horse and will be continuing on with Sassy.

Read more of their story:  http://offtrackthoroughbreds.com/2013/08/20/ottb-convert-wins-barrel-race-wearing-a-sling/


So now that things have slowly come back to normal in my house after the Makeover, I am able to get back to my own competing.  This year, although with the rain, and being busy otherwise, I've only pulled one check.  I seemingly am falling in that crack between 1st division and 2nd!

Sis n Jackie @ Crooked Creek at 1:30 a.m. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKv3jztsjXI&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUX-jFKMluE29-mJDlSd-8w

I have a few more races to attend before hanging the saddle up and covering it for winter, as with the fading of daylight after work, it gets hard to keep Sis fit.  I refuse to take a her to a barrel race if she isn't fit, as I worry about her issues.  So, she'll get a few months break most likely come November.

With fall and winter sneaking in, it's time to buckle down and get reorganized as far as being a non-profit.  Things have been so crazy, that I haven't sat down to read books, or organize as much as I'd like to.  I need to create budgets, come up with a plan as far as fund raisers, and all around be more organized.  I have a great group of Board members who are willing to help when needed and I do believe we will grow with every year.    Things just have happened so quickly, and I never expected what I started to become a "Non Profit" organization.  I am so happy and proud that it has, but with non profits, things need to be run by the book and be organized.  Therefore, that is my plan for winter!