ATO Fraternity House Meets Animal House

One Heart put 25 young men from Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity of Iowa State University to work on Wednesday.  Boy, were they alot of help!   Things got built, moved, sorted, cleaned, painted, moved again, swept, washed, arranged, and repaired.  Following all that work we had a chance to have our volunteers try out Petunia.  This was her first round with a rider.  She was great!   Of course, there was some newness to having sidewalkers and a rider on backwards but Jen and I were pleased with what we saw.  Fritz also came into the arena for the first time and played with all the stuff.  He was especially facinated with the mounting block which he kept pawing and chewing.  When a barrel was rolled in front of him, he stepped up to it instead of backing away.  All we have to do now is not SPOIL him!

We found ATO to represent their goals of a brotherhood striving to gain leadership skills and demonstrate Christian values.  It was a fun time with forward progress on the big clean up for the party.  Thanks, ATO!!

It Looks Like Shane was cut out of the other picture

I made it smaller to include Shaney-boy!

Help Locate Everyone for the 10th Anniversary Celebration

10th Anniversary Celebration:  Sunday, August 28th   4 - 6 PM 

 

at One Heart: 59149 140th St. Roland, IA

Hi Gang;
I have this lovely picture of Rosie, Kyle and Shane printed as an invitation postcard.  I used my handy dandy PhotoShop to turn one of my fuzzy pics into this fresco.  I think it is coooool. 
Right now I am putting together a mailing list for the invitations.  I opened an old folder titled "Historic Mailing Lists"  This goes back to 2001!   MANY,MANY, MANY of our volunteers, as students, have moved far and wide since their contributions to One Heart.

Can you help me find them?   There were 250 volunteers in our 2nd year!   Can you imagine how many total?   Other than a mailing list of a kajillion.......I only have very OLD addresses.  Most defunct.
So, if you have kept track of friends, neighbors, roomates, relatives, church members, town folk, high school buddies that came to One Heart - let me know I am looking for them :)

Here's the deal......if you would like a postcard invitation, I can mail it to your postal address IF I have it.
2.  If you see this and don't need a mailing, please send me an email that you have heard about the party.  3.  If you could let me know if you can come or not that would be nice, since we are rounding up ice cream and the works right now.

By the way, if you think Facebook would help  try that.  We have a FB page.  We just need friends.  It is not a "group" page but a regular page.  I think it is listed as a "place".  I'm not the FB-master....I am just trying to catch on.   The FB page is One Heart Equestrian Therapy. 

Now for the goodies!!!!!!   Maureen will be at the party and is dying to catch up with you all.  Reading through the mailing lists of old, I know how much you have all contributed and how much we miss seeing you.  You might be interested to know how many names are on the old lists and we still have them 'hanging around' - joyfully!!!
The silent auction is featuring ISU stuff such as football tickets, football and basketballs signed by the coaches, a Seabiscuit movie poster, books, dining certificates, etc, etc.  Have to come see!
This is open to riders, their families, volunteers, their families, donors and friends, their families, supporters, their families, group home staff, well.....our buddies!
More....

Petunia and Fritz Join One Heart

Hi Gang;

After meeting Petunia and Fritz at their home in South Dakota, we were pretty convinced that they would suit our program.   Due to the milage, the owners agreed to meet us 1/2 way to make the exchange.   This looked like Sac City.   Due to the suppressive heat, the owners were interested in making the exchange early in the morning.   Earlier than I wanted to drive....so, Jennifer, Dani, Lucy and I drove to Storm Lake the night before.   This is because - unbelievable as it might seem - the Sac City Motel was full!   Storm Lake was the next closest.   We arrived late Sat., July 16th - so late the innkeeper had called to tell us to find our key in they mailbox and to check ourselves in.  We were to check out in the morning but left before seeing anyone.....It was quite a stay.  I won't say it was terrible, but it didn't help convince Jennifer that motels were a step up from camping!
We met the Christensens, the owners of Petunia and Fritz in Early, Iowa.  They unloaded and reloaded perfectly and we were on the way.  We made it to the barn and got them pastured to rest.  The picture I have of them is when they arrived.  I jumped out of the truck into the heat and humidity and when I snapped the shot - I found the lens had fogged over from the drastic change in temp.  
Last night we gave Fritz his first haircut - The Fjord Buzz.  He looks awesome!   He also started in lines last night.  Can't wait for you to meet them.

Chat soon;  Kris

Full Fjord Immersion

Hi Everyone;

Dani, Jennifer, Lucy and I started out July 16th at the Midwest Fjord Horse show held this year in Cedar Rapids.  I was really glad I was not grooming for this one!   It was HOT and muggy!   It was really fun watching so many Fjords showing.  It was also fun watching the trail class to see who might be able to work in therapy.  There is a really neat class - Walk - Trot trail.  The horse starts out the obstacle course being led through different stations.  The rider then mounts 1/2 way through and completes the course.   I had never seen this aspect added to trail.  It was a good addition.  It seemed most like a therapy class to me. 
The most impressive classes were the driving.  So nice and elegant.  To me the highlight was wandering back in the barn and visiting with owners.  The stall that stopped me was a lovely grey dun stallion with a pedigree plaque on the door.  It caught my eye -"Anvil's Fjellrosa" - that was our Rosa!  She was this stallion's paternal grandmother!  Made me feel at home - made me miss Rosa.  
We stayed at the show as long as we could.....

Time to catch up!

Hi All;

I have tons of news and fun stuff to share.  We are just starting our summer break.  It's been a funky weather year but has finished off HOT!  Keep checking back because I won't be able to share everything at this time.  Too much chat!
The first item on the agenda is SAVE THE DATE.   We are celebrating our 10th Anniversary on Sunday, August 28th  from 5 - 7 pm.  Maureen will be here!  This is open to everyone...friends, riders, families, volunteers, donors, community.  Please save the date and plan on dropping in.  It is totally informal - just a chance to see you all.  We will have displays from "over the years" and thank everyone "officially"  around 6 pm.  You can come and go - not a big sit down event.    More info will be coming.  We don't have a location at this time.   Also, anyone willing to help put on a silent auction or donate goodies - we need help with this.

Another - SAVE THE DATE - the One Heart Equestrian Therapy Ride and Tie will be held this year on Sept. 3rd.  Please see the website http://www.oneheartrideandtie.org/ to register.  This is a knockout FUN time.  It's fun to watch.

Let me catch you up with the new location;   We are at 59149 140th St. in Roland.  This is a fantastic facility that has allowed us to really open up and expand.  Our gracious hosts, Lon and Sandy love having us there.  Lon pitches in all the time helping with the horses.   We are helping him with his group of minis.  There are two new foals that need halter practice and a yearling we are starting out for driving.

Meanwhile, we have been looking at......

Derby Day at One Heart

We had a great time with Derby Day classes!   Jen (instructor) had her first class decorate their saddle pads and helmets to match - like the jockeys.   Jen also had a race course/candyland game set up in the arena.  When everyone came in there were candy and cookies to represent Mint Julips and Grasshopper pie.  For the big kicker......Jen had a craft table set up where vols, riders, and moms customized beautiful Derby Hats to wear.  Here is just a selection of the pagentry and excitement befitting Derby Day.