AHDF 2011 Recap
Horsemen’s Distress Fund
… Achieving New Levels at the close of 2011
As the Horsemen’s Distress Fund has become established over the past six years horsemen have grown ever more creative in their involvement. Shawn and Carmelle Rooker of Rooker Training Stables put together a fundraiser in 2010 called the “Pick Of The Pasture”, a raffle that entitled the winner to take his or her pick of the Rooker’s exceptional 2009 foal crop. The winning ticket was purchased by Iron Horse Farm of Canton, Georgia and the raffle itself generated $40,000 for the Horsemen’s Distress Fund. At the 2010 U.S. National Championship Show in Tulsa, Bob and Becky Nash of Colonial Woods Farm put on a great HDF fundraiser right in one of the main barns. The event was dubbed The Wine Walk, and included a wine-tasting, beer and appetizer tour during which over ten farms participated. Naturally, HDF organizer and advocate Mary Trowbridge wanted to come up with some great ideas that were equally exciting for fundraising during the 2011 U.S. National Championship Show.
“We were looking for another great idea to create some ‘buzz’ for the HDF,” says Mary. “Becky Nash and her husband Bob offered to do The Wine Walk again this year and Carrie Fritz and Leslie Sommers volunteered to help with a Silent Auction to take attention for the Horsemen’s Distress Fund up yet another notch. Two years ago Strawberry Banks Farm trainer and manager Brian Murch approached saddle makers David Freedman, The Arabian Saddle Company and Dale Chavez (via Helen Nymeyer) for three saddles to auction off in center ring at National’s. The saddles brought just under $30,000 for the HDF. This year I thought I would try to solicit the donation of some top quality, nationally competitive horses and auction them off during the last weekend of the show. It turned out to be more successful than I could have imagined.”
On Friday the 28th, during the U.S. National’s evening session, the Horsemen’s Distress Fund was introduced to the show’s in-house audience as well as worldwide viewers. Everyone watching saw a poignant video created by Jessica Rowlett featuring the tragedy of the Goslin-Nix fire in Magnolia, Texas last August. Gordon Potts then rode in on the seven-year-old black Tobiano Half-Arabian mare, Khandy Spots (*Khadraj), donated to the Horsemen’s Distress Fund for auction by The Brass Ring.
“We were very pleased with the quality of the mare,” Trowbridge noted. “As soon as we started taking bids there was participation from all over the stands. The bidding stopped at $10,000 and the winning bidders, Don and Janey Morse and Dan and Maureen Grossman, immediately donated the money and sent the mare back to start the bidding again! The next successful bid also stopped at $10,000 and the winning bidders were Robyn and Jeff McGlinn of Mystica Arabians. They were watching the Arabian Horse Global live streaming from their home in Western Australia. They also donated the money and sent the horse back out one more time for bidding. This time the winning bid of $8,500 sent Khandy Spots home with Candy and Larry Larsen of Woodstock, Illinois. Candy Larsen was thrilled.”
“We were down for a couple of days to watch the show,” says Candy. “We went over to see the auction horse, Khandy Spots in her stall and Gordon Potts told me he thought the horse might be the one to take me to the Nationals one of these days! Honestly, Larry and I got all caught up in the moment Friday night. I am going to keep Khandy with Katie at Mike Neal’s in Wisconsin. The HDF is a great cause and we couldn’t be more delighted.”
On Saturday night Eleanor Hamilton’s handsome, six-year-old chestnut gelding, Zee Fire Storm (Hesa Zee+/) also sold, adding even more to the Horsemen’s Distress Fund coffers. “Eleanor Hamilton was the first person to step forward and volunteer a super quality horse for this auction,” Mary says. “She’s one of the great ladies of this industry. We have a number of heroes in this category. Like Eleanor they are always there in the forefront … moving, shaking and wholeheartedly supporting the things that are ultimately important.”
Another of those very important souls who set the right things in motion for the Arabian horse and its people is Florida owner and breeder Frank Hennessey. “In the middle of our annual fund raisers at the 2011 U.S. National Championships in October, Frank Hennessey of Hennessey Arabians dropped by to see me,” says Mary Trowbridge. “He suggested that it was high time that the HDF considered an Endowment Fund. Then, he surprised all of us by giving the endeavor a ‘leg up’ with a check for $20,000! I never cease to be amazed and touched by the generosity of our Arabian horse family when it comes to helping those faced with hardships and tragedy.”
Following the U.S. National Show Mary Trowbridge went on to the Arabian Horse Association convention in Vancouver, BC. There the AHA offered the Horsemen’s Distress Fund a platform and an opportunity to present its case. At the conclusion of the presentation, Canadian Show Commissioner and Region 14 Director Dave Daugherty stepped up to a microphone and issued The Horsemen’s Challenge to the delegation. “By my calculations, if the 23,000 members of AHA each donated $100, the $2.3 million generated would be enough to care for our own during times of disaster for quite a while,” he stated. By the end of that afternoon’s session, thanks to the Arabian Horse Association’s donation of time to the HDF, another $32,500 had been pledged by the delegates and clubs in attendance, bringing the total generated in just three short weeks to over $100,000.
“Perhaps the most touching pledge of all was Theodore Lang’s,” said Trowbridge. “He pledged $20 per month for life on his and his wife’s behalf. The amazing thing about the HDF is that it seems to have the ability to move people in the same way that it energized all of us at the beginning. It’s a way to express our gratitude for a life that is enriched by the Arabian horse and the people that share our love and appreciation for them. It brings us all immediately to the core reason why we have devoted our lives to this endeavor … it’s for the horses and for the people that care for them.”
“At the 2011 Wine Walk the support and enthusiasm doubled this year,” says coordinator Becky Nash. “Great wines were donated. Virtually every barn located on the main aisle participated and made promises for next year as well.” Now that the show success story has been followed up by more energy and enthusiasm at the AHA convention, why stop the momentum? Know someone looking for a Christmas gift for the Arabian horse owner who has everything? How about a donation in their name to the Horsemen’s Distress Fund? What better way to celebrate the season of love, generosity and caring?
To date the Horsemen’s Distress Fund has raised and disbursed nearly $500,000 to individuals throughout the Arabian horse community in time of need, accident and illness since its inception in 2005. These have included trainers, breeders, owners and amateur Arabian owners. Virtually anyone that is an Arabian Horse Association member in good standing is eligible to apply to the fund during times of unexpected crisis. It is not meant to supplement or replace insurance, but to be a vehicle for immediate assistance to help people move forward with their lives. Managed by a five member board of industry-involved horse people, the fund’s guidelines allow for a rapid response in a variety of circumstances. It is not lost on Arabian horsemen that their community is a real, extended family with members that sometimes need help.
To apply to the AHDF for assistance, or to let them know of someone in need of assistance, e-mail mary@horsemensdistressfund.com, or call 860-354-8926 (office) or 860-488-7074 (cell). To make a donation to the fund, simply go to the How You Can Help page. A special thank you to Arabian Horse Global, http://www.arabianhorseglobal.com , for this story.
I do hope some financial help can be sent to Victor Kerr, a long time trainer and promoter of the Arabian Horse. He had a stroke two years ago this month, and will have to be in a nursing home/rehab for the remainder of his life. Many of todays owners, trainers, amateurs, etc., may not have known Victor, but he is very eligible for some assistance. PLEASE HELP HIM, and his devoted wife, Detta.