EquiFriends Riders -
Student, Jose, helps promote EquiFriends at Emerald Downs!
It was forecast to be the hottest day of the summer. Ninety Two degrees! Traditionally we have an area about the size of our arena atop a grassy knoll north of the grandstands. I was not looking forward to spending a ninety two degree day in the blazing sun with a little horse who, we all know, can be cranky under the best of circumstances!
Fortunately Bob and Penny had two canopies and Emerald Downs supplied one other so we could put our volunteers under cover, our horse under cover and our display board and attendants under cover as well. The Boeing volunteers were wonderful! They offered up pictures with Chantilly Lace to anyone who would make a contribution to EquiFriends. We have made this public appearance for many years now and this is the very first time that the Boeing volunteers were almost as enthusiastic as our own!
Bob Bayman, Penny Bayman, Karen King, Ellie Haynish, Hillary Cooler & I made the trip this year and enjoyed the day largely in part to an almost constant breeze. Jose Jimenez was our featured student and he and his extended family seemed to have a great time.
At one point during the afternoon Jose and his family were picnicking just downhill from us when, apparently, Jose was bored with the lack of activity and began crawling up the hill to his horse! I think Penny and I were the first to cry – it was such a poignant scene.
We got Lacey dressed and gave Jose a ride around the grounds much to his great joy! Later Jose and his Dad along with Bob and Jim McBride entered the winners circle to accept a donation from Emerald Downs and the Boeing Recycling Group.
Thank you to all the volunteers who came and stayed through the heat! And thank you to Emerald Downs and the Boeing group for the donation and all your efforts on behalf of the disabled living in our community!