Passing of Calvin, the "Good Horse"

We sadly had to experience the passing of the beautiful appoloosa gelding, Calvin, on Monday of this week. Calvin has been at our ranch for about a year and a half, retiring at a very young age due to "Moon Blindness", a common form of blindness in appoloosas. Calvin's owner, Lis Sadler, started a horse treats business called "Calvin's Cookies" before he came to us, and she donated enough cookies to keep our horses happy all the time. On the label of the cookies, she told the story of the "good horse" who changed her life. Lis has asked that I post the following letter from her:


Dearest Friends:

Thank you so much for your kind words and the outpouring of love.

So many people loved Calvin also known as as the "Therapy Horse, Cookie Horse, Designer Horse, and the Spa Horse.

Jesse and I have decided to set up a memorial for Calvin at the Strides Ranch where he was retired July 2004. He loved so much "just being a horse" with the other horses (free and running) for this past year and a half.

Strides Ranch offers riding lessons to the handicapped (children and adults), and provides a "Heaven on Earth" home for rescue horses as well as a well-deserved retirement for older equines.

We feel this is a way to keep Calvin's spirit alive and helping others as he would have wanted.Please donate generously to the community at Strides Ranch that does so much good and that Calvin loved so much:

Calvin "Remains A Cowboy" Memorial
Strides Therapeutic Riding Centers (a 501(c)(3)non-profit)
P. O. Box 572455
Tarzana CA 91357-2455
Tel 818-341-4737

With Love,

Lis, Jesse, TinkerBelle, & Spanky

Horse Show Results and Photos

Here are the outstanding results from our riders at the Kiwanis Club Invitational Horse Show:

Ari S: English Equitation level C1: 3rd place
Trail Course level C1: 4th place
Polebending level C1: 1st place!!!
(This was Ari's first horse show)

Melinda G: English Equitation level C2: 3rd place
Trail Course level C2: 2nd place
(This was also Melinda's first time at the show)

Trey S: English Equitation level C2: 6th place
Trail Course level C2: 4th place
(Trey's first time at the show as well)

Katy T: English Equitation level C2: 5th place
Trail Course level C2: 2nd place
Polebending level C2: 2nd place

Luca A: English Equitation Level B1: 6th place
Trail Course Level B1: 2nd place
Polebending Level B1: 1st place!!!
(Luca is a new rider with our program, and this is his first show)

Sam V: English Equitation level B1: 2nd place
Trail Course level B1: 2nd place
Polebending level B1: 1st place!!!

Grace H: English Equitation level B2: 5th place
Trail Course level B2: 4th place

Ellen S: English Equitation level B2: 2nd place
Trail Course level B2: 1st place!!!
Polebending level B2: 2nd place
(This was Ellen's first time at this show)

Clea L: English Equitation level A: 3rd place
Trail Course level A: 3rd place

Hannah L: English Equitation level A: 4th place
Trail Course level A: 1st place!!!

Our horses this year were Chiquita, Teller, Bubba and Padu. This was not only the first time for 5 of our 10 riders, but it was the first time for 3 of our 4 horses. We are very proud of how well they all did. And, of course, thanks to our amazing volunteers, who made this all possible.

Our photos from the Kiwanis Horseshow are online at
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=19csa8uh.96w1z69h&x=0&y=v2w0ux

George Thomas, Instructor of the Year!

The Kiwanis Club Invitational Horse Show is over, and our riders did an outstanding job. The Horse Show results will be posted shortly. Meanwhile, we wanted to announce that our own George Thomas was voted Instructor of the Year at the Horse Show and was given a lovely award. Our riders helped us to write the nomination by telling us what they liked best about George and why he was so special. They praised him for his patience, creativity, ability to make lessons fun, helping riders to get over their fears, love of horses, riding and his riders, and making lessons so great that his riders look forward to coming and talk about their lessons all week. We also praised him for his willingness to do everything to help Strides, from driving the tractor, fixing fences, and scooping poop to serving on the Board of Directors and helping with fundraising. The President of the Kiwanis Club came over to us afterwards and told us that we were very lucky to have such a special volunteer. Like we didn't already know that!!!! Congratulations, George, on this well-deserved honor.

Kiwanis Club Invitational Horse Show

We are proud to announce our entries for the Kiwanis Club Invitational Horse Show on October 2, 2005 (formerly the Pegasus Creek Inviational Horse Show). Each year we choose the riders who have made the most improvement in the year to represent Strides at the show. They are as follows:

• Melinda G, level C2
• Trey S, level C2
• Katy T, level C2 (moved up from S2 last year!)
• Ari S, level C1
• Laura B, level B2
• Grace H, level B2
• Ellen S, level B2 (moved up from C2 last year!)
• Luca A, level B1
• Sam V, level B1
• Nicole W, level B1
• Clea L, level A
• Hannah L, level A

We will be announcing their scores after the show, so tune in then.

Note: We still need volunteers to help with the show on Sunday October 2. Please call us at 818 341-4737 if you would like to help.

Strides in the News!

Our riders, Ellen Stohl and Sam Vincent, were the topic of the Dennis McCarthy article in the Daily News on Thursday, August 25, 2005. It was great publicity for Stides as well, and we hope you all had a chance to read the article. In case you didn't, it is online on the Daily News web site at: http://www2.dailynews.com/dennismccarthy/ci_2970508

We want to give a huge thanks to Ellen Stohl and Meredith Vincent (Sam's mom) for writing to Dennis McCarthy and asking them to do an article about our program.

Summer Camp

Summer camp is well under way and has been very successful this year! We not only had disabled riders in our camp, but many able-bodied riders as well, and the mixture has been beneficial to both groups! The campers made horse masks (see photo above), groomed horses, learned about horse vetting, learned the parts of the saddle and bridle, played and being horses, played games, and, of course, did lots of riding. They even got to drive Teddy in his cart!

Welcome to our new foal, Simcha

It was a long wait, but Dolly finally had her foal, and she's a beauty! We think her father is a Clydesdale, and judging from those big legs, we are probably right! She's ready for visitors, so please come by and take a peek.