| Horse lovers ride for two good causes |
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| Wednesday, 21 October 2009 | ||
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Staff writer The manes have been brushed and the coats have been curried, the stick horses are ready for the first Midwest Stick Horse Championships.
The whinnying will be done mostly by the riders during the fund-raiser for Susan G. Komen For the Cure and Saddlebred Rescue organizations. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the stick horse championship starting at 2 p.m. “We wanted to do something fun and raise money for two good causes,” said Manahan Stables co-owner Kris Brutoco. Most people rode stick horses as children and had fun, said co-event organizer Rachel Larson, a 2009 Spring Lake Park High School graduate. It is something anyone can do and no riding experience is needed, she said. It will be a lot of fun, said co-organizer Bette Clemenson of Oak Grove. The young riders use stick horses to learn focus and to follow as well as the different gaits, she said. Now people of all ages will be using them for a good cause. They will be giving back to the community by doing something they love, Clemenson said. There is no fee for the championship. The only thing collected at the event will be free-will donations to either organization. Checks need to be made out directly to the organizations, Brutoco said. Competitors can bring their own stick horses or borrow one at the stables, Larson said. Heaven Can Wait While everyone is familiar with Susan G. Komen, the Saddlebred Rescue holds a special place in the hearts of the students and owners of Manahan Stables. Two of the stable ‘s horses, Heaven Can Wait and Mrs. Doubtfire are Saddlebred alumni. After losing their favorite lesson horse, a five-year-old named Elite, in a 2005 barn fire, stable owners Ray Manahan and Brutoco wanted to find a horse that was good with beginning riders. Manahan Stables was one of the first stables to adopt from Saddlebred Rescue, according to Manahan. Both Heaven and a 21-year-old mare, Mrs. Doubtfire, were adopted from the rescue organization and arrived in time for Christmas in 2006. Heaven may have been a former show horse and Doubtfire came from an Amish family, Brutoco said. They are among the six horses used to train the 30 students per week that come to the Manahan Stables. Heaven Can Wait’s attitude toward life always captures people’s heats, said Brutoco. Although the 16-year-old chestnut gelding’s registered name was Toast of New York, he was also know as Buster and Tries Alot. The Saddlebred Rescue dubbed him Tries Alot, said Brutoco. According to a Saddlebred Rescue representative, Tries Alot picked up the moniker because of his attitude. “Tries Alot got his name because he always tries to do the right thing. He really did try to do the right thing and figure out what we wanted at all times,” said Pat Johnson of Saddlebred Rescue. Heaven is sweet and wonderful, is a truly happy horse and he knows he has been was given a second chance so he wants to please, Brutoco said. Heaven also likes working with the children, she said. “He’s just a sweetheart and wants to impress. He tries effortlessly,” said Carlyn Gilbertson, an eight-grader from Columbia Heights. Since his rescue, Heaven has won first-place ribbons at various horse shows, including with three different riders at the OctoberFest Horse Show in Cannon Falls Oct. 9-11. Heaven has that extra sparkle and loves to preform for a crowd. He loves having people watch him perform, said Manahan. “Heaven is such a sweet horse. It’s obvious that he wasn’t treated right in his past life as he is constantly trying to do his very best,” said Larson. “When I’m on him, I can see his ears flick back and forth, as if he’s making sure he’s doing the right thing for me. He is so driven and wants to make me so happy. Little does he know is that I’m happy just brushing him.” But Heaven can also be a no-nonsense trainer. When 62-year-old Clemenson lets her hands drop or attempts to control him with the reins rather than her legs, Heaven will have no part of it, she said. “Heaven doesn’t let me do that, he stops,” she said. Tammy Sakry is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it |
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Bette Clemenson of Oak Grove and Lucie Thompson of Zimmerman pose with Heaven Can Wait.| < Prev | Next > |
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