2013 Hero Ride For Life

Autumn's bumper all blinged out.

    On Saturday, May 4, 2013 I got  up at 4:30 a.m. and headed up to the barn.  I had done two timed dress rehearsals the week before to make sure I could execute this morning without a hitch.  Flowers...Check.  Ribbon perfectly measured out for each braid...Check.  Sparkles...Check.  Stickers...Check.  Saddle bows...Check.  Bridle bows...Check.  Stars with all of our donors names and dedications written and tied on ribbons...Check. 
     Today was the 9th annual American Cancer Society HERO Ride for Life event held on the race track at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds.  It is a relay fundraiser where laps are completed on horseback to raise money for a great cause.  This would be our third year riding in the event.
    Autumn blinked her sleepy eyes open and I could tell she knew that we had an adventure planed ahead of us for the day.  Luckily, she didn't lay in poop the night before.  Our dress rehearsals paid off because I had her groomed, braided and stenciled in pink sparkle cancer ribbons on each side of her bumper in time to catch our ride. 
     At seven a.m. Cindy and I were on the road with Autumn and her best friend horse, Syria, in the trailer. Cindy and I chatted away the first 10 miles when it finally dawned on me that all the money my entire team had raised was sitting in my backpack on the front seat of my car...at the ranch.  Crap!  I woke my husband up, on his only day off in two weeks, and he came to my rescue.  He met us 20 minutes later in a parking lot to make the hand off. 
    Of course, I caught a bunch of crap from the my team members that I had repeatedly asked to be at the ride promptly at 8:00 a.m. after we rolled in after 8:30.  It all worked out and we were able to get our horses decorated in time for the first lap.

Syria's Little Bird bling that rode in between her ears for the ride.

     Our team, The Hill Fillies, had a bunch of last minute changes due to back injuries and truck problems.  We managed to still get a team of eight riding on the track that day.  Cindy & Syria, Alyson & Silencer with her daughter Emma & Oliver, Marcelle with her granddaughter Kenna & Kara, Erin & J-Low, Donna & Kat, Elizabeth rode a few laps on Autumn when her trailer ride fell through for her horse Carmen.  We missed Diane, Louanna and Nancy that day. 

Team Hill Fillies 2013!

Elizabeth on Autumn

Erin on J-low

Donna on Kat

Alyson on Silencer and Emma on Oliver the pony

Cindy, Syria and the little bird in between Syria's ears

Autumn and I enjoying the beautiful spring day!

     The morning was usually warm as 70 riders rode the first lap in silence to honor all those affected by cancer.  I looked down at all the names written on stars tied to ribbons braided in Autumn's mane and it made me feel very still inside.  It reminded me of the way it makes me feel the morning after a snow storm where everything is still and covered in a blanket of white.  Where it is not quite quiet but there is just no sound. 

Stars and Memories

     After the first lap they played country music over the loud speakers.  Cindy and I said that this was the year we were actually going to keep track of how many laps we made around the track. We realized a few days later that we blew it and stopped counting after five laps.   
     Emma decided she wanted to upgrade from her pony Oliver for a lap on Autumn.  She did an amazing job keeping Autumn walking properly...never letting Autumn snatch a bite of grass which is a hard thing to do!  After riding Autumn, Emma told her mom, Alyson, that she would like a draft horse to ride in Pony Club. 

Emma riding high in the saddle! 

    At 1:00 our team rode to victory in the "Best Decorated" contest for the third year in a row!  Autumn and I even got our photo in the local paper.

The Hill Filly team together earned close to $2,200.00!  Thanks to all my sponsors that helped Autumn and I raise $1,133.00!!!  The eleven teams and 70 riders in the event together earned $14,266.77!  Not too shabby! 
    Back at the trailer Elizabeth helped me un-decorate Autumn, which took a quite a bit of effort, before we loaded her up in the trailer.  Elizabeth, Cindy and I were joined by Diane and we went to the bakery to treat our selves to lunch after a great day.  Nothing beats riding your horse with some of your best friends on the nicest day in five years, while helping such and important cause honoring people we love. 

Autumn in the trailer on her way home from raising $1,133.00 for a great cause!  I love that horse!

     Autumn and I would like to thank all of the folks that made donations and our love goes out to all those who have survived cancer, those that are fighting it and honor the memories of the ones we lost to it.  Thanks to Cindy for giving us a ride that day!

In memory of my Grandpa Diemer, Aunt Debbie Hauge loved by all of us Hagues, John Dalton loved by Laura Zugzda, Bill Jackson Sr. loved by Bill Jackson Jr., Mario and Jeanette Giannoi loved by Tommy & Sue Giannoi, The beloved D’Orizo family members, Porter Peron loved by Norman and Tina Polston, Charmaine Balian loved by Cindy Lindgren, Beth Ohaus loved by Gordon and Linda Taylor, Askel loved by his Aunt Karin Eide, Pam Johnson’s beloved father Bill Matthews along with her grandparents and Keith and Chris,  Catherine Johan loved by her mother Ann DeMott. 

We would like to honor Dawn Friend’s DJ and Jody, Lisa Hansen’s beloved father Gerald O. Hansen.

Congratulation's to all those who survived cancer!  My Aunt Kathleen Goldstein,  My Aunt Jeanne Kelly, My great friend Anne Caplan, Chuck Powell, Diane Baxter’s Aunt Mary, Derek Castro whom is loved by Karen Keller and Peter Rogers.

Keep fighting hard Mr. Goerke and Raymond Gonzales! 

 Thanks for reading!  If you would like to leave a comment or would like to be added to my email list please contact me a Jacksonhillhorseygirl@aol.com.

Copyright (c) 2013 Jacksonhillhorseygirl.com May 15, 2013