Horse-Less Show Jumping Classes to Benefit Underpriviledged Kids Around the World

This weekend, the National Capital Show Jumping Tournament in Ottawa, Ontario will feature a "Horse-Less" Show Jumping Competition in which human competitors of all ages tackle miniaturized horse show jumps on foot. The crowd-pleasing competition, which has classes ranging from Short Stirrup to Grand Prix at the height of 3' (on a course full of creative sponsored jumps designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil) will raise funds for JustWorld International, a nonprofit organization that provides short-term assistance to developing countries with the hopes of breaking the cycle of poverty. JustWorld improves the quality of life and education for children in Brazil, Cambodia, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico, and Senegal. JustWorld was founded in 2002 by former Grand Prix Show Jumper Jessica Newman. High performance equestrians from around the world can sign up to become Rider Ambassadors who wear the JustWorld colors on their jackets and saddle pads, helping to bring attention to the causes of the organization.

The Horse Less Horse show classes will be held in the US later this month at the Hampton Classic Horse Show in New York.

For more information about JustWorld or to find out how you can become a sponsor or a rider ambassador, please visit http://www.justworldinternational.org/ or contact Executive Director Jessica Newman at jnewman@justworldinternational.org.


Photo credit: www.startinggate.ca

Feel Good of the Day - The Power of Ponies

Want to feel good about the positive impact horses make on all kinds of people?

Check out this article from last weekend about the great strides Horsemanship for the Handicapped has made with horses and kids of a variety of ages and disabilities.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080216-9999-1ez16horse.html

Here's a quote from the piece about the triumphs of eleven year old Orion:

Amid the happy crowd Saturday, Orion, 11, stood out. She was singing a show tune
and throwing her arms out as if to embrace the world as she rode Snapper, a
quarter horse. “She's loud, but she's happy loud,” said Dawn Smith, Orion's
grandmother. Orion's exuberant spirits are a dramatic turnaround from her
anger and sadness of three years ago, before she began attending riding program,
Smith said. A rough start in life, emotional difficulties and abuse had put
Orion on a disastrous path. Smith said the program “saved Orion's life. I
don't think I can express the depth of how I feel about this.”

Happy Riding Today!

photo courtesy of www.didtheyseemedoit.com