Root Farm was given a fabulous opportunity when asked, a few weeks ago, if it could provide a couple of horses for the “Parade of Breeds” at the Syracuse Invitational horse show Oct 27 – Nov 1. The show is held at the Oncenter and War Memorial in Syracuse, with the horses – the best jumpers in the nation -- plus some from other countries – competing in an end-of-the–year finale. Olympic gold medal winner, Beezee Madden and her husband, John, were there to MC the event.
Stella (everyone knows Stella!) went along with Root Farm’s PR equine, the majestic Malkier, to represent their two breeds, the Norwegian Fjord and the Friesian. They were on display on and off for five days in the Oncenter, helping to educate scores of elementary children from Syracuse schools and being available for conversation and pictures to all who came through the Oncenter before and after the show in the Was Memorial.
Stella and Malkier paraded out before a big crowd in the auditorium four days in a row, at the start of each evening and the final Sun afternoon jumping competition. They were joined by five other representatives of horse breeds: the Haflinger, the Morgan, the Nakota, the Quarter Horse, and the American Miniature Horse. Amber Schillicci, a member of the Root Farm Vaulters team, performed some vaulting moves on Stella as she paraded around the arena, and Alice Root, the Farm’s founding director, rode her Friesian, Malkier, as another representative of The Root Farm. Both Stella and Malkier were magnificent, and many people heard about the benefit of equine-assisted therapy. We hope to be invited back next year!
No comments:
Post a Comment