The powerful life lessons learned from growing up with horses resonate on a level beyond the show ring.  This month’s featured client – BrookMarie Jarvis – shares how her horses have taught her more than just the art of riding and showing.

“My story with horses began before I was even born.  With my mother as the president of an equine insurance agency and my father being a top breeder of Arabians and Saddlebreds, it was in my pedigree to be involved with horses.  I was immersed in the horse industry from the very start, atending my first Buckeye at the ripe age of three months.  Although my mother attempted to get me into piano and dance rather than the horses, I knew where my loyalties were…the Arabian horse.  Through the years, I have stuck wit the horses and after 14 years of showing, I will be competing in my very last Youth Nationals this year.

“There were many people who made this a passion for me:  my mother, Kimberly Jarvis, being my backbone (and bank); my aunt, Sandy Jarvis Vesty, being my own personal cheerleader (who has never missed one of my classes); my uncle, Stuart Vesty being my personal photographer and surrogate father; and my grandmother, Patricia Jarvis, who has influenced me the most in my horse showing career.  Additionally, Cindy DeNapoli, Russ Vento, and Miss Lollie Ames have contributed to my passion for the horses.

“There are also those people who have helped me get to where I am other than my family and friends.  My mentors – Jo and Ralph Brown – in my early years of Walk/Trot Western and Hunt and my current mentors at Stachowski Farm – James and Peter Stachowski and Sharon Bledinger.  And who could forget the most amazing “Miss Melis” from Show Season who has made EVERY single one of my riding suits from English to Western and Hunt!  It has become a yearly ritual that one afternoon, we escape the blistering sun at the Scottsdale horse show and see Miss Melis for a fitting and the picking of the new suit for that up-coming show season.

“Something that has been unique for me is the fact that my horses have not only become my friends, companions, or my expensive hobbies, but the yhave also become my teachers.  One of my horses in particular has been my teacher not only in the show ring, but also in life lessons.

“I believe in the way she lives her life.  I admire her glee in the simplest of things.  She approaches the arena for a workout like the in-gate of the show ring – with ambitions of reaching her full potential.   While I struggle to wake up and show enthusiasm, she dances around the arena as I try to mount her to begin the athletic workout I have planned for the day.

“I believe in her equal views towards all people.  She never judges or dehumanizes anyone.  She taught me that when walking down the street, I have no right to shy from anyone that looks different from me.  She taught me to approach all people with no expectations.  She taught me this because she does not stop and look at anyone before we enter the show ring, and she does not refuse anyone to her back.  She allows everyone an equal chance and an equal opportunity for greatness.

“Before she graced my life, no one ever depended on me.  She changed me.  She depended on me to do all the right things, cue her to take the correct lead, and sit long enough to come up on the correct diagonal for the final trot around the ring.  I have become her captain, her director.  Pheobe Afire depended on me, as I depended on her to do the right thing.  While I realized that I could meet her needs, I also realized that she met mine.

“I believe that we learn more from others than we learn from stuffing our noses in textbooks.  Some of us stuff our noses in manure, like Pheobe, but apparently there is a lot to learn there.  I’ve learned that we all need to be open and willing to learn, and yes, even if that means learning from a horse.

“The horses have become such an important part of my life that I chose to show at the Buckeye horse show rather than walk and participate in my high school graduation festivities.  And in hindsight, I picked the right place to be!  For me, the horses have helped me through the hardest of times and have defined who I am today.  And the people who I have met in the horse industry have been the people who I’ve always been able to depend upon for anything.  My heart is with the horses and it will always remain there.”  – BrookeMarie Jarvis

It’s amazing what you find out when everyone is gathered in the booth selecting their clothing for the next show season.  The Scottsdale Show provided a glimpse into the life of the Boylan family – Colleen, Annie, Vicki and Aunt Nikki.  They not only show horses, but they are a family that shows the world the grace kindness and therapeutic nature of the Arabian horse, putting their retired show horses back in the ring for a totally different job – therapeutic riding.

HORSES HELPING OTHERS TO FLY – HOOF BY HOOF

Wings and Hooves Therapeutic Riding, Inc., a young nonprofit in East Kingtson, NH, aims to enhance the lives of individuals with physical, emotional and developmental challenges by building confidence through equine- assisted activities and partnerships.  Wings and Hooves assists with therapeutic riding, providing the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) certified instructors at no cost to the participants and their families.

Wings and Hooves relies on the kind generosity of enthusiastic volunteers and donors.  Founded by Karen Cunea, a former competitor on the Arabian Horse Association show circuit, Wings and Hooves is the result of Cuneo’s lifetime medical battle with lupus and a desire to give back tho the community.  The time spent with her horses and the “magic” they provided, gave Cuneo the inspiration to start Wings and Hooves.

Wings and Hooves is not only a safe and fun alternative therapy for individuals with a variety of challenges, it’s a place where very experienced and talented horses receive a second chance.  The program uses retired show horses as the program’s therapeutic mounts, noting a renewed sense of self-worth and energy among the horses working for the program.  The majority of the employed equines are former Arabian and Half-Arabian superstars, including purebred English Pleasure multi-champion, Mr. Wise Guy, and Youth National Reserve Champion Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure, Memory Maker.  The “retired” horses are not only given a new job after their impressive careers come to an end, but they are also involved in re-connecting with new riders.  The horses’ new responsibilities are lofty, but the gifted animals embrace their new jobs enthusiastically and seriously.

Many of the volunteers and individuals responsible for Wings and Hooves’ development are currently involved in the Arabian horse community.  Aside from Karen, who teaches many of the lessons and oversees the volunteer lesson instructors, Karen’s daughter, Kristen Cuneo, is integral in assisting with the lessons and volunteer training.  Kristen is no stranger to the Arabian horse show circuit and enters her amateur career this year with many regional and national honors.

Colleen Boylan, wings and Hooves’ Executive Director is excited to be part of the program and looks forward to its future, as well as the opportunity to showcase the versatility of the Arabian horse.  Riding since age 7, her first horse Napolia, holds a special place in her heart.  She says, “there are no other men in my life who can compare to my Half-Arabian gelding, Johnny Rocket.”  She confesses to hiding her jeans under her bed after riding lessons when she first started, just so her mother couldn’t wash the horse smell off of them.  Now, she works for Wings and Hooves with an office “in the barn where I get to smell like a horse every day.”  After the 2009 U.S. Nationals, Colleen was wearing roses to the barn for her win in Half-Arabian Amateur Park.  She is no stranger to the winner’s circle, having captured 2 Canadian Reserve Championships and multiple Top Tens.

Colleen’s sister, Annie Boylan, also an active AHA competitor, volunteers and recruits for the therapeutic program.  She began riding at 4 just to keep up with big sister Colleen.  Besides her achievements in the ring, Annie plays Division 1 lacrosse at the college of the Holy Cross.  She has an equally impressive show record starting with Reserve Champion Hunter Pleasure 13 and under and Canadian National Champion Hunter Pleasure 14-17, along with multiple top Tens in Park, Costume and Equitation.

Mother Vicki Boylan, assists with volunteer training and special event planning for Wings and Hooves.  Speaking of her daughters great riding accomplishments, Vickie continues, “Of course, part of their success is in their clothes.  If you look god, you do well with the confidence it gives you.  I have Melissa and Patti to thank for that.  People stop me in the aisles and in the show rings to ask where I dress my girls and I can’t tell them how many times Annie was stopped at Canadian Nationals so people could admire her brown tux.  I tell them Show Season … where else!

WINGS AND HOOVES THERAPEUTIC RIDING, INC.
HELPING OTHERS TO FLY — HOOF BY HOOF

PO Box 336, East Kingston, NH 03827
Phone (603) 642-3722 – Fax (603) 642-3707 – riding@wingsandhooves.org
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