Our Trip to see David Lichman's show and clinic at the Biltmore Estate in NC

Howdy Folks,
 

Wow, what a place! What a show! What a man! That's pretty much how I feel about this way too exciting trip! Over the past seven weeks David Lichman has been touring the country to help raise money for organizations. He calls the tour, "Horses Helping Humans." His tour included nine cities in the US and Canada, the one nearest us was Asheville NC at the Biltmore Estate. The Biltmore was built by the George Vanderbilt family in the 1890's and is a stunning place to see. If you get the chance to visit, we highly recommend it. Robbie and I enjoyed a driving tour of the grounds before leaving for home Saturday afternoon. We even had lunch in the Stable Restaurant.

The Biltmore

But, of course the reason for our trip was to see David Lichman, Parelli 5 Star trainer, and his musical extravaganza with his personal horses, Thirteen, Julio and Scotty. And to hear our dear friend Mary Ann Kennedy perform.

 

We didn't get any photos of Mary Ann singing, sorry, but here we are together Saturday morning - Check out her website (HERE) - Be sure to buy her Cds -

For Robbie and me it was a 6 hour drive, and I will tell you worth every minute! When we arrived we enjoyed dinner with a few Facebook friends before the show, another excellent thing about this trip. It was great to meet in person, Martha, Diane, Beth and Cinda (Martha's putting together a program to help At-Risk youths based on my novel, and thanks to David we finally meet in person!) ... Gosh there was so much wonderfulness about this trip.

This tour was first given birth by David's dream to ride and play with his own horses on Marblehead beach in MA, where he grew up, a long way from Sacramento CA. The plan grew to include stops along the way to visit friends he'd not seen in years while raising money for helping hand organizations. You can read more about those details here – BENEFIT TOUR - HORSES HELPING HUMANS

I know I'm rambling a bit with this blog, but holy cow it's not often so much wonderfulness is jam-packed into two days!

 

Thirteen, Scotty, Julio and David playing

Friday night David, Thirteen, Julio and Scotty thrilled us all with graceful, stunning and beautiful riding, playing, dancing, and a few tricks under the lights to Mary Ann's beautiful voice ... Well, until the lights went out … But they finished by headlight, cell phone and flashlight! Which really added an extra touch of beauty to the magnificent show! Especially the way the limited light played on Julio as he and David danced the closing number in a breathtaking example of how riding to music helps you bond with your horse. This was just after David shot an arrow through a balloon while riding Julio with no tack at a cantor. After the show some us gathered under the big tent and visited, introduced each other to new friends and said howdy to friends we don't see nearly often enough. It was so great to meet friends we've only known on Facebook!

Julio, Scotty and Thirteen marching together

Saturday morning we gathered again at the tent for coffee, doughnuts, and more visiting. Then David opened the day with a get-to-know-you question and answer session that was fully loaded with questions, answers, very useful information, laughs and surprises too. 

David's vast knowledge, humor and kindness helped us all learn as much in that hour as most instructors impart in a week-long course.

David demonstrating his gentle guidence

Then it was time for those bringing horses to David's clinic to enter the ring. Robbie and I joined friends in chairs lining the ring to watch the fun. And what fun everyone and every horse had! The morning's session was ground work helping folks and their horses transition from games and working together on line to at-liberty fun. I watched intrigued as David helped each participant master the little things that had eluded them. Horses softened and gained confidence, so did their people! It was a beautiful ballet!

Mary Ann, Adale (now renamed TEMPO) and David chatting about what a sweet man Tempo is.

Another great thing happened too. One of the horses there, a sweet Paso named Andale was looking for a new home, and Mary Ann gave him one. Watching those two together, it was as if they'd been friends for years. I was quite smitten with him too, and his big heart, and if Mary Ann had not offered her love and care, Kessy may have gotten a herd mate.

When it was time for Robbie and me to head for home saying goodbye was tough. There was so much fun yet to come under David's watchful eye and guidance. Get-togethers like this don't happen all the time and we are sure thrilled we could be part of this one!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday - Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute – Nancy Zidonis and Amy Snow

Howdy Folks,

 

Last week I had the honor of interviewing Nancy Zidonis and Amy Snow, founders of Tallgrass Animal Acupressure, for a story in my Holistic Hall Of Fame column in Natural Horse Magazine. Their story will be featured in the Jan/Feb/March 2014 issue, and as is my custom, I'll salute them here too by sharing a few excerpts from my story. Be sure to watch for the entire story in January.

Helping empower people to help their horses and animals, and get more deeply in touch themselves is their mission. "Acupressure helps people connect to their animals. Most people know their own animals; acupressure gives them something they can apply to help their horse." Nancy explained.

Cowboy loving his acupressure

Nancy and Amy spent years developing a comprehensive 300 hour acupressure training program. They named it, Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute. It begins with introductions to the basics and builds on them, ever increasing the students' depth of knowledge to the culmination and graduation in their "Practitioner Certification Program." So committed were Nancy and Amy that Tallgrass graduates would be recognized as skilled and knowledgeable professionals that while they were creating the program Nancy and Amy enrolled in "Traditional Chinese Medical School (TCM)." The instructors they learned from are thirty-first generation TCM practitioners.

Learning by doing

Tallgrass is a thriving and expanding community of animal acupressure practitioners worldwide. After completing the Tallgrass certification program graduates become part of a large network of people who are diligently working with horses, dogs, and cats. Some work in veterinarian practices, some in clinics and many have their own practices. These practitioners support each other via a Google Group by posing questions about the cases on which they are working. It’s a vital conduit of communication for practitioners.

Amy and Nancy, along with Kim Bauer Tallgrass' lead instructor, travel over 150 days a year teaching 15 to 20 clinics, offering demos and broadening horizons. Beyond the basic curriculum, there are online advanced courses, articles written by Amy and Nancy which have been published in periodicals all over the globe available, on the Tallgrass website and within the online learning system. The weekly Tallgrass blog has grown to be a sought after and relied upon valuable asset to folks worldwide. Practitioners certified to support the hands-on demos and exercises are located across the country and overseas helping to spread the knowledge.

Learning with Tallgrass in Australia

 If you'd like to learn more about Tallgrass and the many values of acupressure please visit their website (HERE) .  There you can purchase any of their easy to understand books, sign on for their blog and newsletter. Perhaps you'd like to enroll in the Practitioner Certification Program. Visit their Facebook page (HERE)

Thank you Nancy and Amy for all you do, to help so many.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Heading Out To See David Lichman's Benefit Tour

Howdy Folks,

 

Ravishin' Robbie and I are getting ready to head out tomorrow morning for the Biltmore in Asheville NC for David Lichman's "Benefit Tour Horses Healing Humans." So excited to see David again and meet his 3 horses, Julio, Thirteen and Scotty! Friday night they will perform their "Horses~At~Liberty~Musical~Magical~Educational," an evening extravaganza of dancing, playing and riding, demonstrating the remarkable bond that can be realized with a horse.  And Mary Ann Kennedy will be there performing too! David will also conduct clinics Sat & Sun.

Julio, Thirteen, Scotty and David dancing

David put this tour together to 9 cities across the country and Canada, to visit friends he's not seen in a long time, play with his horses on the beach where he grew up, and first fell in love with horses, in MA. …  AND raise money benefit equine-assisted programs and youth organizations coast to coast! Proceeds at each location benefit local organizations.

David, Julio, Thirteen and Scotty on Marblehead Beach in MA. They've made their journey from Sacramento CA back to David's childhood beach.

Many people know David as a 5 Star Parelli trainer, who is devoted to helping horses and their people achieve the best possible partnerships. Driven by a passion to help folks and their horses, David has traveled the world hosting clinics and teaching ... Not as many people know of David's commitment to help children, and grown folks who, for whatever the reason or circumstance, can benefit from an equine connection. 

– Follow this link (HERE) to read my blog post about David, Julio, Thirteen and Scotty's "Benefit Tour - Horses Healing Humans".  And this link (HERE) to read my blog about David, "David Lichman-The Journey Continues." Please read theses stories about David so you can meet a truly wonderful man.

Mary Ann Kennedy - Check out her website (HERE)

Click (HERE) - to read my story "Mary Ann Kennedy - Singing to Help"  Mary Ann is a Grammy nominated singer and songwriter who donates much of her time and proceeds to help horse charities. She and her horse Brave are on the cover of my novel.

David Lichman is a man committed to helping humans and horses and I'm honored to call him friend. I hope you'll read these stories.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

We'll Sort This Out – Pt 2 –

Howdy Folks,

 Back in January I wrote a short story, "We'll Sort This Out" about a boy fleeing a bad home situation set back in the homestead times – You can find that story (HERE) – Of and on I've gotten requests to continue the story. Over the weekend another friend asked if there's more to it, so I thought I'd tell a little more …. Hope you enjoy. Let me know if you want more.

Kessy Saturday & me writing a story

We'll Sort This Out – Pt 2 

Frank's hand was kind. His smile comforting. New feelings for the boy, and they confused him. He was hungry and the soup smelled good. Often he had snuck away to lay hidden in the trees and watch this tiny homestead from atop the hill. Now he was with the friendly looking man and woman he had watched from his hiding place so many times. So many times he had wished the kind woman would hold him. Wished the tall man would find him. But each time the boy knew better and turned to walk slowly the miles back to the house, and the whippings he'd receive for being gone. But he never said where he'd been. Not to his father, and not to his sister. She was younger and might not understand.

"Come now, let's get a bowl of soup in you." Frank scooped the boy from the floor, swung him over his shoulder like a sack of grain and marched to the front room, stopping by the wide table in front of the fireplace. "Martha, is there corn bread to go with your territory famous turkey soup?" He slid the boy into the chair nearest the fireplace then sat next to him, still holding his tiny hand.

"It should be just about ready." She knelt by the big stone fireplace, raised the lid on a small black kettle and waved the air to push the delicious smell of baking corn bread their way.

"Oh boy, we'll have a feast tonight!" Frank's eyes beamed. "Are you hungry young fella?"

Yes, of course he was hungry, and it did smell better than anything he could remember. He watched Martha dip a bowl full from the swinging kettle. Frank took it and set it in front of the boy. He stared at the bowl, watching the steam float up. The smell and warmth of it filled his nose. His eyes ran tears down his face. He knew at that moment his sister was getting no food, or at best old potatoes. A beating for sure. She'd pay the price tonight for his disobedience.

"Go on young fella, dig in!" Frank dipped the cornbread into the soup and offered it.

That was all he could stand. He pushed back from the table, bumping into Martha. "I can't," he sobbed.

Martha whirled and held him, "Sure you can, we have plenty." They slid to the floor, she rocked him. "Don't be afraid, you're safe here." She reached for the cornbread and held it for him until he took a small bite. "There, quite good isn't it, if I do say myself." She stroked his hair and hugged tighter.

"Never tasted any better I'll bet!" Frank smiled and snared a chunk for himself. "Sit back up here and dive into this turkey soup. You'll sleep grand tonight up in our loft, with your belly full of Martha's cooking."

He wiped his eyes on the big shirt sleeve. It was Martha's blouse they had dressed him in, nothing else in the cabin came close to fitting him. He pushed the loose sleeves back, picked up the bowl, and drank the warm soup down, not wasting time with a spoon. Then held it out for a refill.

Frank jumped up, "I'll fill her up for you," and using the bent, long handled spoon did just that. As he sat the full bowl in front of the boy he leaned on his elbows and grinned. "Hits the spot and warms every inch of you doesn't it?"

The boy gulped it down, dragged his sleeve across his mouth and jumped to his feet. "I want to stay here … But I can't … "

Martha held him. "Of course you can. At least until Frank has a chance to visit with your father and work things out."

He pulled away. "I need to go now. If I don't get back he'll hurt my sister."

Stunned silence filled the room. Only the boy's hesitant breathing and crackles in the fireplace made any sound.

"Sister?" Martha grabbed Frank's arm. "You have a sister? Frank what …."

"I shouldn't have run, but … I need to go … I need to …."

Frank put his hand on the boy's shoulder, "Hold on here young fella. I've never seen anyone but you and your father around your place."

"I do have a sister, she's eight. She doesn't go outside too much. She, well since mother ran, she hides a lot in the house. She's okay if I'm there, but …."

Frank swung open the door, fierce howling rain swept into the room. Fighting against the wind he forced the door closed. "Traveling is out of the question tonight, son, but I promise, I'll ride right over in the morning and look into this a bit deeper."

"My sister."

Martha hugged him, "She'll be alright, I'll bet they're in bed already."

The boy jerked free, "It's not alright, I should be there!"

"Son, I'm truly sorry, but there's no way to make it in this weather in the dark. But rain or no rain I'll head out in the morning. I give you my word."

The boy studied their worried faces. His eyes burned, his heart pounded. "I shouldn't have left without her, but it was so cold and the rain."

Martha wrapped him in her arms and together they climbed the ladder to the open loft above the fireplace. It was warm there. She laid with him in the bed of blankets. She held him until he sobbed himself to sleep.

He woke as she climbed down the ladder, but he didn't call out. He watched the flickers of firelight on the cabin's walls and listened to them talk. He could not understand much of what they said, but he knew it was him, his sister and father they talked about. He worried for his sister. The rain pounded the tin roof making it hard to listen. Maybe, when Frank and Martha fall asleep he could sneak out and run to her. And bring her back.

*******************

To read Pt 3  CLICK HERE

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry