Christmas came early for the McBride family of Carlisle, PA. On October 14th, under the lights at The Pennsylvania National Horse Show (PNHS), Aubrey (9), Ava (7) and Alyvia (5) were handed the reins of Lil’ Red: a 4-year old Quarter Horse competing at The Show.
A very special early Christmas
“With a competition like the Equine Comeback Challenge, rescue horses are given that much-needed opportunity to showcase their abilities and potential”.
The surprise gift was part of The Equine Comeback Challenge (The Challenge): the first event of its kind on the east coast, where 10 Local Trainers were each assigned an untrained rescue horse, ages 4 to 10. After only 90 days to train the rescues, the trainers came together for a friendly competition to showcase the overlooked talent of the rescue horse. And best of all – the horses were available for adoption after the competition.
Lil’ Red had, only months before, been rescued from a large-scale cruelty seizure. With patience, devotion and help from daughter Fallon, trainer Todd Feaser of Newville, PA brought out Red’s true colors when they negotiated The Challenges’ Versatility Trail Course without a hitch, going on to win the inaugural event and the championship, awarded a handmade saddle generously donated by Cowboy Classics Saddlery.
The PNHS Foundation partnered with A Home for Every Horse (AHFEH), a division of Equine.com that provides a unique search engine platform to feature rescue horses in need of forever homes. Rescue selections for this event included horses from Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village, Lollypop Farm and the Humane Society of Great Rochester, Second Chance Thoroughbreds Inc., The ANNA Shelter and Triple B Rand Horse Rescue.
The featured PNHS Foundation rescues were Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Inc. and York County SPCA. “Rescue horses needed a platform and a knowledgeable partner to show the world what they are capable of,” said Mariah Hammerschmidt, Project Coordinator for AHFEH. “With a competition like the Equine Comeback Challenge, rescue horses are given that much-needed opportunity to showcase their abilities and potential”.
The Challenge was sponsored by Penn Vet New Bolton Center and the W. Dale Brougher Foundation along with AHFEH’s sponsors Tractor Supply Company, Zoetis, WeatherBeeta, Cinch Clothing Company and Cowboy Classics Saddlery.
Feaser stated during the event “I have been asked a million times why I participated in the Equine Comeback Challenge and this is why [in reference to the hand off between daughter Fallon and Red’s new forever family].” A total of 10 trainers competed in the event held at The Pennsylvania National Horse Show in October.
All of their stories continue with links found on the PNHS website: http://www.panational.org/index.php?pID=97, along with stories at A Home for Every Horse (http://ahomeforeveryhorse.com/equine-comeback-challenge/pennsylvania-national-horse-show).
About the Pennsylvania National Horse Show
The PNHS Foundation – a non-profit - 501(c)(3) – has been an advocate of equine therapy and rescue organizations since 1999. Partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Harrisburg, the PNHS Foundation has donated over $1.5 million to the regional community. A full list of recipients may be found at http://www.panational.org/our-foundation/.
The Pennsylvania National Horse Show is one of the largest indoor horse shows in the U.S., hosting horses and competitors from across the country with 15,000 spectators attending from the MidâAtlantic region. With over 1,400 qualified horses competing for $485,000 in prize money, the show features Hunter and Jumper competition and the $85,000 Grand Prix de Penn National.