Happy New Year!

Mission accomplished!

Last moment for right decision :)

Dear SPIRIT Families and Friends,
There are only 48 hours left to make your tax-deductible gift this year.

It's that time of year again when we ask you to support our programs, which help children and adults with disabilities and other challenges grow, learn and enjoy the simple pleasures most of us take for granted-from mobility to friendships.

Your help is needed! Please donate, today.
Use PayPal link at SPIRIT website, to do it on line.

If you are one of those who already supported us, you can recommend Spirit to your friends and relatives, Each amount counts. Thank you!

Friday 12/30

Riders, parents, volunteers, BOD members, Friends from Frying Pan Farm Park - confirmed their attendance. All of us,tomorrow, at 10 AM together at Volunteer day - Painting the Barn project!
Thank you, Frying Pan Farm Park for opportunity to work together :)
Let's do the work and get ready our facility and horses for the winter time.
Thank you!

Almost ready for painting

Thursday - Volunteers with passes, come before 4 we will do some field work and ride after that...

Friday 10AM-4PM -Painting the Barn action.
Looking forward to seeing you at the field of Spirit

Hay

Thanks to the someone who covered hay with the tarp today!

Tuesday

I am so sorry that Lindsey was not informed about change, and hope to see you all again tomorrow, Tuesday at 2 PM - it is warmer and we all have evening off.
:)
Best to all, and let me know who can come to help painting Friday?

Thanks to great friends, Monday and Thursday...

Thank you all who came to help at field and around horses at the day before Christmas. It was so nice to see so many friends together and field so clean.
About Monday - Is it 2 PM too early for you to come? Please, all volunteers with pass to ride, let me know?
Also, I am thinking of painting Thursday or Friday? Who can come for long day project?
Thank you!
And Merry Christmas to all!

End of the year...another one

Friday

Sorry, I can not come tomorrow. No riding or horse related activity.
All willing to muck the field/stalls are welcome, but we need to have one volunteer older than 18 on site, so underage volunteers can enter the field.
See you Saturday at 9!

Painting...

We should do it soon...winter is almost here :(

Cold but fun this morning at Spirit Program

It was special morning today. Thank you all for hard work at field and around pony rides and lessons. We all enjoyed, great food. Courtney's chili was surprise and right thing to eat in the chilly morning. Donuts, cookies, apple cider and hot chocolate was sweet warming and what we all needed...
Can not wait to see photos :)

Dear friends of Spirit,

Dear friends of Spirit,
First, let me thank you in advance for all of the support you have shown to Spirit Open Equestrian Program this year, and for many of you, for many years as well. As we near the end of the year, I want to personally highlight some of the successes that you made possible in 2011 for Spirit
We realized over 1,000 lessons a year to the Program, for more than 150 students of all ages and abilities, with precious help of several dozens of dedicated volunteers.
One of the highlights was that Spirit became the official vendor for equestrian activities at Frying Pan Farm Park for next 5 years. This status is based on Spirit's continuing and expanding programs, as well as recognition of teaching and staff excellence.
Spirit received amazing donations in two barns with 6 stalls, tack room and a generator which will provide light and electricity we need.
Our scholarship fund provided full scholarship for 12 students and total of 150 lessons.
All our feedback from families and students are positive, supportive and full of recognition for professional skills of our staff, and great horses, as well. Our work has been presented in local media and at public events at the Park.
We are proud of great training and good care we provide for our five horses in the program.
It takes both people and financial resources to continue this level of excellence at the Spirit Program.
None of this would have happened without your support and participation in all of our activities.
We hope that you and your friends and family were able to come to many of the classes and events that we held throughout the year.
As you are considering your year-end charitable contributions, we of course, would appreciate being considered by you. Your gift is tax deductible; please consult your tax advisor for details. All gifts will be put to good use at the Spirit Program, to take care of our horses, and provide more and better lessons for our clients.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and gifts, which should be sent to
Spirit Open Equestrian Program, Inc.,
P.O. Box 1342, Great Falls, VA, 22066.
Please make your check payable to the Spirit Open Equestrian Program, Inc.
Sincerely,
Dada



Davorka Suvak
Program Director
703-600-9667
www.spiritequestrian.org
http://spiritopenequestrian.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Our horses are happy, dry and warm in new stalls, our field is easy to clean, and Spirit can work a year around.
This is a miracle which happen during the last year.

Thank you Singhal Family!

Today

Warm evening and quiet time at the Park and Spirit Field.
Only Kathleen, Lindy and Elizabeth S. came, so we mucked the field and had a great time at trial ride and some riding in the indoor ring.
Thank you girls....
Tomorrow we have lessons with Margo and Bill

See you tomorrow and Saturday!

Wednesday

No riding tomorrow, just field work and horse care :) at 4.30

Welcome Santos (ex Milton)

Third day with Spirit, already under saddle, with herd at work...

If you want to help...

Spirit Field
General directions for volunteers
• Picking up dry and clean hay around feeders and storing it at empty stall
• Mucking field
• Mucking stalls (do not add leafs or hay in stalls)
• If needed adult volunteers can filling up water tanks. Do not forget to drain both side of hose well (by raising from the top to the bottom of the hills, and leave open drainage valve)
• Refilling hay nets with hay storage in third stall in new barn. These can be hanging back in horse stables or left in that empty one.
This above is suggested order of importance.
Young volunteers below 18 can enter the field only if adult, registered volunteer person is present and takes responsibility of it.

Thank you all who are helping us to keep our field nice and clean.
Theresa and Don are doing most of this, but they do need help of all of us :)

Saturday 12/17 - Spirit Open Day

SATURDAY - 12/17/2011

Spirit Open Day

If weather permits only -No rain/snow and temperature above 40 degrees :)

10-12 AM at lower ring

Come and celebrate with us -bring friends and family*
Support your horse or rider*
Meet Spirit Team*
Riding presentation, pony rides for guests, raffle...*

Great Saturday

Saturday...beautiful weather, new stall and new horse, full storage of hay, and kiddos riding today...what a great day. Thank you Boris, Jeff, Mark, Linda, Julia and all girls who helped today.
More than all, thank you Singhal family for your friendship and support :)

E-mail me if you want to ride tomorrow!

Please, Saturday riders, confirm you attendance at lessons Saturday

Thank you!

Thank you , Louise for taking care of Infinity while she is ill

Saturday

It will be a cold day, but spirit Team will be there.
Volunteers, thank you so much for keeping our field/stalls in so good condition. This winter will be a nice one this way!
So far no one from first group announced that will come, so second group of riders have a chance to ride . Please, contact me if you have plan to come.
Thanks!

Just feeding and mucking today

Weather is bad, and it will be just feeding and mucking activity today.

New Barn

What a great timing - just before rain season started, our new barn came at it's place!
What a great gift it is from Spirit's friends Singhal & Co. Inc.

The best way to say Thank you is to continue serving community and kids with special needs even better, because, our herd will have dry and warm home for this winter.

Painting needs to be scheduled ASAP, but not before we are sure that all is dry enough...Stay in touch if you want to help, please!

Tomorrow

The big MONDAY, tomorrow!
Spirit's the best friends, people in Singhal & Company, Inc. opened this giving season with the best gift we can imagine. New barn with stalls and tack room, to provide warm and safe home for our equine friends for this winter.
That will be a chance to adopt a pony or two, maybe, since Infinity is gone ;)

Barn delivery scheduled for tomorrow late AM hours.

We will need some help for painting, and to add rubber mats into new stall and in the field to be ready for winter.
Contact me if you want be involved
Thank you!

Vacant spots at Spirit's stall

Spirit is looking for new pony or two :) We are not buying, but we can offer a nice home and life full of love and care for some horse or pony. Contact us if you have an idea :)

Busy for whole day today....

What a day! Last preparation for the new barn coming this Monday - field looks almost perfect...Thank you all for hard work, Sharon, Linda,Sarah, Jeff, Mark, Hala, Naomi, Mira, Ilana, Andrew, Becky, Boris....
New layer of stone has been put and leveled, we did 2 hours of presentation and pony ride for kids of Fairfax County with Frying Pan Farm Park, today.
Thank you Louise for offering a retreat home for Infinity this winter! We have the best President of the Program !!!

Please, send me if you have any pics of our work today...my camera is broken :(

NO LESSONS THIS SATURDAY!

There is a December Celebration at the Frying Pan Farm Park this Saturday. Spirit will be involved in pony ride 1-3 PM, but no lessons that day.
Tank you and wish you a wonderful week end.

Doxycicline wanted

Infinity has Lymes disease. She needs Doxycycline.
Let me know if you have info where we can get the cheapest (therapy is twice a day 42 tabs for 3 months, so we need 12 packages of 500 tabs).
Please ask forthe price at your CVS, Preston, Safeway or any other pharmacy.
Thank you in advance :)

Winter season

Winter Classes (two four weeks classes) will start:

Therapeutic Riding Monday, 1/23/12
Therapeutic Riding Tuesday, 1/24/12
Beginner Wednesday, 1/25/12
Beginner Thursday, 1/19/12

Therapeutic Monday, 3/05/12
Therapeutic Tuesday, 3/06/12
Beginner Wednesday, 3/07/12
Beginner Thursday, 3/01/12

Riders for Silver in Saddle group can sign in Adult class, Thursday.
Horses 4 Heroes can sign in any Therapeutic Riding Class.


Please sign in via Parktakes on line, or calling Frying Pan Farm Park Visitor center: 703-437-9101

Winter classes will start at 5 PM, instead 6 PM as it has been advertised.

Looking forward to seeing you all again, and please, contact me if you want to continue your lessons between classes.

Thank you!

December plans

Dear Volunteer Team,

We do some lessons tomorrow at 9 (meeting at 8.30)
week evenings we gather at 4.30 for whole December.
It is slow month, mostly, horse care, some lessons and volunteer training.
Let me know what schedule works for you,

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones

You Deserve Thanks!
by Spirit Team


Thank you for always remembering our friends
with disabilities, our students, volunteers and horses at Spirit Open Equestrian Program
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Thank you!

No lessons this Friday

Park is busy place this week end.
Sorry we have to cancel not only Saturday, but Friday, too.
See you Monday and Tuesday next week, and then Monday after Thanksgiving week end.

Holiday season and Spirit acitivities

Hi,
Just to let you know that we will not have Saturday lessons for next three Saturdays. This week end is a big show at the Park, and next one is Thanksgiving wek end.Saturday Dec/3rd Park has a big December Party, and Spirit will participate with Pony Ride activity. You are welcome to be there....
Also it will be no riding activity at the period from Wednesday 11/23 - Monday 11/28

For the all future Sat lessons, and week activity until new Class in January, please, follow the Blog to see if we will have lessons due to weather condition or Park activity.

Looking forward to seeing you
Thank you.
Spirit Team Dada

Make up lessons are going on for this and next week

Spirit is busy , even Fall class is over. some individual lessons, with make up lessons, and lot of good work of our volunteers from now until January and new 4 week Winter class.

Kathleen is back! Yeeeah! Welcome back girl!

Mark was at the National Conference of PATH Intl and we are happy to stay connected with roof organization thanks to him.

Busy weekend at Spirit field

Tahnk you to all who helped this Saturday at the Spirit field...Jeff, Don, Therese, Linda and Boris...with all young volunteers who created again wonderful lesson time for Aaoron, Melissa, William, Anja, Maya Robbie and Kate

do not forget that lessons this week start at 5 PM, and volunteers should come at 4.30.
Thank you, and see you!

Let's ride!

Saturday seems to be a little chilly, but still good to ride, I hope.
Looking forward to seeing you :)

Last week of 8 week Fall session

Next week - November 7-11 will be the last week of 8 week Fall Class.

Next two weeks, we will do "Make Up Lessons" for weather related canceled lessons in session and by riders on time cancelled lessons.

Please, note that Make Up Lessons Nov14-25 will start at 5, or 6 PM, instead of 6 and 7 PM.

Please, contact me if you have any questions.

Spirit Team and Event at Herndon Connection

Great picture of Mira!

See you tomorrow!

Finally, nice weather, and access to the lower ring at the Park.
See you for lessons this Saturday!

if you fall off your horse, get right back on....

Best wishes to Mira! So glad to hear that all is well. ♥
Thank you girls for great lesson in uncommon circumstances - you are professionals above professionals. Proud of you all :)

Back in saddle!

After all emotions and excitement related to Ride for Spirit event, after Trick or Treat fever, we are all back again.
Today we had great lessons with lot of small miracles, Nick trotting, Savannah doing Around The World, Dewlin riding big Tess, and Lucinda , finally painless and happy...
The best volunteer team in action tonight - Jeff, Eileen,Mark, Zoe,Becky, Colleen, sisters Gruber and great instructors Linda and Sarah.
Thank you to all for being Spirit people.

Monday

Tomorrow only one lesson at 6 for few the youngest riders who choose Spirit instead Trick or Treat game

This and that...

Parents, volunteers, friends, if you have any pictures from last week event, please send it to me, or bring at CD at next lesson. Ned it to make presentation for friends of Spirit who was not able to come and see Spirit at work Saturday 10/22
Thank you in advance :)
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Horses are doing fine, if anyone think of them at this weather. Spent day in stall, and now in dry blankets enjoy good hay from Hayhut ♥.
Feel so good about it :)

No lessons Saturday

Saturday

Rain and snow. Precipitation may be heavy at times in the morning. Total snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Highs in the upper 30s. North winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Even indoor is available, it is safer to stay at home, for this first snowstorm this year.
Take care and stay warm and dry...
See you Monday, for volunteers, and hoping for better weather next Saturday for riders.

Lesson today

It is raining, but we will be able to use indoor and run our lesson today. See you :)

More photos from Saturday

RIDE FOR SPIRIT today

Thank you ! It was great time with Spirit today, our riders presented great equestrian skills in different activities, equitation, dressage, trail ride and even jumping. Volunteers and instructors made it possible. Congratulation to all who ride, and many thanks to those who helped and created special atmosphere of friendship, mutual respect and celebration of mutual success.

Lesson tonight has been canceled.

I apologize, for some reason was not able to post from school this message at the Blog or FB, earlier in the morning.
Hoping that did not create too much confusion.

Sorry.

Forecast was clear about possible severe thunderstorms, what made me make that decision.

So much about forecast.
Weather was almost fine :(

Who knows why we, maybe needed a brake. At least, I did.

Rain or not, but we are ready to go and do lessons tomorrow, for sure.
Tomorrow and Friday are last days for practice, so whoever participate (volunteers, staff) at the show can do last rehearsal after regular lessons.
Best to all,
Dada

Saturday morning fever

Are you ready to ride?
See you this Saturday at the Park :)

Ready to be groomed

Hi, to all who came earlier to prepare horses for lessons today!
Horses have been fed and you can start groom/tack them.
Please, do not forgot to much stalls before lesson.
Thank you, and see you,
Dada

Lucinda practicing her show time

Lessons tomorrow

They call for nice weather, looking forward to see you all!

Schedule for RIDE FOR SPIRIT

Schedule can be seen HERE :)

For participants, riders in the program, be ready at least 30 min prior your time to ride. Thank you!

Volunteers, and helpers, come at 8.30 to get horses ready, please!@
See you next Saturday!

Rough weather, but good ride tonight :)

Congratulation to all brave Spirit people and riders who came and did great ride in despite of tornado in our region tonight!

See you tomorrow!

Wednesday

Good news - horses have been fed and they are dry in their stalls. Plan is - without grooming, just put saddle on them, take bridle and cover them with blankets (they are in the stalls, too), and bring them on hand into indoor ring. There we will groom and tack as usual.
Thank you!

Wish you all a Happy Columbus Day

Weather is great and we have regular lessons as scheduled this holiday Monday!

Great day!

This Saturday, we did a lot.
Therapeutic riding lessons
Practicing for Ride for Spirit event
Cleaned the field
Thank you all for hard work and and sharing with Spirit such a wonderful day as it was :)

Almost ready for winter

Thanks heaven for great friends Sam and Dan, this will be much better winter that all those before :)!

New week and hope

Hoping for good weather conditions this week and looking forward to seeing you again.

do not forget to sign in for
RIDE FOR SPIRIT
10/22/11 10 am

Thank you!

Rain!

No lessons, sorry :(

Saturday forecast

"Mostly cloudy. Showers likely...mainly in the afternoon. Cooler with highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent."

Hoping for the best.

You can call at 8.30 to hear more about weather and lesson prospective.

:)

Thank you!

It was the third annual Benefit for Spirit Equine on Sept 4th at the Moose Lodge in Vienna. Thank you, Boston Nichols, Rob White and Carl Thomas, and all who helped this project!

Saturday

Good news!
Lower ring is available, so lessons will be there. Hoping for good weather!

Infinity

Thank you, Ilana, Naomi and Maria for recognizing and acting on time to save Infinity. Painful colic may be cause of death for horse, but Infinity had friends ready to help.

Thank you girls!

Volunteers needed for event below

RIDE FOR SPIRIT
PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES IN THERAPY AND EDUCATION
PONY RIDES FOR GUESTS
FUNDRAISING EVENT


SATURDAY
OCTOBER 22, 2011
10:00 AM
FRYING PAN FARM PARK
INDOOR FACILITY

Note for Spirit Riders about possible participation:
Riders will be presented either in a group of 4 or individual, ride 5-15 min and each participant will get a trophy

Active Saturday!

Even no lessons have been done today, it was busy at the Spirit Field.

Thank you Jeff for taking care of feeding and mucking stalls
Thank you Mr Spalding for donation of hay which will help us wait dry weather for new big hay delivery!
Thank you Boris for driving and loading hay...

And thank you all, volunteers and riders for understanding and patience.
See you next Sat if not before.

No lessons Friday and Saturday 09-23&24

Rain.
Mud in the field and ring.
No access to the indoor.

I am so sorry to have to cancel lessons today and tomorrow.
Hoping for better weather next week.

Happy Birthday, Jeff!

And thank you so much for being Spirit Person in life of all of us :)

Lucinda

She was a star last night, carrying three plastic rings on her head patiently for almost an hour ...Ilana put one on her head, too.
Hope you can see it here :D Dark does not help , but we had fun, anyway.

New class just started

Jacob, and 7 other great riders opened Fall 8 weeks class at FPFP

Thank you all great Spirit People for making this possible.

Here you are a few pictures just got from Jacob's mom -from tears to smiles

Almost ready to start a new Class!

Thank you for great long and fun day today at Spirit field, in behalf of all riders and families.
Spirit Team is the best!

And we still need some more volunteers, so share this among your friends
:)

For new volunteers

First meeting and volunteer training will be this
Saturday,
09/17
at 8.30
at Frying Pan farm Park.
Please, share this with friends
Our 8 weeks session starts Monday 09/19.
Thank you!

I am back again!

Thank you to all for good wishes for safe travel, and for care in the Spirit Field.
I am back, and regular activities will be at the field 5.30-7 PM today and tomorrow,
Saturday 9-11 AM

We will start very busy 8 weeks session this Monday, so this is an invitation for all volunteers to let me know about days they can commit to help

Thank you in advance,
Dada
PS - It is so good to be home again

Greetings from CRO

Thank you, all - Jeff, Linda, Sarah, Therese, Boris and girls for perservance in taking care of Spirit herd in that rain. Miss you all...

Here is a virtual postcard from me :)

Important message!

09/06-09/15 - No lessons at the Spirit Program. Spirit horses still count on volunteer help to come, feed, groom and muck at usual time :) Tank you!
See you Saturday, 09/17 at 9.30 AM

Take care of our friends, and their field, please :)
Thank you!

Active Sunday!

Sam and Chip provided hay today, Carina and her blacksmith brought Lucinda back into Spirit field, Boris cut the big tree at the field and took care of it after that, Courtney and Rob organized fundraising bike show at Vienna Moose Lodge tonight, I organized tack room, office and mucked field...what a day !
See you tomorrow :)

Thank you Sam, Chip, Carina, blacksmith, Boris, Courtney and Rob!

I am gone (my mom needs me in CRO)

Dear all,
just a head up that will be gone 09/06 - 09/14
the most likely, no lessons will be conduct at that period, and all activities/horse care will be scheduled on time.
Make up session for Saturday, or any other will be postponed until I come back.
More to come.
Thank you for understanding,
Dada

Post Irena

Dear all, sorry for delay :(
It is all well at Spirit Field. No trees falling down, and horses are muddy and happy . Hope all is well at your side, too.

Saturday(s)

For those who wanted to sing up for future Saturday lessons in September, you might recognize that there is no option to do it.
We will do Saturday lessons in future as much as weather condition and Park activity will let us do so, but we gave up of prepaid option, as there is too many makeups to be done.
Each lesson should be paid on site.
Thank you for understanding, and please, let me know if you would keep your spot at Saturday schedule.
No show with out explanation will result loosing the spot.
Thank you, and hope to seeing you tomorrow,
fondly,
Dada

Rest of This Afternoon

Showers and thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and heavy rainfall. Highs in the mid 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent.

Today's lesson will be rescheduled for Thursday after this 4 weeks Class.
Take care and stay dry.
______________________
I pick up the field and fed horses already...

Thursday

I was looking forward to see you today, but weather seems to be bad, and in that case, (if storm starts before 6 PM) we will cancel lesson. We will do make up at the week after the class. Hope that you agree that is better safe than sorry. I will post final decision before 5 PM here or on FB Spirit page.
Looking forward to seeing you again :)

Irena is coming - what we can do?

There are so many warning about Irena.
I still hope that we will be able to do our lessons this Friday & Saturday, but if things go bad, we will have to cancel.

Stay in touch with Spirit :)

NO LESSONS this Saturday

Reminder - no lessons this Saturday. There is the big event at Frying Pan Farm Park. Wish you a great week end and see you next week!

Heavy rain

It was bad weather today, but indoor ring was dry and pleasant place to ride.
Great lesson for Becky, Elizabeth and Judy. Thank you Jamelah, Adriana and Mark for your help :)

Hoping for the best

Weather is unpredictable, but I am hoping for the best...see you :)

What a day!

Thomas, Melissa, Regina, Charlotte, Aaaron, William, Anja, Maya, Kelly...all riders did great lessons today.
We were short with help, missing Whitney, Sandy, Jeff and Mark. Even Salmon sisters did not come today :(
But Julia, Sarah, Mira, Naomi, Ilana, Sheena, Andrew, Terry, Linda and Dada did it all. We even loaded hay feeder (with Mr Vineet's help )and had some fun with Harmony and cart.

That last action was experience to remember, but, thanks Heavens,not so bad as it could be.

Julia is doing good!

Deeply apologize to our volunteers and anyone else who witnessed today's Harmony's escapade. Those things happen. Good news are that all is the best it can be in given circumstances. Julia has just abrasions and bruises, no bumps or broken bone approved by official medical staff. No pain and she is doing great. I know that dust and blood (she bit her lip) did not look good, but do not worry, Julia is back ready to ride :)

Thursday

Sorry for confusion I created. We can do volunteer training as it is at the Blog, tomorrow 6-7 PM. all volunteers are welcome... :)

News about Fall 8 Week Class

Hello, all riders and families,

I am sorry that we had to give up about Friday and Saturday lessons for Fall season.

Those days are often too busy at the park and we can not use indoor in bad weather case.
Too many cancellations, and inability to realize all make up lesson made our decision about it.
However, we will do lessons on those days, out of Class schedule, whenever we can.
Those lessons should be paid on site.

Let me know if you are interested in occasional Friday PM and Sat AM lessons as well.
I am looking forward to seeing you, sincerely,
Dada

New schedule posted

Look at the righ side of the page. This time there are even horses listed for each rider. This is just suggestion not caste in the stone :)

End of the brake/make up time

Congratulation again and thank you so much for hard work we done, Whole Spirit Team during this summer.
Next week we start a new and last Summer 4 weeks class.
Today and tomorrow there are not so many things to be done beside horse and field care. All volunteers wre welcome to come without special agenda.
Saturday, August/6th, in despite of Fairfax County Fair at the Park we will tryto do one more make up session for Sat therapeutic riders :). That means that we need whole Team on site at 8.30.
Weather is friendlier today than last week, and I am looking forward to seeing you