We are already into the last quarter of the year, and what a year it has been! We had to cancel the annual Andee Rogers Poker Ride because of the virus, and if we had planned on a Challenge this year, putting money and energy into it, it would have surely been canceled also. But we instead have been planning all year on a new venture with the Georgia Horse Council which will take place April 17, 2021. The Georgia Horse Fair will incorporate the Challenge with a whole day of events.
WHAT IS THE THE GEORGIA HORSE FAIR? The Georgia Horse Fair is a 1-day horse fair in Conyers, Ga. Held April 17, 2021 and will mark our 1st annual event.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO AT THE GEORGIA HORSE FAIR?
Whether you are a horseless horse lover, new horse owner, or seasoned professional, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the Georgia Horse Fair. Non-horse owners, families, and children can meet the horses up close by touring the Pavilions. Many different breeds of horses are represented during the breed demonstrations in the arenas. Clinics, seminars, and educational events are presented by some of the top horse professionals from around Georgia. Vendor booths offer shopping opportunities with something for everyone.
We have begun selling tickets and asking for volunteers. For more information and to sign up or buy tickets, visit www.georgiahorsecouncil.com.
We have also begun a brand-new program that will promote and support therapeutic equine services to our veterans. This program, much like GERL’s other programs, will be part of the Equine Get Well Plan that was written and designed to fix Georgia’s unwanted horse problems. The mission of GERL’s “Horses Heal Veterans” program is to support and promote non-profit equine therapeutic organizations that cater to veterans with PTSD. The 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report shows a staggering rise in veteran suicides from fourteen to seventeen per day. Twenty out of one hundred veterans are currently suffering from PTSD. There is a need to help heal visible and invisible wounds and help our heroes adapt their lives back into civilian society.
Rescue horses are exceptional therapy animals for veterans because they share a keen sense of their surroundings for survival. Most also share a history of trauma. Just as soldiers are taught to be aware of their environment at all times for their safety, horses share this hypervigilance as a prey animal. Dependence on the herd for survival makes the horse an expert at relationships. Their authenticity and ability to mirror a human’s behavior can help teach a veteran how they come across to others and to recognize and acknowledge their own emotions. Veterans tend to isolate themselves. The purpose of rehabilitating a rescue horse shows them they are needed and gives them the ability to put their skills to work.
So yes, though it has been a really crazy year, we have continued planning and working as usual. For more information on these programs and more, go to www.gerlltd.org.