HORSEPOWER

July 2022

Greetings Friends:


As our first year at our forever farm comes to a close, we turn by necessity to strategies to sustain and improve our efforts into the future. Owning an aging farm cost more to sustain than we ever imagined but with your help and support everything is possible.


In this issue of Horsepower, I have been given the privilege of discussing our upcoming Dining in the Dark Fundraiser with you.

What is Dining in the Dark? Dining in the Dark is a simplistically elegant event that will bring together socially conscious community leaders, industry professionals and caring citizens for an evening of fine dining and entertainment to raise awareness about disabilities and resources for LTR. Guests will enjoy dining in low light conditions while wearing eyeshades to fully immerse themselves in the experience by relying on their taste, texture, and smell to guide them through their culinary adventure.


Who will be attending the Dining in the Dark? Ticket holders will have the unique experience of dining with both internationally renowned and local celebrities. Headlining the evening will be blind chef Christine Ha, winner of Master Chef Season III, bestselling author and successful restauranteur. Working in conjunction with Chef Ha will be Executive Chef Jasmine West representing the Bourbon Bayou Kitchen, who was recently featured on the TBS reality show, “Rat in the Kitchen”.


Entertainment will be provided by Scott MacIntyre, blind pianist and American Idol finalist from season eight. You Tube phenomenon Tommy Edison from the Tommy Edison Experience will Co-Emcee the event in partnership with Loudoun County’s own “Network Ninja,” Geoff Crawley from House Cleaning Heroes. All featured guests will raise awareness about disabilities by sharing their personal stories of how they overcame adversity to build successful careers for themselves while inspiring hope in others.


When will this amazing event take place? The Dining in the Dark will take place on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at the Bourbon Bayou Kitchen (our presenting sponsor) in Ashburn from 6-10 PM.


The price of one ticket includes a five-course meal with wine pairings and the privilege of making a difference in someone’s life.


Where can you find out more about the event, provide sponsorship or buy tickets to attend? Please visit www.dininginthedark.net. For sponsorship inquiries, click the tab titled “Partnership Inquiry”.


Read on about other exciting things happening at LTR. I am looking forward to seeing you all or rather “not seeing you all” at Dining in the Dark.



Yours in Service,

Paul D. Shane
Executive Director
Volunteer Spotlight

This month, a group of volunteers from the Levi Strauss Outlet Store in Leesburg spent 3 hours at Loudoun Therapeutic Riding doing some major barn clean-up. We reorganized the entire area behind the indoor arena, tidied up the hay barn, and wielded the powerwasher to great effect.  


THANK YOU to this amazing group of young volunteers for spending the morning with us! They worked very hard to create a safe, healthy space for our horses and participants.  


The hardworking individuals from Levi's visiting with Mae West

LTR Volunteer Program

Program Spotlight 

Wife-and-husband team Linda and Daniel Ring have been riding with LTR for several years. Recently Linda shared with us: 


“One of the true joys of the past few years has been being able to share my love of riding with Daniel. I have loved horses my whole life but he hadn't spent much time around them and had ridden even less. He has come so far and now...we have been able to learn to work together and pull off some awesome dances to music! Recently, Bo has had an injury so I have been riding Lars and have come to truly respect how hard Daniel has had to work to get him to make those dance moves. In many ways, it is just like us in our relationship. We try to work together, stay in step and not cut each other off in the diagonal. I have MS so I can be unpredictable. Daniel has learned how to work with me as I am and not like I am "supposed" to be, much like Lars.  


I am extremely lucky to be surrounded by amazing people like my husband, my sidewalkers, my horse leader, my instructor and all of the amazing people at LTR and I am grateful to every one of them, and the awesome hoses, every time I am able to get out of bed in the morning!” 

Linda on Lars (left) and Daniel on Ash (right) with Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor Pam McAfee and their wonderful volunteers!

Event Spotlight 

Please join us on Saturday, September 25th from 2:00pm- 5:00pm with our very own Catherine Wycoff to learn more about the SUREFOOT Equine stability program.



Fees:

Hands on participant fees are $50.00 per person and will include using the LTR herd for this workshop (no trailer ins). Spots are limited!

Auditor fee: $25.00 per person.


We are very excited to be able to offer this opportunity to anyone who wants to learn more! Please reach out to hpayne@ltrf.org with any questions.

SUREFOOT Clinic Registration

Event Spotlight

August 4, 2022

Join us Thursday, August 4 from 5-7pm at DC Prime Steaks in Ashburn for a taste of what's to come. 


Guests will enjoy a complimentary blind tasting of DC Prime's delectable appetizers. They may add on a paid blind whiskey tasting to enhance their experience.


There is no charge to attend, however due to limited space, we ask that all guests register in advance.


Dining in the Dark Preview Event Registration
 
Herd Spotlight

Welcome to LTR's newest herd member! 

Ash is generously free-leased to LTR by a local friend and horsewoman, Genevieve, who has owned him since he was 2 years old. The 12 year old gray warmblood gelding competed through Training level Eventing with Genevieve. We are so fortunate to have this sweet, kind-hearted and well-trained horse in our barn! 

Ash is already a fan favorite in the barn

Upcoming Events - SAVE THE DATE!

Thursday, August 44:30-5:30 PM Dining in the Dark Kickoff Event II, at DC Prime in Ashburn


Sunday, September 11: Long Stone Farm-to-Table Dinner - TICKETS COMING SOON!


Sunday, September 25: SUREFOOT Clinic at LTR


Thursday, October 13: Dining in the Dark 

Grazing for Good

Don't forget to check out our Grazing For Good (GFG) Program. GFG is a community partnership with restaurants across Loudoun County to support LTR. Our vision is to create a network of restaurant partners across the county so that anywhere you are, at any time - morning, noon, or night - you can dine at a location that donates a minimum of 10% of the GFG plate special to us. Order the GFG special off the menu and enjoy, knowing that you are supporting a great cause.

DC Prime Steaks and Seafood is our pilot program partner! Every Monday night DC Prime will feature a Grazing For Good special and donate 10% of the proceeds from the special to LTR. Be sure to show the Grazing for Good logo to your server!


DC Prime is located at 20120 Lakeview Center, Ashburn, VA 20147 

https://dcprimesteaks.com/


Please contact Paul Shane, Executive Director at pshane@ltrf.org if you know any restaurant owners who would be interested in signing up for the Grazing For Good Program.

How You Can Help LTR:
Shop our Angel Wish List ("The Big Five")
1.  Mortgage Payout: 1.2 million dollars. Farm naming rights available
2.  Roof replacement for barn and indoor arena: $300,000. Barn naming rights available.
3.  A portable building (to use as an education center).
4.  Sea Container storage units (1-4)
5.  Donated truck: capable of towing a bumper-pull horse trailer to transport horses for community outreach and emergencies. Contact Executive Director Paul Shane (pshane@ltrf.org) to donate.

Support the Herd

We are seeking special horses to join our therapy herd!

Therapy horses are quiet, friendly, tolerant, and suitable for beginners of all ages:

  • Between 10 and 18 years old
  • Open to free lease, donation, or purchase – donations are tax-deductible
  • Trial period preferable
  • Must walk, trot, and canter sound
  • Some maintenance is fine!


We are also looking for a driving horse:

  • Very road-safe, quiet horse with 5+ years of driving experience
  • Riding capability a plus!

 

Please no “green” horses. Send bio, photos, and videos to pshane@ltrf.org

Remember, you can support a local business AND LTR by visiting Another Turn Tack in Purcellville - check out Gnomeo's Wish List.
Or you can purchase items from the Amazon Wish List (through Amazon Smile benefiting LTR!) and have it shipped DIRECTLY to us!
Amazon Wish List
Do you have an old car, truck, RV, or boat that needs to move on to greener pastures?

Donate to CAReasy.org and choose Loudoun Therapeutic Riding as the nonprofit beneficiary!
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Thank you to our generous sponsors of the 2022 Boots & Bridles Barn Dance!

 
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