[ad_1]

“The horses are ready to roll!”

That was the start of a fashion show at the Laguna Woods Equestrian Center this week.

Six freshly bathed equines strutted one by one down the “runway” to model items purchased through donations to the Help the Herd campaign, a fundraising project supported by the Village Community Fund.

The Equestrian Center held a donor appreciation gathering Monday, June 28, its first public event since the pandemic shut it down in spring 2020. The fundraising campaign was started after revenue from the riding and boarding programs dried up in the shutdown.

The Help the Herd campaign raised more than $10,000 from around 55 donors, according to Leslie Anne Mogul, director of philanthropy for the Village Community Fund.

The money raised went to purchase items to help make the lives of the eight horses at the Equestrian Center a little more comfortable, said Susan Hemberger, a Help the Herd committee member.

Those items included fly sheets for protection against pesky insects, stall mats for a more comfy place to lie, a special saddle and saddle pads, safety stirrups, personalized halters, horse leads, protective boots and more. The money also will help pay for extra and specialized veterinary care for the horses that need it.

“All these things make a difference to the horses in their work every day,” said Laura Cobarruviaz, the Equestrian Center’s new supervisor.

A lifelong horse person, Cobarruviaz started the job in October, coming to Laguna Woods from Northern California by way of Washington state. Early on in her stint at the center, she wrote a memorable, heartfelt obituary for a horse there.

Months later, Cobarruviaz still appeared wistful as she thought back on the horse.

“I think of horses as people, or as partners,” she said. “We care deeply about them here.”

First down the runway Monday was June Bug, a veteran at the center at 26 years old, who was adorned with white wreaths and sported fancy new horse boots to protect the hooves.

Next came Jerry, also a veteran at 28, modeling a lovely new fly sheet decorated with unicorns and rainbows. He was followed by Rascal, at 30 the oldest horse at the center, a spirited mount who’s also a bit cranky, possibly because he has no teeth and can eat only mushy food. He’s also on special meds.

Belle, with her mane neatly trimmed and standing straight up in a tomahawk ‘do, also modeled a fly sheet. Next, Patrick, 18, showed off an English bridle — ready for the Equestrian Center’s new English riding lesson program.

Finally, Camellia brought up the tail end of the parade, donning a black saddle and bright red saddle mat.

Camellia is new to the Equestrian Center, arriving just a couple of weeks ago from a ranch in Temecula with her beau, Murphy, according to Cobarruviaz.

After the fashion show, while Camellia lapped up the attention from her human admirers like a starlet, Murphy was having a fit in his stall. He paced madly back and forth, a crazed look in his eye, his loud, frantic neighing nearly drowning out all else.

Apparently, Murphy suffers from separation anxiety.

“Murphy’s very worried that Camellia is going to leave,” Cobarruviaz said, adding that some horses — like Murphy — take some time to adjust to a new situation, whereas others — obviously like Camellia — manage just fine.

(We think it was actually a little male jealousy going on.)

The Equestrian Center reopens Tuesday, July 6, with riding lessons scheduled Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for boarders, volunteers and helpers already onsite. Lessons for the public will be on Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon. To sign up, call or stop by the Equestrian Center during office hours.

“We are so excited to also have newly graded arenas with new beautiful, professionally installed footing for our lessons and boarding clients,” Cobarruviaz said.

The center will hold guided tours with an opportunity to pet and take pictures with the horses on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 2 p.m. and weekends at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Reservations are not required.

Visitors won’t be allowed at the center outside of the guided tours and special events until further notice.

Saddle Club barbecues will start up in August. Cobarruviaz also hopes to open the Equestrian Center to a large variety of events, including riding clinics, horse shows, music and food events, art events, auctions and more.

The Equestrian Center is at 24312 El Toro Road. The phone number is 949-597-4275. For information on the Help the Herd fundraising campaign, visit villagecommunityfund.org or email Leslie Anne Mogul at lamogul@comline.com or call 760-533-7379.

Adblock test (Why?)

[ad_2]

Source link