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Friday, December 09 2016 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Helping Hands for Happy Holidays — Wellington Equestrian Group’s Children’s Christmas Party

 

A young girl gets a bike from Santa during the Wellington Equestrian Group’s Children’s Christmas Party.

BJ Meeks and Pablo Perez have been a constant on the horse show circuit for decades. Often seen sitting in their shop at BJ’s Hunt Room, chatting with fellow equestrians, they’re known for their kind hearts and exceptional taste in gifts. Thirty years ago, BJ and Pablo witnessed a scene that would forever change the way they viewed the spirit of Christmas. Feeling somewhat fulfilled after a day of shopping for friends and clients, they came across a sight that brought tears to their eyes: a local soup kitchen hosting a Christmas gathering for South Florida’s migrant farm workers and their children. In an instant, a light bulb went off. Why are we buying gifts for people who have so much when we could be bringing joy to those who have so little? And thus their Children’s Christmas Party came to life.

BJ Meeks and Pablo Perez play “Santa’s helper’s” by wrapping presents for the Christmas party.

The following year, BJ and Pablo presented their friends with cards wishing them a merry Christmas and letting them know that the money they would have spent on their gifts was, instead, going to buy holiday gifts for children of migrant farm workers. Friends and volunteers rallied behind their efforts and a small party took place in a church in West Palm Beach. Equestrians and local friends wrapped and tagged toys and books, Tim Gannon donated lunch from Outback Steakhouse and James Leslie Parker offered free family photos with his Polaroid camera. Ralph Caristo and Bruce Duchossois dressed as jolly Santas and handed out gifts to children and Publix gift cards to their parents for a holiday meal. The gratitude expressed by the families assured BJ and Pablo that they had created something special.

In 2006, BJ and Pablo paired up with the Caridad Center, a free medical and dental clinic in Boynton Beach, to facilitate access to the families in need. Caridad Center provides for over 26,000 patient visits a year, many of which are the children and families who attend the holiday party. Scarlet Fave, social services director at the clinic, makes sure that new families have the opportunity to experience the event each year. In that same year, the Wellington Equestrian Group was formed with Nancy Hooker and Caroline Moran at the helm, assuring that the tradition would be carried on for future generations.

A group of hard-working equestrian elves gather toys for the Wellington Equestrian Group’s Children’s Christmas Party.

Flash forward to December 10, 2016, when 125 families, totaling 600 guests, will be celebrating at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center under a massive tent, thanks to Equestrian Sport Productions and the Wellington Equestrian Partners, filled with face painters, music, entertainment and a visit from two very special Santas (Danny Robertshaw and George Wallace). After a delicious lunch, prepared by Cilantro’s Deli and served by an enthusiastic group of volunteers, and a raffle filled with small appliances and holiday decor, each family will take home a bag of Christmas gifts, Publix gift cards and in most cases, a bicycle or two. Each family has been “adopted” by local equestrians and Wellington residents who receive a family profile in advance of the party. The profile includes information about the children’s sizes and their interests. Depending on the size of the families, some Wellington-based schools and local equestrians will “adopt” multiple families and include their own children in the shopping experience to teach them the importance of giving back. It’s become a holiday tradition for many friends around the country. Thanks to the power of the internet, bikes can be sent with the click of a mouse!

This year 125 families will attend the party and most of the children will get a bicycle.

Along with the holiday party, BJ and Pablo have raised close to $1 million over the years to be used primarily for college scholarships, school supplies and summer camps. “Education is the only way to break the cycle of poverty” said BJ. “We’re able to provide an opportunity for a son or daughter to be the first in their family to dream of going to college.” With the funds raised from the 2015 event, 40 children enrolled in a Homework Enrichment Program, over 1,000 received backpacks filled with school supplies, 250 received school uniforms, 100 children attended summer camps with lunch every day, and 20 college scholarships were given out.

Thirty years after driving past a Christmas party at the soup kitchen in Boynton Beach, BJ and Pablo have proven that the kind hearts of two men can change the lives of hundreds of children in need. Thanks to the generosity of the equestrian community, the true spirit of Christmas lives on in the legacy they’ve created.

If you’d like to be an elf for this year’s event by volunteering, donating a bike or funding the education/children’s fund, please contact Caroline Moran at Goshenhill@aol.com or Nancy Hooker at NancyHooker@mac.com. To learn more about the Wellington Equestrian Group or Caridad Center, visit Facebook and caridadcenter.org.

 

 

 

 

 

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Tagged under: charity, Wellington Equestrian Group

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

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