HN Blogger Contest Round Two: Supporting Local Sports
Horse showing isn’t always about us and our horses. Sometimes it’s about giving back to the community. That’s exactly what Coveside Stables does with their Horseless Horse Show.
Our finalists in the 2022 HN Blogger Contest are back with their Round Two submissions! For this round, we asked each of our finalists to highlight a business, entity, or organization doing good in the horse world. We’ll be sharing their responses this week — and we want to know what you think as a reader! Share your thoughts in the Facebook comments section.
Photo from Coveside Stables
Coveside Stables is a beautiful equestrian facility in Chester Nova Scotia. It features beautiful pastures, multiple rings, miles of trails, a beautiful indoor and even a small chapel. Owned and managed by Jackie and Brad Rusaw, it is a top-notch facility that keeps the well-being of the horses top of mind.
Every year the stable hosts a number of shows, but the jewel is the Coveside Classic. A nationally sanctioned competition, it runs several days and hosts classes for riders and horses of all ages and sizes. The competition is not only for riders, but also is a way to give back to the community.
Every year, as part of the show, Coveside hosts a “Horseless Horse Show.” For a fee of $20 children form teams and dress up in costumes to compete through a relay course in the jumper ring. There is a free BBQ included as well as prizes. Coveside matches the entries and all of the proceeds go to support a local charity. This event started in 2009 and has been going every year, except for 2020 when the show was cancelled due to COVID 19.
“Back when we first started the Classic, Just World was an equestrian group that was raising funds for third world countries and we did support them for first two years. Then we decided that we wanted to focus more locally and the needs in the community. Prokids was in Chester so we give to them,” stated Jackie Rusaw.
PRO Kids stands for Positive Recreation Opportunities for Kids. The idea was developed in Thunder Bay, Ontario and spread to other communities in Canada. The purpose of the program is to provide funds to children, under 18 years of age, who would not otherwise be able to participate in sports, recreation or cultural activities. The range of activities supported range from dance to hockey to horseback riding lessons. The group depends on community support and partnerships to raise money.
I asked Jackie how much money she thinks that has been raised by her event. She estimated that most years the amount was close to 500 before it was matched. The rough estimate of the amount raised for charity is approximately $11-12,000. Not bad for a single horse show.
About Teresa Alexander-Arab:
I started my blog, Journey with a Dancing Horse, in 2011 shortly after buying an Andalusian gelding. (https://journeywithadancinghorse.blogspot.com/). It chronicles my riding and horsepersonship journey. As well as the things they don’t tell you about keeping horses at home. Like how ungrateful they can be. Or how innocent they look when something is broken in the barn and they have NO IDEA how it happened. Or there was a spider. Or both.
About me: I am a, *cough* 58 year old woman who feels 12 most of the time. As long as I don’t ask my knees. They feel 80. I love to write. Or overshare. However you want to look at it. If you asked me what my superpower is, it is my ability to tangle anything. Like, literally anything. I once coiled the dog up in the hose. And he didn’t even look surprised. Just resigned. My horses patiently wait while I take the 20th knot out of the lunge line or try to figure out how I tangled the lead in the halter. Even my 2 year old understands this. My 12 year old mare just rolls her eyes and sighs.
I am a manager in health care. A place where you need dedication, a sense of humour and a place to recharge. For me that is the barn. My life is busy, often chaotic but full of fun and love.”
