Have you Herd the latest News!
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Skagit Farmers Supply is sponsoring Have a Heart, which benefits animal related non-profits on the Island. Starting Feb 1st, people can purchase items at Farmers Supply that will be donated to these organizations. Our Fabulous, EQUESTRIAN CROSSINGS is a participant in this. Check it out and give, give, give! We love you!
Feel free to forward this to anyone you know!
Joy Rutherford, VP Equestrian Crossings
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HELLO EQUESTRIAN CROSSINGS FANS!
If you are like me, you’re getting 100’s of “END OF THE
YEAR” Charitable Contribution emails and mailer
requests – some from organizations you have heard of
and some from charities you have no personal
experience with.
There are so many choices, both local and international. It’s hard to choose…
But as 2011 draws near, won’t you consider an EOY donation to an Organization that is both
local AND with which you have a personal experience?
Click here for more info
You can also go to our Donate link !!
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HARK! 'Tis the season!
Tired of giving (or getting) the same old gifts? Then let this be the season where your dreams come true! Give the gift of horsemanship lessons! Want to ride a horse but never thought you could? Tired of plain ol? riding and want to try something different, perhaps vaulting? Haven?t been on a horse in over 30 years, but still dream of it? EqX is Where Dreams Meet Opportunities!
EQUESTRIAN CROSSINGS is now accepting applications for our Winter 2012 riding (English & Western), vaulting, and adaptive lessons. Plus remember the fabulous benefits of riding with our certified Hippotherapy instructors!
But hurry! Registration Deadline is Friday, 23 December! Download Registration & Application packets from our Students page Here!
Daytime and after school times available! Lessons run for 8 weeks starting Tuesday, 24 January and ending Friday, 16 March with lessons offered on multiple days in covered arenas in Oak Harbor and Greenbank! Minimum age is 5 years old. Lessons available for nearly all ages, riding skills, abilities and disabilities!
AFFORDABLE LESSONS! Only $30 each plus an annual registration fee of $30. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE! Check your Application packet for details.
EqX is a non-profit organization that provides not only horsemanship activities conducted by certified instructors, but incorporates life-skill learning as well as fun into each lesson! Students learn to care, groom, tack and safely work with their horses both on the ground and mounted.
For more information contact EqX at info@equestriancrossings.com or call 360-320-1573.
"Like" our "Fans of Equestrian Crossings" page on Facebook!
Wishing you safe and Happy Holidays from all of us at EqX!
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At the Bayview Cash Store
Purchase a handcrafted ornament or two and support our local non-profit organizations.
Can’t think of a gift? Visit The Giving Tree!
All proceeds go to the organizations.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Island County
HOPE Therapeutic Riding Program
Pregnancy Aid of South Whidbey
Saratoga Community Housing
Senior Services of Island County
South Whidbey Children's Center
South Whidbey Family Resource Center
Whidbey Animal Improvement Foundation (WAIF)
Whidbey Island Nourishes (WIN)
Whidbey Island Writers’ Association
Whidbey Watershed Stewards
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If you are a frequent shopper at KENS CORNER RED APPLE IN CLINTON, save those receipts and bring them to lessons, board meeting, mail to the P.O.box etc. so we can get mo' money! EqX will get a small percentage of the receipt as a donation. Woohoo!! Thank you Red Apple of Clinton!
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EqX Calling All Volunteers!
Come alone! Come with friends! No experience needed! Must be at least 10 years old. Must like to learn and have fun!
Equestrian Crossings (EqX) is a non-profit program providing horsemanship activities, including riding, vaulting and hippotherapy, to people of nearly all ages, abilities and disabilities. Lessons begin 13 September and run through 4 November.
In preparation for EqX’s Fall lessons, Volunteer Training will be offered 3 different days, 5 times at 2 locations for your convenience!
Tuesday, 6 September from 12-3pm & 4-7pm at our Oak Harbor arena.
Thursday, 8 September from 12-3pm & 4-7pm at our Greenbank arena.
Friday, 9 September from 12-3pm at our Oak Harbor arena.
Register now! For directions and more information email info@equestriancrossings.com or call 360-320-1573. Become a “Fans of Equestrian Crossings” on Facebook™!
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EQX have made the news in the Whidey News-Times News Paper.
Check it out here and at the Whidbey News-Times link here
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EQUESTRIAN CROSSINGS RECEIVES
$20,000 DONATION!
Having an unwavering belief in the abilities of others has paid off for Equestrian Crossings (EqX) cofounders and instructors Denise Boyett of Langley, Miriam Burk of Oak Harbor and Emily Brink, PT of Coupeville! Now an anonymous benefactor or benefactors has expressed their $20,000 belief in these horsemanship instructors' desires to make Equestrian Crossings the program “Where Dreams Meet Opportunities!”
The EqX Board, Instructors and Students say a huge “THANK YOU!!!” to this very generous donor! Emily Brink, Board President, wants the donor(s) to know that, “Receiving a gift of this magnitude has inspired us [EqX] by your generosity and your belief in us and the mission and vision of Equestrian Crossings ! We pledge to use these funds with careful thought and planning so that they will benefit as many participants as possible.”
Formed in August of 2009, EqX is one of Whidbey Island's 501(c)(3) non-profit, member-run organizations that is already making a big difference in the lives of the young and the old, the frail and the robust with the motivating help of some very special horses and volunteers. With over 40 years of combined teaching experience, the EqX's certified instructors provide residents of Whidbey Island and the Puget Sound area an all-inclusive horsemanship program at 3 arenas across Whidbey Island offering recreational lessons and competitive opportunities in:
• Sport Riding (English and Western)
• Vaulting (A form of gymnastics, balance & dance on horseback)
• Harness Driving (Cart or Buggy driving with ponies or
horses)
• Hippotherapy (currently Physical Therapy using the horse as the treatment modality). Look for Occupational and Speech-Language Therapy to be added in the future!
• In-Hand/Ground Work (e.g., longeing, long-lining, ground driving)
• Adaptive lessons in ALL disciplines to people of nearly all ages and disabilities
In fun and challenging ways, lessons focus on individual horsemanship and handling skills, horse care and welfare, while concurrently improving:
• Strength & Balance
• Sequential task completion
• Coordination
• Self-esteem and Self-confidence
• Verbal, Social & Behavioral skills
• Teamwork
• Body awareness
• Reading, writing and simple math
• And so much more! We can tailor lessons to meet the needs and desires of our participants!
Langley resident and beginning student Betsy Roberts, age 87, writes after her first riding lesson on Cheyenne, “I am very thrilled with my accomplishment—thanks to EqX” and further says “my relationship with this old lady [meaning herself] has improved greatly.”
Another EqX student, as well as Board vice-president, Gail Corell, age 50, reports from the vaulting world, ”...Kirbey [EqX's vaulting horse] is an absolute doll. He is so patient and understanding and BIG and after only a couple of lessons, what I know for sure is that the feeling of trust is HUGE! It is an incredible sense of accomplishment and love, a bond I will cherish forever!”
Drawing to a close, Brink again wants “our generous donor(s) to know that from all of us at Equestr ian Crossings , we “THANK YOU!!! for this monumental gift” And while we are at it, we want to say “THANK YOU!” to ALL who have so generously donated your money, your time, your energy, your talents and your wonderful horses to this growing and dynamic program!! Because of ALL of you, our students' dreams can come true!”
If you would like to donate to EqX or learn more about Equestrian Crossings , you can visit their website at www.equestriancrossings.com , email info@equestriancrossings.com or call 360-320-1573 . Become a “Fan of Equestrian Crossings” on Facebook® or better yet, become a Member of Equestrian Crossings and help “Turn Your Vision into Our Future!” Student and Membership applications and scholarship forms are available for download from the EqX website. Register now for the 2010 Summer session!
Photo #1
Central Whidbey session file: group thank you reinshadow.JPG
Pictured from Left to Right: (Standing) are EqX Volunteers, HORSES, and Instructor—KASCHE, Larry Hall, Stephanie Williams, Anne Winters, Rachel Johnson, KIRBEY, Gail Corell (kneeling), Eden Bishop, Miriam Burk, Evy Lenoir and CANTATA.
Photo by: Emily Brink
Pictured from Left to Right: are EqX Volunteers, HORSES, Students and Instructors—Tina Bell Isle, Gretchen Van Male (kneeling), Rachel Johnson, RIO, Miriam Burk, Eddy Woodward, Jacque Diaz (sitting), Kathleen Tate (kneeling), KASCHE. Dustin Houston, Mitch Incarnato, Anne Winters, Danielle McClain, CHEYENNE
Photo caption: 87 year old beginning rider, Betsy Roberts and Cheyenne enjoy a sunny lesson. Assisting Betsy (from L to R) is EqX instructor Miriam Burk and volunteers Greg Odle and Eden Bishop.
Photo by: Gail Corell
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