2009 Open House & Family Fun Day...

This year's "Open House & Family Fun Day" raised over $700 for the Fincastle League for Animal Protection. Thank you to everyone who helped make the day alot of fun and a great success!!

We were delighted to have several wonderful speakers who volunteered their expertise for this year's Open House. Below Left: Dr. Martha Moses, DVM, discusses "Chiropractic & Holistic Equine Medicine" and Right: Dr. Martin Adams of Southern States discusses Equine Nutrition in Pregnant Mares.

Below: Botetourt Extension Agent Cassie Driskill mans her information booth and then gives a great talk on "Emergency Barn Preparedness." Thanks Cassie for letting us use all your equipment!!

Below: Saddle Fitter Ann Mary Bettenson discussed "Proper Saddle Fitting" with an enthusiastic crowd.

Below: Ruth Mitchell, owner of Equine Therapeutic Center, methodically painted the horses' muscle and bone locations using sidewalk chalk onto the very patient QH/Arab "Che" who is held by his best friend Kendra Peery and sister Colleen. After identifying them for the crowd, Ruth gave a fascinating talk on Equine Massage Therapy. Ruth will be back here at Amethyst Acres later this year to teach a course for Equinology.

A big contributor to the total day's donations came from the raffle drawings.

Below: Debra Geiser sells tickets for the raffle items, some seen on this table. Then it is time to draw the winning tickets and award the prizes!!

The kids had a great time coloring horsie pictures under the watchful eye of Jean Skipper and Ellie Crabtree.

With vendors to visit and hot dogs to eat, it was a busy day for everyone!

Below Left to Right: Arbonne Skin Care, Cooperative Extension Service, Karen Aneiro/Equisea Farms, MD Barns.

Below Left to Right: Scott Stevens/Southern States Troutville, League for Animal Protection, Premier Design Jewelry/Tammy Bittorf.

Below Left to Right: Concessions run by Larry Crabtree & The Butcher Gang, and Farrier Services by Ben Zook.

The presentation of the horses always delights the crowd!

Below: Swedish Warmblood Stallion "Altemus" owned by Samantha Kidd.

Below: Hackney Horse Stallion "Halsteads Goldfinder" owned by David & Cindy Bandy.

Below: Friesian stallion Leendert Leopold" owned by Carrie Blair.

Below: Costume presentation of Half-Arabian gelding "Shahmans Spirit" owned by Pam Lemon and presented by Brooke Peery.

Below: In-hand and under saddle presentation of Straight Egyptian Arabian stallion "Magic Elixir" by Mark Burke.

The horse "Hand Painting" also helped raise money for LAP, and 23-year old Arabian mare "Shadylady" was a patient and willing subject for all the hand prints! Special thanks to Pat Woodward and Carol Custer helping make this happen!

Below Left to Right: Artsy hand print by Karen Aneiro, Both Hands by Jared Custer and a Head Print by Rachel Custer.

Below: Shady's mom & dad take a turn painting the girl...then Shady gets a much deserved kiss from her mom for being such a good girl!!

Finally, some miscellaneous shots of the crowd taken throughout the day by Warren Skipper...thanks Skip!!

Below: Looking in at the stallion "Halsteads Goldfinder" and looking out at the crowd!

The horses seem as fascinated by the crowd as the crowd does of the horses!!

THANKS TO EVERYONE...who helped make this day alot of fun and a huge success!!!

Thanks to the speakers who volunteered their time and gave wonderful, informative presentations, including: Dr. Martha Moses/Eclectic Equine Vet Services, Ann Mary Bettenson/County Saddlery, Dr. Martin Adams/Southern States, Ruth Mitchell/Equine Therapeutic Center and Cassie Driskill/ Botetourt Cooperative Extension Agent.

Thank you to the people and companies that made donations for our raffle and concession sales, including: Scott Stevens/Southern States of Troutville, Valleydale Foods, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Roanoke, Kroger, Lowes of Bonsack, Aztec Rental, Tracie Haggerty/MD Barns, Jan Hendrickson/Arbonne Skin Care Products, Tammy Bittorf/Premier Design Jewelry, Ruth Mitchell/Equine Therapeutic Center, Ann Mary Bettenson/County Saddlery, Jody Jaffe, The Burtons, Jean Skipper, JoAnn & John Dester/Whispering Oaks Ranch and Pat Woodward.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who worked so hard to make the day a success, including: JoAnn & John Dester, Debra Geiser, Larry & Ellie Crabtree, Todd, Teresa, Garth & Trenton Butcher, Jean & Skip Skipper, Pam Lemon, Tammy Bittorf, Pat Woodward, Carol, Jared & Rachel Custer, Cameron Elkins and Brooke, Kendra & Colleen Peery.

And finally, thanks to Pat Shaver and all the volunteers and supporters of LAP for the wonderful work they do finding homes for the animals in their care.

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