In the News
Bonnie Has a Baby
Jun 19, 2009
Bonnie, a 12 year old Belgian mare, is our newest “equine employee.” She finished her trial period and was accepted into our program on March 20, 2009. She Arrived at DreamCatchers on Valentine’s Day from Red Oak, Virginia. Bonnie’s previous career was as a trail horse. Farther back in her history, Bonnie was used as a broodmare and to plow her owner’s garden!
Bonnie has a truly sweet face and personality. Several of our students have had the pleasure of using her in their lessons, among them Lizzy, Tesia, Barb and Mollie.
Not long after Bonnie began working in lessons, we discovered quite a surprise. Bonnie had come to us bearing a gift. On June 6th right around 1 am., Bonnie gave birth to a beautiful filly (girl)! Both Bonnie and her baby are doing well. Baby is all legs, cute as can be, with a wide blaze and a chestnut coat. Bonnie is a wonderful new mother, and is taking a break from lessons to nurture her little one.
Fundraiser a Success
May 30, 2009
Dream Catchers’ annual Bridles & Bow Ties event was a tremendous success, raising more than $95,000 for Dream Catchers at the Cori Sikich Therapeutic Riding Center in Toano.
More than 300 people attended the seated dinner and live auction held in the indoor riding arena at Dream Catchers. The indoor arena was transformed with round tables covered with fine linens, beautiful place settings and centerpieces along with delicious food prepared by Todd Schneider of Seasonings Fine Catering in Richmond. Marcia and Peter Budnikas provided an evening of live music, while Kingsmill Audio/Video projected videos on two large screens as a background.
Leighton Strader, dynamic Master of Ceremonies, entertained the guests and worked with Mark Motley, auctioneer to conduct a memorable live auction. Auction packages that received the highest bids were a Fashion Week in NYC trip including admission to the Tadashi show and a backstage meeting with the designer Tadashi Shoji, two York River cruises aboard Sterling Nichols’ 68-foot Lazzara yacht, a week in Aspen at the condominium of Dr. Paul Rein, and 2 trips to Harbourside Resort on Paradise Island provided by John and Patty Holt.
One of the highlights of the evening was a riding demonstration by Dream Catchers students, Brittany Bracy on horse Blackie, JD Tressler rode Mr. Darcy, Corinne Williams on pony Tater, and Beth Ellis rode pony Lark.
Funds raised during this successful event will help Dream Catchers provide therapeutic riding and other horse-related activities to individuals with special needs in a caring and safe environment.
The event was made possible by our sponsors including Virginia Ventures,LLC, Towne Bank, C.A. Barrs Contractors, Inc., Equi-Kneads, the Gilkison family, Patty and John Holt, Karen and Tom Jamison, Kingsmill Realty, John and Cathy Pattisall, David & Sue Pearce, Wade and Angie Johnson, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, Susan and John Sikich, RoMack, Inc., Mike Derrig, Bush Construction Corp., and Long & Foster Realtors, Williamsburg. Many thanks to all who donated in-kind gifts for the auction, volunteers who worked before, during and after the event, and and those who purchased raffle tickets and admission tickets to Bridles & Bow Ties.
Summer Camps
May 25, 2009
We are excited to be offering six weeks of day camps at Dream Catchers this summer! There will be two different types of camps offered, one for future volunteers between the ages of 9 and 13, and one for therapeutic students between the ages of 6 and 20.
During the camps, students will learn about horses and horse care, complete different projects around the barn, and have a daily riding lesson. We are actively recruiting high school and college aged volunteers to serve as counselors during the camps, and will have a training session on June 6th for those who apply to be counselors.
The dates for the camps are as follows:
Junior Volunteer (ages 9 – 13): (This camp is full.)
July 6 – 9, July 20 – 23, and August 10 -13
Therapeutic Riding Camps:
July 13 – 16 (ages 6-9), August 3 – 6 (ages 10-13), and August 17 – 20 (ages 14 – 20)
For more information or to receive an application for any of these summer camps, please call Dream Catchers at 757-566-1775.