We are here!
What a story!
The theme for this years 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade is "Echoes of Success", celebrating those who serve others and help others succeed and meet their goals.
Our goal at the beginning of our adventure was to impact as many as we could with our horses as we traveled across the USA. We succeeded at that, with many visits to children's centers and military facilities.
Our dream trip came to a screeching halt in El Paso, Texas. Our horses started showing signs of being ill and after much deliberation we thought it best to bring them home immediately and get our very sick mini horses home.
We were devastated by this news and filled with much doubt about this dream being fufilled. As we shared our predicament with friends, word traveled throughout the horse community. The Equine Committee of the Rose Parade was abreast of all the events that had been unfolding and were very supportive and worked along side us. I was contacted by a few people in our horse network and was encouraged to find alternate horses we could use in the parade.
Finding horses with the parade experience and therapy experience we required seemed an impossibility at such short notice. That is when Jeanne, of So Cal Mini Horse Sanctuary stepped into the picture. We had asked the Equine Committee to give us 24 hours to put an alternative plan together. We met with Jeanne to go over all the details and decide that the horses could meet the high standards that we had been given. Jeanne was on board to help us from the very beginning, she has been gracious and supportive.
The committee excepted our plan and we moved forward quickly trying to get as close as possible to our original plan. Jeanne provided horses that not only are ready to take on the many demands of the Rose Parade but also look identical to many of our horses that we had brought.
We feel our story exemplifies this years theme, Echoes of Success. We have helped many people and groups achieve success though our therapy program and Jeanne has definitely been apart of our success in achieving our participation in the parade. We worked through events that we thought were impossible to achieve. It is because of people like Jeanne and the horse community that we are able to achieve our dream!
On Monday, January 2, 2017 Seven Oaks Farm Miniature Therapy Horses and Jeanne's team will be walking in the grandest parade of them all. The Tournament of Roses Parade!
Thank you to all who have supported us!
Lisa Moad
